Healthcare without a work permit

7POSTS

3 months ago

Okay, this is a tangled set of questions, and I can't figure out how to ask them in an orderly way. I have some chronic (though not expensive or serious) health issues that require daily medication. I can only bring three months of meds into the country, and I've heard wait times can exceed that, so I am concerned about running out of meds before being able to access care. I believe that my partner, who will have a 1+ year work permit, will be able to register with the healthcare system upon arrival (true??). I have read a lot of conflicting information about what I, as a tag-along, will be able to access and how to do it.

Will I also be able to register for the system? Right away, or is there a waiting period?

If I can register, will I need to prove I have private health insurance to qualify?

If I need private insurance, should it be with an American company or a Swedish company? My current insurance does not cover international travel so I would need to get different coverage.

If I need private insurance do you have any recommendations of companies to work with and roughly how much it costs (I understand this varies)? I have read that some insurance companies have a waiting period before coverage begins? Is that true?

What appointment wait times can I actually expect - 1) on system, 2) with insurance, or 3) self-pay?

Thank you to anyone willing to help me understand!

See also

Health care in Sweden - Guide
Working and EU travel on a Swedish work-permit based residence permit. - 1 Reply
Swedish work permit - 1 Reply
Work permit rejection - 7 Replies
Work permit - 6 Replies
Working Holiday Permit 30+ - 2 Replies
work permit question with probation - 10 Replies

Bhavna Team

43414POSTS

3 months ago

@reninspace

Hello,

Till members guide you, feel free to read the The health care system in Sweden article and perhaps contact some provate health insurance companies for quotes : https://www.expat.com/en/insurance/europe/sweden/

Most insurance companies have waiting periods and policies for pre-existing medical conditions coverage.

All the best

Bhavna

reninspace New member

7POSTS

3 months ago

@Bhavna

Thanks Bhavna. Unfortunately the article doesn't cover my circumstance, though from my reading it is a common one - being a non-European partner of a person with a work permit.

SimCityAT Expert

13705POSTS

3 months ago

@BhavnaThanks Bhavna. Unfortunately the article doesn't cover my circumstance, though from my reading it is a common one - being a non-European partner of a person with a work permit. - @reninspace

Maybe you could enquire with the Embassy? I did have a quick search, and it does seem possible. What kind of visa do you have?

reninspace New member

7POSTS

3 months ago

Good idea! Do you mean a Swedish embassy in the U.S. or an American embassy in Sweden?

I don't know if "residence permit" is a general term or the official term, but that is what I'll be getting according to migrationsverket.

reninspace New member

7POSTS

last week

I am answering some of my own questions in case anyone else is confused.

If you have a residency permit that lasts longer than one year, you immediately qualify for Swedish health coverage and a personnummer. You do not need to have private insurance. If your stay is less than one year, you will need to have comprehensive insurance either through your home country or a private company. There are companies that specialize in this sort of thing, but I didn't research as I will have coverage.