Healthcare

When you work and live in Denmark, you are covered by the Danish health insurance system and your health insurance card (‘the Yellow Card’) is your proof that you are entitled to the free health care services under the Danish health care system. Most examinations and treatments are free whereas you must pay for medicine, dental treatment and some specialist treatment.

When you register with the municipality (get your CPR number), the municipality will order a Danish health insurance card for you. At the same time, you will be assigned a general practitioner (GP)/family doctor. A few weeks after you have registered with the municipality, your personal health insurance card will be sent by post to your registered address in Viborg Municipality.

The health insurance card shows your name, address, CPR number and the name and address of your GP/family doctor and it must be presented at all visits to the doctor, emergency room, hospitals, specialists, dentists, etc.

As the health insurance card doubles as a general ID card, it is recommended that you keep your health insurance card on you but it is not compulsory.

The Danish health insurance card is only valid in Denmark and you will need the separate European Health Insurance Card (‘the Blue Card’) when travelling in the EU/EEA. This card can be ordered free of charge on Blue European health insurance card.

 

When you register with Viborg Municipality, you will be assigned a general practitioner (GP)/family doctor.

If you need to see your doctor, you will have to make an appointment in advance – do not expect to get an appointment on the same day unless it is urgent.

For further examination, specialist treatment or hospital treatment under the Danish health care system, you need a referral from your doctor.

See a list of GPs in Viborg Municipality here.

If you urgently (emergency) need to talk to a doctor outside your doctor’s opening hours, you can contact Lægevagten (Emergency Doctor Service).

 

You need a referral from you GP or Lægevagten to go to the hospital unless it is an emergency.

Hospitals in Denmark do not offer the same treatment as some are specialised in certain kinds of treatment. This means that you may not always be referred to your local hospital if you require special treatment.

 

If you require further examination or treatment from a specialist, you need to see your GP/family in order to get a referral and for the treatment to be covered by the national health insurance system.

As specialist are private practitioners, it also possible to make a non-subsidised appointment directly with a specialist.

You can search for specialists at sundhed.dk.

 

If you wish to take out private health insurance in addition to the public health insurance, you need to contact an insurance company. Some employers offer a private health insurance as an employee benefit.

 

Viborg Health Centre, which is part of Viborg Municipality, offers a range of health services – you need referrals for some of them whereas others are available to you without referral.

Examples of health services that require a referral are physiotherapy, health examination for people over 67, courses for people with chronic illness and appointment with a clinical dietitian.

Examples of health services that do not require a referral are health services for young people, lifestyle coaching, exercise offers and mental health offers.

 

Viborg Municipality offers free psychological treatment to young people aged 15 to 22.

 

If you are in a situation where you need medicine (either over the counter or prescribed) outside normal opening hours, you need to go to a vagtapotek (out of hours pharmacy). These pharmacies are divided into three categories:

1. Open 06.00 – 24.00 365 days a year
2. Open 8.00 – 21.00 on weekdays, 08.00 – 09.00 and 18.00 – 21.00 on Saturdays, 10.00 – 15.00 on Sundays and public holidays
3. 08.00 – 19.00 on weekdays, 08-00 – 09.00 and 16.00 – 18.00 on Saturdays, 10.00 – 13.00 on Sundays and public holidays

From 24.00 – 06.00, Vagtlægen and the emergency rooms are responsible for the distribution of necessary medication.

A list of vagtapoteker is available on laegemiddelstyrelsen.dk