Health coverage and healthcare costs in Norway

Norway does not use a private health insurance system as the main way of financing public healthcare. People who have the right to healthcare normally receive services through the public healthcare system and may have to pay user fees.

Membership in the Norwegian National Insurance Scheme (Folketrygden) is important for many healthcare rights and reimbursement arrangements.

Whether you are a member and what healthcare rights you have depends on your residence, work, immigration status and other circumstances.

Adults normally pay user fees for services such as visits to a GP, out-of-hours medical care and many specialist healthcare services.

The amount of the user fee depends on the service and the applicable rates.

Approved user fees count towards the annual exemption-card threshold. When you have paid enough approved user fees during the calendar year, you may receive an exemption card (frikort). You normally do not have to pay further approved user fees covered by the exemption card for the rest of that year.

Some healthcare services are not included in the exemption-card system. For example, many dental services for adults are normally paid for separately, subject to specific rules and exceptions.

Hospital admission in the public healthcare system is generally free of user fees, although other services and treatment may have different payment rules.

If you are a foreigner in Norway, your healthcare rights can depend on your specific status. Refugees, asylum seekers, workers, EEA citizens and visitors can have different rules.

If you are unsure whether you are covered by the Norwegian National Insurance Scheme or whether a treatment is reimbursed, check Helsenorge and NAV or ask Helfo.

If you receive a bill for healthcare, check what service it concerns and whether you believe you should have coverage or reimbursement before paying.

Keeping documentation such as receipts, decisions and healthcare correspondence can be useful if you need to apply for reimbursement or clarify your rights.

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