How much does healthcare cost in Sweden?
Sweden has a public healthcare system that provides subsidised medical care to all registered residents in Sweden. Health care visits usually cost between SEK 100-460, depending on which region you live in, and the level of care required. There is a high-cost protection, which means that if you reach a total of SEK 1,450, you will then pay nothing for further visits that take place within the ongoing 12-month period.
If you obtain a residence permit for 12 months or more, you can register in the Swedish population register to obtain a Swedish personal identity number. This entitles you to the same patient fees as Swedish citizens for public healthcare. If you have neither a personal identity number nor health insurance that covers health care that is not urgent, you can still book an appointment at a healthcare centre, but you will have to pay a much higher unsubsidised fee.
It can take up to a couple of months before you receive your personal identity number, but your residency registration is valid retroactively from the day your application was submitted. If you had expenses for health care fees before you received your personal identity number, you can get back the part of the costs that exceeds the subsidised fee. Contact the clinic where you paid the healthcare fees to get your money back.
EU/EEA citizens
If you´re a registered resident in an EU/EEA country, you can use the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) to access necessary health care in Sweden for the same subsidised fees as other registered residents in Sweden. Necessary health care is medical care that cannot wait until you return to your home country. This means not only emergency care, but also heath care caused by chronic illness. It is always the healthcare professional who decides what is necessary care. You can use the EHIC while waiting for your Swedish personal identity number when you have applied to be registered as resident in Sweden. The same conditions apply if you have an ID card that shows that you´re a registered resident in a Nordic country.
Exchange students and fee-paying students
As an exchange student or an international student who is not part of an exchange programme, who will be staying in Sweden for less than 12 months, you cannot apply for a Swedish personal identity number. This means that you are only eligible for health care as provided by your health insurance coverage, and that you are otherwise required to pay the full, unsubsidised cost of healthcare visits. Your health insurance usually covers only emergency health care and emergency dental expenses. Read the terms and conditions carefully so that you know exactly what your insurance covers. Contact an exchange coordinator at your university if you have questions about your insurance.
