Insurance for staff at Aarhus University

There are many different insurance companies in Denmark. Prices vary from company to company so you should study the market carefully to compare prices.

The Danish Insurers' Information Service has published the booklet 'Insurance and pension for everyday needs' which outlines the risks typically covered by the individual types of insurance as well as non-covered risks. The booklet also includes a section about the types of insurance that apply in the workplace. Read Insurance and pension for everyday needs.

Required insurance

In Denmark you are required to have an insurance in the following cases:

• Third-party liability insurance if you own a car, motorcycle, scooter or moped
• Third party insurance if you own a dog
• Third party insurance if you own a horse
• Home-owner insurance if you own a house

Recommended private insurance

We recommend basic insurance (familiens basisforsikring or indboforsikring), which consists of the following insurances.

• Third-party/liability insurance (ansvarsforsikring): this insurance covers any losses you might have if you must pay compensation to another person.
• Home insurance (indboforsikring): insurance of your personal belongings against fire, theft and water damage.
• Travel insurance is possible to add to the basic insurance package, which is often the most affordable option.

We also recommend

• Accident insurance (ulykkesforsikring): this insurance covers the financial consequences of an accident.

Read more about insurance

The Insurance Guide is a website where you can compare policy terms and prices of building, motor, contents, vacation home and accident insurance. Please note that the website is in Danish.

Visit the Insurance Guide (in Danish)

On-the-job injury insurance

Aarhus University provides personal on-the-job injury insurance. This insurance will cover you if you are injured at work or by your working conditions. 

The university also covers the expenses if you unintentionally do damage to Aarhus University property, on the job.

Persons covered

• Employees with an employment contract
• Persons engaged in permanent, temporary or casual work, paid or unpaid
• Persons who are employed to carry out work in Denmark, but who go on official trips of a short or long duration

PhD students 

It depends on your status as a PhD student, whether you are covered by Aarhus University insurance or not. A distinction is made between employed and/or enrolled PhD students.

• Enrolled, employed PhD students are ranked in the same category as other employees and are, thus, covered by Aarhus University insurance (via the Consolidated Workers’ Compensation Act).
• Enrolled, non-employed PhD students are ranked in the same category as other students and should therefore take out their own full-time liability and accident insurance.
• As a rule, industrial PhD students are not covered by the protection afforded by the Consolidated Workers’ Compensation Act. However, if they perform an assignment for Aarhus University, they are covered during that period.

Read more about AU insurance cover on the AU insurance page 

Aarhus University travel insurance

If you need to travel in connection with your work, you will be covered by the AU travel insurance policy (Tjenesterejseforsikring).

About the insurance

• All who carry out work for Aarhus University will be covered by AU travel insurance if the university bears the travel expenses in full or in part.
• The insurance only covers acute illness or an unexpected deterioration of existing or chronic illness.
• The insurance does not provide cover during holiday or leave. You need to take out private travel insurance.

Read more about travel insurance on the AU travel insurance page

In Denmark, insurance against unemployment is voluntary. If you want to be insured against unemployment, you must apply for admission into an unemployment insurance fund (a-kasse).

However, please read the following guide before you sign up with an a-kasse. Especially non-EU citizens may have difficulty to use the unemployment insurance system, since you may not be eligible for unemployment benefits.

Membership and requirements

You must be actively seeking employment and willing to accept offers of employment when you are unemployed and receiving unemployment benefits.

See all requirements to being eligible for benefits at a-kasser.dk

Unemployment insurance according to citizenship

• Citizens of an EU/EEA country or Switzerland: If you come from another EU/EEA country, you can retain earned rights (membership period and working period) from your home country's unemployment insurance scheme. Read more about transferring periods of work and insurance from another EU/EEA Country in this article
• Citizens of a non-EU/EEA country: For people from non-EU/EEA countries, unemployment insurance may not be relevant or even allowed depending on the type of residence and work permit you hold. Contact the International Staff Office or Danish Immigration Authorities for further information. It is not possible for non-EU/EEA citizens to transfer earned rights from an unemployment insurance scheme from your own country.
• Citizens who have lived in the Nordic countries: It is possible to transfer earned rights according to the unemployment insurance scheme between the Nordic countries. The only requirement is that you have been covered by the social security rules in one of the Nordic Countries. Read more about transferring periods of work and insurance from another EU/EEA Country in this article

Unemployment insurance funds 

See a list of unemployment insurance funds at a-kasser.dk 

Supplementary insurance

Besides the unemployment insurance, you can buy additional wage insurance (Lønsikring). Nearly all a-kasser in Denmark also offer this extra insurance.

To buy supplementary wage insurance through the a-kasse, you must be a member and pay the normal (basic) unemployment insurance. 

You can also buy a similar kind of wage insurance at traditional insurance companies. In this case membership of an a-kasse is not required.

When you have completed your CPR registration as a resident in Denmark, you have access to healthcare on the same terms as Danish citizens. In Denmark, public healthcare is tax-funded and covers a wide range of medical services. While the Danish healthcare system provides broad public coverage, it is important to understand what is included, what requires co-payment, and how coverage applies when travelling.

Public Healthcare Coverage 

Most services provided by your general practitioner and public hospitals are covered by public healthcare. However, some services are only partially covered, meaning you will need to pay a portion yourself. This includes among others some specialist treatments and dental care for adults.

Prescription medicines are partially reimbursed, and reimbursement only applies after your total personal spending on prescription medicine has reached a set annual amount. Pharmacies automatically deducts the reimbursement you are eligible for at the time of purchase, and the reimbursement amount is stated on your receipt.

You can find more information about reimbursement and prices on prescription medicine on the Danish Medicines Agency website here

Private Health Insurance 

Some residents choose to supplement the Danish public healthcare system with private health insurance to obtain additional coverage and faster access to selected healthcare services. Private health insurance is by some employers provided as part of an employment package, but it can also be purchased directly from a Danish insurance company.

As a public employer, AU does not offer private health insurance as part of the employment package.

Depending on your pension scheme and provider, additional coverage, such as health, critical illness, life, or disability insurance, may also be included as part of a pension plan. Check with your pension provider to understand what insurance coverage is included in your scheme.

Supplementary Health‑Related Scheme

In addition to public healthcare and private health insurance, Denmark has a voluntary health insurance association called Sygeforsikringen "danmark”. Unlike private health insurance, Sygeforsikringen "danmark” is a non-profit, member-owned association. Members may receive reimbursement for selected healthcare expenses, such as dental care, prescription medicine, contact lenses, glasses and other healthcare-related costs. Membership is optional, and both the membership fee and the level of reimbursement depend on the membership group chosen.

You can find more information about eligibility requirements, membership fees and reimbursement options on Sygeforsikringen “danmark” official website here.

Healthcare coverage when travelling outside of Denmark

Danish public healthcare covers residents only while they are in Denmark. Therefore, if you travel outside Denmark, you should ensure that you have insurance that covers medical emergencies abroad.

EU citizens can benefit from the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). EHIC grants access to medically necessary public healthcare during temporary stays in other EU/EEA countries and Switzerland. To benefit from the EHIC, you must apply for the card before you travel and carry it with you when abroad. 

Important notes for non-EU citizens: Most non-EU citizens are not eligible for the EHIC* in Denmark. This means non-EU citizens do generally not have public healthcare coverage when traveling outside of Denmark. However, the following exceptions apply:

• *Non‑EU family members of EU citizens may qualify for the EHIC if they are insured under Danish public health insurance through their EU family member (referred to as a derived right).
• Residents covered by the Danish public healthcare system – including non-EU citizens – are entitled to necessary public healthcare during temporary stays in Norway, Sweden, Finland and Iceland under the Nordic agreements.

Please note that EHIC does not cover treatment in private clinics that are not affiliated with the national health service in the country you visit. Furthermore, it does not cover medical repatriation. Therefore, it is recommended to take out travel insurance, even when travelling within the EU/EEA. 

More information & links 

• Visit the LifeInDenmark website for more information about the Danish public health insurance and healthcare system and for information about the European Health Insurance Card and how to apply for the card.
• You can read more about healthcare coverage during temporary stays in other Nordic countries for persons covered by the Danish public healthcare system on the Info Norden website.
• Read more about the rules and rights for non-EU family member of an EU Citizen residing in Denmark under the EU rules on the New to Denmark website here.