Private health insurance secures faster specialist appointments than public referrals

Patients with private health insurance in Sweden can access specialist care within days, while those referred through the public healthcare system often face waits of months for the same clinics, an investigation by public broadcaster SVT reveals.

In calls to 15 orthopedic clinics and four major dermatology centers across the country, SVT posed as patients with chronic knee pain and eczema. Staff at nine orthopedic clinics and all four dermatology centers confirmed that insured patients receive priority scheduling, with wait times ranging from a few days to several months shorter than for public referrals.

“For public referrals, I can’t promise an appointment before August,” one clinic staff member told SVT. “But if you contact your insurer, I think you could get one within two weeks.”

Several clinics reported that insurers book appointments directly, bypassing standard referral assessments. “Some call their insurer and get an appointment the same afternoon,” a clinic representative said. Public patients, by contrast, are scheduled only after a physician reviews their referral—a step often skipped for insured patients.

Under Sweden’s Health and Medical Services Act, care must be provided based on need and equal terms. Anders Anell, professor of health economics at Lund University, called the findings a clear conflict between legal principle and practice. “This becomes problematic because part of the population has different conditions than another,” he said.

Aleris and Capio, which operate many of the clinics contacted, acknowledged that availability varies between public and insured pathways. Both companies stated that medical assessments determine priority once a patient reaches specialist care, regardless of referral type. Capio added that it conducts its own evaluations to ensure treatment aligns with medical need.

The investigation covered clinics in Stockholm, Västra Götaland, and Skåne. None had access to actual patient records, so responses reflect general wait-time estimates rather than case-specific guarantees.