Many Poles live and work in Denmark 🇩🇰, but when the need to see a doctor comes, thoughts often return to Poland 🇵🇱.
This is where they feel safer, better understood and more „at home” - in a place where they can speak Polish and where the doctor knows their medical history 🏥.
That's why more and more people working in Denmark want to keep the The right to treatment in Poland, even though they are insured under the Danish system.
Fortunately, this is possible - thanks to document S1, which allows to combine both Danish and Polish systems 🇩🇰🤝🇵🇱.
It allows you to live and work in Denmark while receiving public health care in Poland on the same terms as those insured there.
🧾 What is an S1 document?
S1 is a document that confirms that you are insured in Denmark and that you can also use public health care in Poland just like a person insured with the Polish NFZ.
S1 gives you:
🩺 the right to free treatment in Poland,
🏡 The possibility of covering family members living in Poland.
In practice, this means that you have the status of „green” - That is, active insurance under the National Health Service....
👩⚕️ Who can get an S1 document?
Obtaining a form S1 We discuss here on the basis of people who work legally in Denmark paying taxes 🇩🇰 and are covered by Danish health insurance (Sundhedsforsikring), but want the right to be treated in Poland at the same time 🇵🇱.
In practice, how to get an S1 depends on which address your yellow health card was issued to (Sundhedskort).
1. you have a yellow card for a Danish address 🇩🇰
It means that you are formally registered in Denmark and use the Danish health service.
However, if your vital center (Immediate family i.e. spouse, children) is still located in Poland, you can apply for an S1 document from a Danish institution Udbetaling Danmark.
In other situations, applying for an S1 document is handled by Udbetaling Denmark on a case-by-case basis.
2. you have a yellow card for a Polish address 🇵🇱
If you live in Poland but work in Denmark or are a posted employee, you can get a special yellow card.
When applying for yellow card to Polish address Udbetaling Danmark institution automatically issues and sends the S1 form automatically to the Polish NFZ 🇵🇱.
So you don't have to fill out additional documents yourself - the system will do it for you ✅.
This way, you retain the full right to medical treatment in Poland while remaining insured in Denmark.
You can read more about the yellow card for the Polish address here:
⚠️Warto remember
- Ordinary yellow card (Danish address) = full treatment in Denmark + possibility to get S1 after application at Udbetaling Danmark.
- Special yellow card (Polish address) = automatic issuance and transmission of the S1 form to the National Health Fund.
- The S1 confirms your right to public health care in Poland and works as long as you are covered by Danish health insurance up to a maximum of 2 years and you have to reapply,
💳 Differences between EHIC and S1 🇩🇰🤝🇵🇱
Many Poles working in Denmark wonder if they will have enough European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), do they also need document S1.
Although both documents deal with treatment under the public health system in European Union countries 🇪🇺, their operation and scope of protection are quite different.
Card EHIC (European Health Insurance Card) serves primarily those who temporarily reside in another EU/EEA country, such as on vacation, on a business trip or during a short stay with family for up to 30 days.
With an EHIC, you can receive necessary medical care - but only in emergency or urgent situations.
The EHIC gives you the right to:
✅ emergency and essential treatment in another country,
✅ benefits on the same terms as citizens of the country,
✅ short-term protection when traveling or visiting.
⚠️ The EHIC does not cover:
- permanent treatment in Poland,
- enrollment in a family doctor,
- Scheduled treatments, appointments, tests and therapies.
✅ Summary
The S1 document is an extremely useful document for people who live between Poland and another EU country.
Thanks to him:
💚 You retain full right to treatment in Poland,
💚 you don't pay for public health care,
💚 you have peace of mind during your stay in the country.
Don't leave it to the last minute - submit an application and be sure to get medical help when you need it without stress 💪.
If you need help getting document S1 click here:
Do you have questions?
Contact us. Hotline +45 35 13 13 10 (8 a.m. - 6 p.m., Mon-Fri)
