Benefits in the event of sickness – treatment by a doctor
You are entitled to health care in the country where you live and/or work. In addition you are always entitled to necessary health care treatment during a temporary stay in other Nordic countries.
In some of the Nordic countries you have to pay a general contribution during a visit to a doctor.
You can read more about an individual country’s health care system under the country links.
Cash benefits when sick
In the Nordic countries, all those in work are, in principal, guaranteed a sickness benefit. The structure of the sickness benefit arrangements vary considerably from country to country.
What to do if you move to another Nordic country
If you receive sickness benefit, you are entitled to receive this if you move to or stay temporarily in another Nordic country. You need to be aware that you remain obliged to take part in follow-ups and health care examinations etc.
Rehabilitation benefits and disability pensions
Rehabilitation
Rehabilitation benefits can be divided into cash benefits and benefits-in-kind. Usually you receive these benefits in the country where you work and reside.
Cash benefits
As a rule, employees have the right to rehabilitation cash benefits according to the legislation of the country where they are employed. Conditions for granting benefits vary within the Nordic countries.
Rehabilitation benefits-in-kind
An employee generally has the right to rehabilitation benefits-in-kind (such as education and training) according to the legislation of the country where he/she resides.
Frontier workers may have the right to receive benefits-in-kind also from the country of employment according to the legislation of that country.
Conditions for granting benefits-in-kind vary within the Nordic countries.
Disability pensions
Those who have worked in two or more Nordic countries may be entitled to a disability pension from each country provided they meet the requirements of the national legislation in the country in question.
Generally, if a person’s work ability has decreased a certain amount and the rehabilitation measures have not been successful, the option available is disability pension. However, each country has its own rules concerning e.g. the required decrease of work ability.