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Sweden Expat Health Insurance

Sweden, officially the Kingdom of Sweden, is a located in Northern Europe on the Scandinavian Peninsula. Sweden is bordered by Norway to the west and Finland to east, and is connected to Denmark by the Oresund Bridge. A population of 9.4 million people are dispersed over 450,295 square kilometres making Sweden the third largest country in the European Union by total area. The capital and largest city is Stockholm. The official language is Swedish.

The government of Sweden is in the form of a unitary parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy. Sweden has a monarch, prime minister and speaker of the Riksdag. Gross domestic product accounted for some US$354.7 billion, representing a 2010 real growth rate of 5.5 percent, which in turn gives the country an annual per capita earning of US$39,100. When GDP is broken down by sector, agriculture represents 1.7 percent, with industry and services at 26.1 percent and 72.2 percent respectively. A labour force of 4.93 million people is employed mainly in services at 70.7 percent of the workforce, where as industry employees 28.2 percent and agriculture 1.1 percent. The unemployment rate of Sweden is 8.3 percent with none of the population living below the international poverty line. The total expenditure on health care services per person in 2007 by the Swedish government was US$3,300. The cost of medical care in the country amounts to roughly 9 percent of Sweden’s GDP. Health care services are funded by local taxation contributions; the local councils also retains the right to collect income tax.

Sweden Healthcare System

The Swedish health care system is administered under the direction of the Ministry of Health and Social Affairs at national level. The health care system is government-funded and decentralised. Financing for the health care system comes from salary taxes. Sweden is ranked number 17 in worldwide healthcare rankings, and is able to provide high quality medical services.

Management of the health care system takes place on three levels: national, regional and local. At regional level, county councils take responsibility for the financing and provision of decentralised care. At council level, the councils have authority over hospitals in regards to structure and management, and delivery of efficient health care. The Council committees regulate the prices and quality of health care services that may be offered to private providers. If the private provider does not have an agreement with the county council then the patient will not be reimbursed for the treatment they have received.

At local level, municipalities ensure citizens enjoy a healthy environment; for example, ensuring that residents have adequate access to, and a decent supply of clean drinking water, in addition to having access to social welfare services. Post discharge care for elderly and disabled patients and care for psychiatric patients lies with the local municipalities. Sweden has 21 county councils that work primarily with health care. Regional care is divided into seven sections such as close-to-home care, primary care clinic, out-patient psychiatric clinic, maternity care etc. emergency care, in-patient care, dental care, specialist care, elective care and out-patient care.

The Swedish State finances the majority of medical costs in the country, paying approximately 97 percent of healthcare total costs. The patient pays a small medical fee for treatment. In the case of illness the doctor writes an illness certificate entitling the patient to a percentage of their normal wages for the next day. If the patient is still ill after 14 days the state is required to pay this wage in place of the employer. The Swedish state also reimburses patients for travel cost incurred in order to access medical treatment at hospitals and clinics.

The Swedish health care system guarantees that the patient will be able to secure an appointment with a primary physician within three days of contacting a clinic; if they are referred to a specialist, they will be given an appointment within ten days. Prescription medicines can be obtained at any pharmacy throughout the country as all pharmacies are connected through an internet network that holds the patient prescription details on file for a year. Prescription charges should not exceed more the 1,800 SEK (US$249) a year; if they do, the government will fund all other necessary prescription costs.

The amount you pay in order to access medical care services is also limited. A patient pays 150 SEK (US$21) for each visit to a doctor, regardless of whether it is a local health care centre, hospital, private or work doctor. This fee also covers the cost of any referral your doctor may make on your behalf. The upper limit on medical care cost is 800 SEK (US$111); once you reached this limit you do not have to pay for medical care for the rest of that year. Expatriate residents are entitled to the same medical care cover as residents in Sweden. For all other visitors, comprehensive medical insurance is required to avoid out of pocket costs. Dental care costs are not covered by the universal health care. Therefore you should ensure your have dental health insurance.

Sweden Travel Advice

The level of crime in Sweden is considered low. However, pick-pockets and petty crimes can be an issue particularly in tourist areas during the summer months. Due to harsh weather conditions during winter months many trains and flights can be delayed with snow and ice causing road accidents. From the 1st of December to the 31st of March Swedish registered cars, under that law, are required to fit either studded tyres or un-studded friction tyres. Foreign registered cars are exempt from adhering to this law, but for safeties sake you are advised to fit your vehicle with the required tyres. There is a high ratio of road deaths in Sweden; in 2009 there were 3.9 deaths per 100,000 people.

If you wish to contact emergency services in Sweden you can do so by calling 112.

If you are a member of the European Union you should obtain a European health Insurance card before you travel to Sweden which will entitle you to emergency medical treatment. However, the EHIC does not cover you for medical repatriation, on-going medical treatment or non-urgent treatment.

Sweden Expat Health Insurance

Contact Global Health Insurance to discuss free of charge, you or your groups health care needs, if you are considering spending time in Sweden. Expat health insurance plans that we work with can provide high levels of coverage and thanks to our knowledgeable advisors, Global Health Insurance can offer a wealth of professional expertise and services. Our tailor made international health insurance policies suit every budget and health care need including dental, maternity, skiing accidents.