THE SHORT ANSWER
Sickness insurance, or sjukförsäkring, may replace part of your income during sick leave. Private healthcare insurance, called sjukvårdsförsäkring or vårdförsäkring, may provide access to care and treatment under the agreement.
These are two different functions. Private healthcare insurance is an optional addition to public healthcare. Not having it is not, in itself, an insurance gap. [1][2]
Keep these points in mind
- Look at what is provided: income or care.
- Workplace cover may supplement other benefits.
- Private healthcare insurance is optional.
STEP BY STEP
How to check your cover
Check your cover through work
Ask your employer for statements of benefits during sick leave and any healthcare policies. AGS and AGS-KL are examples of sickness insurance under collective agreements. Other collective agreements have different arrangements. A general benefits brochure alone does not confirm what applies to you personally.
[3]Compare waiting periods and requirements
For sickness insurance, check how long and by how much your ability to work must be reduced. For healthcare insurance, check how care must be booked, any excess and which treatments are included. Read individual exclusions and rules on previous symptoms particularly carefully.
[1][2]Keep public benefits and insurance separate
Benefits from Försäkringskassan and payments from an insurer have different rules and decisions. Keep statements from both if they become relevant. A healthcare appointment booked through insurance is not a decision on sickness benefit.
[4]
Two policies can do different jobs
Sickness insurance and healthcare insurance appearing in the same benefits package does not mean you are paying twice for the same thing. One may concern income; the other, how care is arranged.
Write down the questions the documents do not answer. Ask the insurer to refer you to the relevant clause instead of settling for a description of the product name.
[1][2]Read the source behind the name
My Forsio brings your insurance documents together so you can see what they contain and what needs completing. Add the documents from work if they are missing.
Claim check Beta helps you read terms within the areas the feature supports. It does not replace a medical assessment, decide claims or book care. Follow the insurer's contact process if you want to use an existing healthcare policy.
Fictional example
Similar names, different content.
Two documents from an employer describe separate benefits.
- Sickness insurance
- Supplements income during sick leave
- Healthcare insurance
- Care coordination and specialist appointments
- Sickness insurance waiting period
- Unverified
The documents show different functions. The unclear waiting period needs checking in the full agreement.
Common questions
Does everyone need private healthcare insurance?
No. Private healthcare insurance is an optional addition to public healthcare. Its absence alone should not be interpreted as a shortfall in your insurance cover. [1]
Does healthcare insurance replace my salary?
Do not assume so. The main purpose of healthcare insurance is care under the agreement. Lost income is a separate question; read any sickness policies and public benefit statements separately. [1][4]
Can I tell everything from the product name?
No. Words such as health, sickness and care appear in different combinations. Check the policy document, the full terms and any personal exclusions.
MY FORSIO
Include the cover you already have.
Bring your policies together in My Forsio. Cover through work or your union may need to be added as documents. Free for individuals, with no invitation needed.
Sources and references
Sources checked
This guide explains general principles of Swedish insurance. Your policy schedule and terms set out what applies to you.