Collective Protection — Healthcare

Collective Protection — Healthcare

This article explains the main healthcare rights and practical options for people who have been granted collective protection in Norway.

Healthcare rules can change. Always check the latest information from Helsenorge, UDI and other official Norwegian authorities before making important decisions.

1. Your right to healthcare

People with collective protection in Norway have access to necessary healthcare under the applicable Norwegian rules.

Your healthcare rights can depend on your age, health situation, type of treatment and legal status.

Healthcare services are organised through the Norwegian public healthcare system, including municipal healthcare services and specialist healthcare services.

2. Where to go when you are sick

If you have a health problem, your general practitioner (fastlege) is normally your first point of contact.

Your municipality can also provide other healthcare services, including health centres and other municipal services.

If you need further examination or treatment, your GP or another healthcare professional may refer you to a hospital or specialist.

In an emergency, you do not need a referral before receiving emergency healthcare.

3. Fastlege

People who are registered as asylum seekers or refugees can have the right to a regular general practitioner (fastlege).

If you live in private accommodation, you may need to apply for a GP yourself or with help from the municipality or Helfo.

Your GP can assess your health, provide treatment and refer you to specialist healthcare when necessary.

Children can have healthcare follow-up through the GP and other child health services.

4. Legevakt — urgent medical help

If you become ill outside your GP's normal opening hours and the situation cannot wait, you can contact the out-of-hours medical service (legevakt).

The national telephone number for legevakt is:

116 117

Legevakt is intended for situations that require urgent medical assessment but are not immediately life-threatening.

Examples can include acute illness, significant worsening of an existing condition, moderate breathing difficulties or other situations where you cannot safely wait until your GP is available.

5. Emergency — call 113

Call 113 when there is a serious or life-threatening emergency.

Examples include severe breathing problems, unconsciousness, serious accidents, suspected stroke, serious chest pain or other situations where immediate emergency medical help is needed.

Do not use 116 117 instead of 113 when there is an immediate risk to life.

6. Mental health

Healthcare rights also include help for mental health problems.

If you experience serious psychological difficulties, you can contact your GP or another healthcare service for assessment and help.

In an acute situation, legevakt can provide urgent assessment.

If there is an immediate danger to life, call 113.

Mental health treatment can include municipal services, psychologists, specialist healthcare or other appropriate services depending on the assessment.

7. Healthcare for children

Children under 18 have extensive rights to healthcare in Norway.

Children can receive healthcare through their GP, child health centre (helsestasjon), school health service and specialist healthcare when necessary.

Children under 16 do not normally pay user fees for many public healthcare services.

The school health service is a free service for pupils in primary and secondary education.

Parents can contact the municipality or school health service if they need information about available services.

8. Pregnancy and maternity care

Pregnant women are entitled to healthcare during pregnancy, childbirth and after giving birth under the applicable Norwegian rules.

Pregnancy follow-up can be provided by a midwife (jordmor), GP or other healthcare service.

If you are pregnant and need healthcare, contact your GP, midwife or local health service.

In an emergency, use legevakt or call 113 depending on the seriousness of the situation.

9. Dental care

Dental treatment is organised separately from most other healthcare services.

Adults will normally have to pay for dental treatment unless a specific rule or public scheme covers the treatment.

Children have broader rights to publicly provided dental healthcare.

If you are staying in private accommodation, do not assume that dental treatment is automatically free.

Ask the public dental health service or your municipality which rules apply to you and your children.

10. User fees and exemption card

Adults may have to pay user fees (egenandel) for some healthcare services.

The amount depends on the service and the applicable rules.

Some services are free, and certain groups have additional exemptions.

If you pay enough approved user fees during a calendar year, you may become entitled to an exemption card (frikort) under the applicable rules.

Keep receipts and information about healthcare payments when necessary.

Always check the current rules on Helsenorge because user fees and thresholds can change.

11. Interpreter and language assistance

If you do not understand Norwegian well enough to receive important healthcare information, you can have the right to an interpreter.

Healthcare professionals should make sure that you understand information about your health, examination and treatment so that you can make informed decisions.

Professional interpreters have a duty of confidentiality.

Do not assume that a family member must interpret for you. Ask the healthcare service for an interpreter if you need one.

12. Confidentiality

Healthcare professionals are normally subject to a duty of confidentiality.

Information about your health should not be shared with others unless there is a legal basis or you have given the required consent.

You should be able to tell healthcare professionals about your symptoms, medication and other relevant information so they can assess your situation correctly.

13. Your medical records

You have rights concerning your medical records.

Medical records can contain information about your medical history, examinations, diagnoses and treatment.

You can ask about your medical records and, when applicable, request access to information concerning your treatment.

If you change GP, relevant medical information can be transferred according to the applicable rules.

14. Referral to specialist healthcare

If your GP or another healthcare professional believes that you need further examination or treatment, you may receive a referral to specialist healthcare.

The specialist healthcare service will assess the referral according to the applicable rules.

You normally do not need a referral in an emergency.

If you are waiting for a referral or appointment and your condition becomes significantly worse, contact your healthcare service again.

15. Medication and prescriptions

Your GP, hospital or other healthcare professional can prescribe medication when medically necessary.

Some medicines are covered partly or fully by public reimbursement schemes when the applicable conditions are met.

Do not assume that every medicine is free.

Ask your doctor or pharmacy about the prescription, payment and reimbursement rules that apply to your medicine.

16. Vaccination and preventive healthcare

Children and adolescents have rights connected with the Norwegian vaccination programme.

Health centres and school health services can provide information about vaccinations and other preventive healthcare.

If you or your child have recently arrived in Norway, contact the relevant local health service if you need information about vaccination or health checks.

17. Patient travel

If you need to travel to or from certain public healthcare services, you may have a right to reimbursement of travel expenses under the applicable patient travel rules.

The conditions depend on the type of treatment, distance, transport and other circumstances.

Check the official patient travel information before assuming that travel costs will be reimbursed.

18. If you cannot pay immediately

Do not avoid necessary emergency healthcare because you are worried that you cannot pay immediately.

Emergency healthcare cannot simply be refused because you are unable to pay a user fee at that moment.

For non-emergency services, ask the healthcare provider about payment arrangements and your rights.

If you have serious financial difficulties, you can also ask NAV or your municipality whether any financial support may be available.

19. What to do in practice

If you are sick:

- contact your fastlege during normal opening hours; - call 116 117 when you need urgent medical assessment and cannot wait for your GP; - call 113 when there is an immediate danger to life; - ask for an interpreter if you need one; - bring information about medicines you use; - keep important healthcare documents and appointment information; - ask the healthcare service if you do not understand the diagnosis, treatment or next steps.

20. Official information

Helsenorge — Healthcare for asylum seekers and refugees in Norway: https://www.helsenorge.no/en/foreigners-in-norway/refugees-and-asylum-seekers/

Helsenorge — How to get help if you are sick or need medical care in Norway: https://www.helsenorge.no/en/foreigners-in-norway/refugees-and-asylum-seekers/where-to-get-help/

Helsenorge — Your healthcare rights as a refugee or asylum seeker: https://www.helsenorge.no/en/foreigners-in-norway/refugees-and-asylum-seekers/your-health-rights-as-refugee/

Helsenorge — Healthcare rights in Norway: https://www.helsenorge.no/en/health-rights-in-norway/health-care-rights/

Helsenorge — The right to a doctor in Norway: https://www.helsenorge.no/en/gp/about-gp/the-right-to-a-doctor/

Helsenorge — Patient travel: https://www.helsenorge.no/en/patient-travel/

UDI — My application for collective protection has been granted: https://www.udi.no/en/information-ukraine-and-russia/ukraine/i-have-received-an-answer-to-my-application/my-application-for-collective-protection-has-been-granted/

IMPORTANT

Healthcare rules, user fees and eligibility conditions can change. This article provides structured general information based on official Norwegian sources. The latest information from the competent authorities always takes priority.

This article does not replace individual medical advice.

Official source: