Denmark Health Insurance

Denmark’s territory consists of Denmark, Greenland, the Faroe Islands (a self governing group of islands) and hundreds of other islands which are known as the Kingdom of Denmark. 72 of the islands are inhabited, the major islands being Zealand, Funen and Vendsyssel-Thy. The country is headed by a Queen and a prime minister who exercises the authority of the monarch.

Denmark is a Scandinavian country located in Northern Europe. It shares a border with Germany and is connected to Sweden by the Oresund Bridge. The capital city is Copenhagen and the official language is Danish. English and German are the most widely spoken foreign languages. Denmark’s population is estimated to be at approximately 5.5 million people, 45 percent of which live in 22.7 percent of the country’s land area. Denmark has been voted as the happiest and least corrupt country in the World many times.

Denmark’s residents experience above average living standards, low unemployment, high unemployment compensation, the world’s lowest level of income inequality and the world’s highest minimum wage. Denmark has a high amount of free trade and is one of the most competitive economies in the world. It has a modern market economy and exports food, energy (oil and gas), machinery, animals and chemicals. The famous children’s author Hans Christian Andersen was from Denmark.

The terrain in Denmark is flat and surrounded by coastline. The climate is temperate. The winter months of January and February have mean temperatures of 0 degrees Celsius. Summers have an average temperature of 15.7 degrees Celsius. Spring is the driest season of the year and autumn is the wettest. The days are short in summer with only 7 hours of sunlight. In winter the days are much longer with approximately 17.5 hours of sunlight.

Denmark is a green country with its capital city Copenhagen being one of the most environmentally friendly cities in the world. It was the first country in the world to introduce environment laws and in 2007 was voted as the 10th best country in the world for living green. The country derives almost 20 percent of its electricity needs from wine turbines.

Copenhagen has many famous sites for tourists to see including gardens, the home of the monarchy the Amalienborg Palace, Copenhagen cathedral, Rosenborg castle, Christiansborg Palace, churches and museums. The country has many fine examples of Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque architecture. Denmark is also the birthplace of Lego and has a Lego land theme park in Billund. Tourists also enjoy visiting Tivoli in Copenhagen, one of the oldest theme parks in the world, and Dyrehavsbakken which is the oldest theme park in the world. The country also has a long coastline with many beaches which attract summer tourists from nearby Germany.

Denmark Health Care and Insurance

Denmark is divided into five regions and 98 municipalities. Each region is responsible for the National Health Service which is funded by an 8 percent tax as well as contributions from the Government and municipalities. All medical facilities and general practitioners (GPs) are run by the public healthcare system. However, some surgical procedures are completed privately.

In 2009 11.2 percent of the country’s GDP was spent on health expenditure. In 2007 Denmark had 3,419 physicians per 1,000 people and in 2008 there were 3.57 hospital beds per 1,000 people.

The medical facilities in Denmark are of a high standard. But it should be noted that despite the high quality of medical treatment, visitors to emergency rooms are seen according to their illness so waiting times can be long. All travellers to Denmark are entitled to free emergency health care under the public health care system, until they are healthy enough to be transported back to their home country. Transportation home and ongoing medical costs will not be covered by the Danish health care system. Also if it is found that a pre existing medical condition caused the emergency, then the tourist must pay for the cost of the emergency medical care. Tourists are advised to purchase travel insurance for Denmark to cover medical ongoing costs. Citizens from some European countries are entitled to free emergency health cover by way of the European Health Insurance Card.

The medical facilities in the Faroe Islands and Greenland are more limited. Tourists requiring more complex medical treatment may need to be airlifted out. Emergency medical evacuation is expensive and should be included with your travel insurance plan for Denmark.

If you require medical assistance while visiting Denmark the largest hospitals are those facilitated by the country’s Universities. These are located in the capital city of Copenhagen, Odense and Aarhus. Other reputable hospitals in Copenhagen include Amager Hospital (telephone: 3234 3032), Bispebjerg Hospital (telephone: 3531 3531) and Hvidovre Hospital (telephone: 3632 3632).

It is recommended that visitors be vaccinated against hepatitis B before travelling to Denmark. Childhood vaccinations including tetanus, measles mumps and rubella (MMR) and polio should also be updated before travelling anywhere overseas.

The Danish believe that it is best to let the body heal itself. If you present at a medical facility in Denmark for something minor, such as a cold or the flu, it is unlikely that you be prescribed medication for it. Many drugs require a prescription in Denmark and are not available for purchase over the counter. Pharmacy staff are generally highly trained. Most cities have at least one 24 hour pharmacy.

Denmark’s public healthcare system does not cover the cost of dental treatment. The cost of dental treatment is very high compared with neighbouring countries. People relocating to Denmark may want to consider purchasing medical insurance that will cover the cost of dental treatment. Tourists should ensure that their travel insurance covers emergency dental treatment or otherwise wait until they return home for treatment.

Denmark Travel Insurance Concerns

Denmark’s main passenger railway is the DBS. The capital city of Copenhagen has a small metro system and the S train electrified suburban railway network. Bicycling is popular in Denmark as the country has more than 12,000 km of bicycle routes and approximately 7,000 km of segregated bicycle paths and lanes. Ferries operate to take passengers out to the smaller islands.

Denmark is an expensive country to visit as all consumer sales include a value added tax of 25 percent. Smokers should be aware that it is illegal to smoke in any public place in Denmark. Danish people are very shy and often lack the formalities that other cultures have. Their customer service also leaves a lot to be desired, don’t be surprised if you are left waiting while they finish the task at hand. They place their family above their work so it is common for them to leave important meetings to collect their children from school.

The country is a member of the European Union but has not adopted the Euro as its currency. The currency is the Krone which is linked to the Euro. ATMs are able to give cash advances from Visa and MasterCard’s as well as accessing Plus and Cirrus cards. Travellers should be aware that not all ATMs are available 24 hours a day, particularly outside of Copenhagen. The use of credit cards is widely accepted.

If you require emergency assistance in Denmark, telephone 112 for an ambulance, the police or the fire service. If you need to contact the police in a non emergency situation then telephone 114.

Denmark and its territories have low violent crime rates. Travellers should be wary of their surroundings and avoid getting accidentally caught up in immigrant and motorcycle gang confrontations. Pick pockets and purse snatchers are at work in busy tourist areas including train stations, the airport, onboard buses and trains, in tourist attractions in hotel breakfast buffets and lobbies. Travellers should not carry their passport or valuables in their handbags/back packs or leave them unattended on the ground next to them as they may be snatched.

Denmark Expat Health Insurance

While visitors to Denmark are entitled to free emergency medical care, they are not covered for repatriation home, medical evacuation or ongoing medical care. It is essential that visitors purchase medical insurance to cover these costs. At Expat Medical Insurance we specialise in travel and medical insurance and can help you find a package that best meets your needs. Please contact us today for a free health insurance quotation from one of our friendly medical insurance specialists.