Register your address, get your CPR number, and you're in: GP visits free, hospital care free, no premiums, no networks, no claim forms. Coming from US healthcare, the strangest part is how little there is to explain. Here's what's covered — and what isn't.
Last verified: 9 July 2026Danish healthcare is run by the five regions and funded from general taxation — the high taxes on the Tax page are the premium. When you register for your CPR number you choose (or are assigned) a general practitioner. The GP is the gatekeeper: free consultations, and referrals to specialists and hospitals when needed. Out-of-hours care runs through regional acute lines (1813 in the Copenhagen region; the lægevagt elsewhere); 112 is the emergency number.
| Service | What you pay (Group 1, the default) |
|---|---|
| GP visits | Nothing |
| Specialists (with GP referral) | Nothing |
| Hospital treatment, surgery, emergency care | Nothing |
| Prescriptions | Sliding-scale subsidy via CPR; capped per year (DKK 4,850, 2026) |
| Adult dental | Most of the cost — public subsidy covers only part of check-ups and basic treatment; free up to age 22 |
| Glasses, most physio, psychology | Most or all of the cost (partial subsidies exist with referral) |
Group 2 coverage — direct specialist access with copays — exists but almost nobody chooses it. Many Danes carry cheap supplementary insurance (e.g. the "danmark" health fund) for dental and glasses; private hospital insurance is common as a job perk, mainly for skipping queues, not for coverage gaps.
Group 1 vs Group 2, choosing a doctor with English, and switching later.
Keep paying or drop it — the penalty math for Americans moving to Denmark.
How the sliding scale works, the annual cap, and bringing US/Canadian medication in.
Tell us your situation — we'll answer, or introduce a specialist we've independently vetted.