Healthcare in Sweden

You do not need to purchase "private health care" in Sweden or, any form of health care for that matter. The system functions in a way that a part your tax deductions takes care of this, plus your employer throws in his bit also..(National Insurance) FOR EXAMPLE....i been here since 1991 and been working at different types of jobs; had a knee operation in 2007 that would have cost me about $30.000US if i was living in the USA...my NA took care of this, all i payed was a few pennies for my hospital stay/meals for 5days.

Hi Trini/Swede,

Thank you for your contribution.

Hi,

In order to help expats and soon-to-be expats, we would like to invite you to share your experience on this topic, with updated info on the healthcare system.

Thank you in advance,

Julie
Expat.com Team

Even if free the health system is not up to standard compared to other European countries. The specialists are often ok, but the general doctors no and you cannot get a specialist appointment if you don't meet the general doctor first. The problem is that they are almost scared to send you to specialists or even to proper exams.
I have experienced only some injuries and they tried to to cure a broken ligament with "vitamins and painkillers" without wanting to send me to a proper MR or a X-ray! Only after I started writing down the name of the doctor and telling him he will hear from me again that he finally agreed to send me to a specialist. And I have heard many friends having similar or worse stories with the basic healthcare. So now I have a special insurance with my company that can send me to private specialist faster. But still I hope not to get sick here.

We had a similar experience in Sweden. My boyfriend had suffered a mental breakdown after working as a software engineer for 2 years and having loads of overtime... He couldn't go on and had a nervous breakdown as well. He needed a long rest. Also his eyesight suffered and he couldn't tolerate the artificial light anymore. It was terrible for him. After a few months (i.e. now), he's much better. Anyway, he quit his job so that's not a problem any more. But he visited doctors quite often and they gave him sleeping pills which made his condition worse. Another doctor gave him some strange eye ointment which made his eyes hurt badly and he panicked a few times. I believe they just give you something so they don't have to see you again. But since they prescribe crappy things, which have nothing to do with your condition, you will run the risk to face more problems. He had luck to have an additional health insurance through his company, so that saved him.
My advice to everyone, don't rely on the public health care system for general problems. They give you pills and hope that will solve the problem. They never see the bigger picture. You can opt for an additional private health care insurance plan. That's the best you can do.

I broke my arm in Sweden and was suprised at how often the staff did not /could not speak English with me.  I found this very difficult to get information about my injury. (In Australia we arrange interpreters when there is a language barrier).  I also feel that I was not given adequate follow up care after my cast was removed e.g no physiotherapy, no x-ray and no follow up appointment.