Healthcare Reimbursement in Denmark: Who Reimburses What Depending on Your Situation

France and Denmark, both member States of the European Union, coordinate their social security schemes through European Regulations 883/2004 and 987/2009. A worker falls under the legislation of a single country, in principle that of their place of activity. The carte Vitale does not work at a Danish doctor: proof of rights is the yellow health card linked to the CPR number for a locally insured person, the EHIC (European Health Insurance Card, CEAM in French) for a temporary stay, or a portable form (A1, S1) for a lasting stay.

CLEISS describes a Danish system that covers everyone with resident status, funded by tax. The notions of reimbursement base and out-of-pocket cost help you compare cover. How the care network works is described in the guide to the Danish healthcare system.

The locally employed worker falls under the Danish health insurance system, based on residence (CLEISS). After registering with a general practitioner, they receive the yellow health card: in group 1, consultations with the general practitioner are free, and treatment in public hospitals is not billed (CLEISS). See the glossary entry on the local contract.

The seconded employee sent by a French employer remains attached to French social security with the A1 form, whose maximum length is 24 months (Your Europe). According to CLEISS, if they live in the country of secondment, they can request the S1 from their French fund to register with the local scheme; if they live in France, they request the EHIC to access care in the country of work. See secondment versus expatriation and the glossary entry on the seconded employee.

The self-employed person settled in Denmark falls under the same scheme as employees; insurance against work accidents is optional for them and unemployment insurance is voluntary (CLEISS). Tax levies are presented in the page on working in Denmark.

The retiree who receives only a French pension and lives in Denmark requests, if possible before departure, the S1 form from their pension fund: it allows care to be provided by the local scheme on behalf of French social security (CLEISS). Each dependant has their own S1, and the authority of the country of residence assesses their status as a family member. If tax residence is in France, the CSG and CRDS (French social levies) apply; outside France, health insurance contributions replace them, to be confirmed with the pension fund (CLEISS). See the guide S1 form: how to use it and the page on retiring in Denmark.

The student on a temporary stay uses the EHIC, which covers necessary care on the same terms as Danish insured people; for a stay of more than three months, the EU residence document and then the CPR number open access to the local system. See student insurance abroad.

The spouse and children who live in Denmark receive their own health card with their CPR number, since the system is based on residence (CLEISS). Family members who live in another European Union country fall under an S1 document, issued by the institution of the country that insures the worker or the retiree. See expat family insurance.

The person without an occupation who settles in Denmark meets the conditions of residence (sufficient resources and health insurance, detailed in the page on retiring in Denmark), then requests their CPR number; the Danish system then covers every resident. During the administrative delay, the EHIC or supplementary insurance acts as a bridge.

The CFE member can keep French cover: Assurance Maladie (the French national health insurance) specifies that an expatriate then contributes to the CFE and to the compulsory scheme of the country. According to the CFE, no waiting period applies if enrolment takes place before departure or within the three months following expatriation; beyond that, the waiting period is three months before age 45 and six months after. Enrolment involves no medical questionnaire, and for maternity the conception of the child must come after enrolment. See the guide CFE reimbursements.

International health insurance at first euro reimburses actual costs within its limits, after any deductible, waiting periods and exclusions. It opens access to practitioners and establishments outside the public system, which the EHIC does not cover, and can include repatriation.

The tourist presents their EHIC: for necessary care during a temporary stay, it entitles them to treatment in the Danish public system on the same terms as Danish insured people (lifeindenmark.borger.dk). It covers neither planned care, nor private professionals or hospitals outside the public system, nor the return to the home country. Travel insurance usefully complements the EHIC for repatriation. See long-stay travel insurance.

An expatriate who returns sends form S1106 to their health insurance fund to reinstate their cover (Assurance Maladie). With an employment contract, rights open with no waiting period, on presentation of the form, an identity document and the contract; without an occupation, the fund assesses the condition of stable residence in France. The CFE indicates resumption with no waiting period on return for its members. See the guide reducing the waiting period and the page on returning to France.

On return from a temporary stay, form S3125 allows reimbursement of advanced costs to be requested, according to Danish or French rates, without exceeding actual expenses (CLEISS).

• Consultation: free at the general practitioner in group 1; in group 2, the region reimburses up to the cost of group 1 and the excess remains payable by the patient. A specialist consultation is covered when it follows a recommendation from the general practitioner (CLEISS).
• Hospital stay: treatment in public hospitals is not billed, and admission is by referral outside emergencies (CLEISS). International contract with direct payment for an establishment outside the public system.
• Medicines: automatic reimbursement at the pharmacy on prescription, from 50% to 85% by bands above 1,135 DKK of annual spending for an adult in 2026, with a maximum contribution of 4,850 DKK; 60% from the first expense for those under 18 (Lægemiddelstyrelsen).
• Dental: free in municipal dentistry up to 18; for adults, regional subsidy on a series of treatments, with 65% of the regular check-up for 22 to 25 year olds (borger.dk); CLEISS cites cover of up to 40% of the cost of certain treatments.
• Optical: CLEISS lists optical among the medical devices of the scheme; the precise conditions are checked with the region and the municipality, and international contracts set a limit per period.
• Maternity: with a CPR number, general practitioner consultations, midwife consultations, two ultrasound scans at the hospital and the delivery are free; a non-resident or uncovered person may have to bear the cost (lifeindenmark.borger.dk). The CFE requires conception after enrolment, and international contracts generally apply a waiting period to maternity.

The reimbursement guide and the page on expat health insurance give benchmarks; Expavy helps you set these options against your situation.