Patient Fees & Cost Caps (Högkostnadsskydd) in Sweden

Sweden's healthcare system is primarily tax-funded, with patients paying modest fees for most services. A GP visit typically costs 200-350 kr depending on the region, while a specialist visit costs 350-400 kr. Emergency department visits cost 400-450 kr. These fees are set by each of Sweden's 21 regions (formerly landsting), leading to some variation across the country.

The Swedish cost protection system (högkostnadsskydd) caps annual patient fees for outpatient healthcare at 1,300 kr per 12-month period. Once a patient has paid 1,300 kr in healthcare fees, they receive a frikort (free card) entitling them to free healthcare visits for the remainder of the 12-month period. This system ensures that even those requiring frequent medical visits face a predictable and manageable annual cost.

Children and young people under 18 (under 20 in some regions) receive free healthcare across Sweden. Maternity care, including all prenatal visits, delivery, and postnatal care, is entirely free of charge. Patients under 85 who are hospitalized pay a daily fee of approximately 120 kr per day, while those aged 85 and over are exempt from inpatient fees. The system is designed to ensure that financial barriers do not prevent anyone from seeking necessary care.