Travel abroad Health Insurance
Travel abroad Health Insurance, Here you can order the EU card for free and read what applies if you are temporarily staying abroad and need to seek medical or dental care.
If you are going to work abroad or move abroad, you will find information that applies to you on the pages Work abroad or Move abroad. Keep in mind that if you work or move abroad, it may affect your right to care benefits in Sweden and your right to receive an EU card or other benefits from the Swedish Social Insurance Agency.
If you have worked, lived, or studied abroad, you may need to submit information to the Swedish Social Insurance Agency to be able to order an EU card. Read more at Move to Sweden.
If you are traveling within the EU / EEA, Switzerland, or the UK
Order an EU card before you travel within the EU / EEA, Switzerland, or the United Kingdom. Order the card well in advance, it can take up to 10 working days before you receive it. Children must have their own EU cards. The card is sent automatically to the address you or the child is registered at.
What is the EU card?
The EU card entitles you to medical and dental care when you are in an EU / EEA country, Switzerland, or the United Kingdom. The EU card only applies to medical and dental care such as
- can not wait until you return to Sweden
- you get from caregivers who are connected to the general health care system in the country.
Care that can not wait until you return to Sweden is meant not only for emergency care but also for care caused by chronic illness. Such care includes sampling and medical check-ups.
With the EU card, you pay as much for health and dental care as those who live in the country. Therefore, you pay the patient fee yourself. In some countries, you must first pay the full cost of care yourself and then request compensation from the country’s equivalent to the Swedish Social Insurance Agency. In Switzerland and Liechtenstein, in addition to having a Swedish EU card, you must also be a citizen of an EU / EEA country or Switzerland.
The EU card does not give the right to compensation for return journeys with, for example, ambulance flights. Therefore, it is important that you have private travel insurance. Within the Nordic region, there is a special agreement that in some cases covers extra expenses for return journeys.
Which country should I order EU cards from?
You must have a Swedish EU card if you are insured in Sweden and you order the EU card from us. If you are covered by social security legislation in another EU / EEA country, Switzerland, or the United Kingdom, you must order the card from that country. Which country’s legislation you are covered by depends on where you live and work.
If you become acutely ill
If you are abroad and become acutely ill but do not have your EU card at hand, you or your healthcare provider can contact us on telephone number 0771‑524 524 to obtain a provisional certificate. You or your healthcare provider must provide your Swedish social security number.
Covidbevis
You can pick up your digital Covid certificate within seven days of being vaccinated. You can use your covid certificate when traveling within the EU. The Covid certificate is also valid in Norway, Iceland, and Lichtenstein. Remember that it is the country you are traveling to that determines the rules that apply there. It is your responsibility to check that you meet the requirements.
Read more about covid evidence on the E-health authority’s website. There is also information on how to get one.
Apply for compensation afterward – care
You can also choose to pay for the entire care yourself and apply for compensation from us afterward. You apply for compensation afterward on My pages.
When you apply, you must enclose digital copies of receipts and medical documents. If you do not already have the documents as files on your computer, you can take photos of them with your phone or scan them. If you can not add the appendices at the same time as you make your application, it is a good idea to attach them afterward. Remember to do it as soon as possible.
Longer processing time
We have a longer processing time than normal. We apologize for the fact that you have to wait for the decision and we will do everything we can to shorten the times.
Apply for compensation afterwards – dental care
You can also choose to pay for the entire dental care yourself and apply for compensation from us afterward. You apply for compensation afterward on My pages.
When you apply, you must enclose digital copies of receipts and medical documents. If you do not already have the documents as files on your computer, you can take photos of them with your phone or scan them. If you can not add the appendices at the same time as you make your application, it is a good idea to attach them afterward. Remember to do it as soon as possible.
No, if you are traveling within the Nordic region, you do not need an EU card. To receive the necessary care, it is sufficient to show an ID document and state your residential address in Sweden. If your child needs the necessary care, he or she will need his or her own ID document. If your child does not have their own ID document, we recommend that you bring the child’s EU card.
National contact points
Each country has one or more national contact points that inform about opportunities for care within the EU / EEA. The list of national contact points can be found here:
If you are traveling outside the EU / EEA, Switzerland, or the UK
Outside the EU / EEA, Switzerland, or the United Kingdom, the EU card does not apply. Therefore, it is important that you have private insurance. Find out what is included in your home insurance and if you need extra travel insurance.
But there are some countries outside the EU / EEA, Switzerland, or the United Kingdom with which Sweden has agreements on healthcare benefits.
Do I need to notify the Swedish Social Insurance Agency if I am to be abroad for a longer period of time?
Yes, if you receive compensation from the Swedish Social Insurance Agency, both a move and a longer stay abroad can affect your right to continue receiving the compensation. What counts as a longer stay varies depending on the compensation you receive. It is your responsibility to find out what applies to you. It is also your responsibility to notify us if anything changes in your situation that affects your right to compensation. You will find more information on the pages for each compensation. You can also contact us if you are unsure of what applies to you.
