Danish Mega-Region Saves Millions by Retaining Old Health Cards

Region Zealand and the Capital Region in Denmark will merge to form Region East Denmark on January 1, 2027. In a cost-saving measure, the new region's executive board has decided that 2.8 million citizens will not receive new health cards simultaneously. The existing health cards for the former regions will remain valid. This decision is projected to save the new region 30.2 million kroner, the estimated cost of replacing all cards at once. Instead, citizens will be issued new cards only if they move or change their general practitioner. The card replacements will occur gradually over a period of up to five years. Lars Gaardhøj, chairman of the Region East Denmark executive board, stated that the new health cards will feature a new logo, making the new region visually apparent. He added that issuing cards gradually as needed is both an economical and sustainable solution. The health card is also available as a mobile app, downloaded over three million times nationwide. This app will automatically update when the regions merge. The merger of the Capital Region and Region Zealand into Region East Denmark was decided as part of a healthcare reform passed by the Danish Parliament in 2024. The new region will oversee healthcare services for citizens across Zealand, its islands, and Bornholm.

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With Region East Denmark, the health card will get a new logo, which will be a visible part of the new region.