Healthcare
Swedish healthcare for expats — how the system works, patient fees, 1177, and navigating care without a personnummer.
Sweden's healthcare system is publicly funded and among the best in the world, but it works differently from most countries new residents have experienced. Rather than a GP you choose for life, Sweden uses vårdcentraler (health centres) that serve local areas. The system caps your annual out-of-pocket costs at 1,350 SEK for doctor visits and 2,850 SEK for prescriptions — after which care is free for the rest of the year. For new arrivals without a personnummer, accessing care can be more complicated. These guides explain how to register with a vårdcentral, how to use 1177 (the national health guide and phone line), what private health insurance covers and whether it's worth it, and how the system handles everything from emergency care to specialist referrals.