Pensioners outside the EU/EEA
If you are a pensioner and have moved to another country, you are no longer automatically a member of the Norwegian National Insurance Scheme. If you take up residence outside the EU/EEA, you must apply to Nav for voluntary membership of the Norwegian National Insurance Scheme in order to be entitled to coverage of healthcare expenses.
Illustration: Morten Rakke / Helfo
Your rights
Suppose you are a pensioner and take up permanent residence outside the EU/EEA. In theat case you must apply to Nav for voluntary membership of the Norwegian National Insurance Scheme in order to be entitled to coverage of expenses on healthcare.
You must have voluntary membership granted by Nav to be entitled to coverage of healthcare expenses both abroad and in Norway. This applies regardless of whether you receive disability benefits, state old-age pension or AFP pension (public-sector contractual pension).
The decision from Nav will state when the membership applies. The entitlement to coverage of healthcare expenses applies from this date.
Read more on nav.no about voluntary membership (in Norwegian).
Your rights in Norway
As a pensioner with voluntary membership of the Norwegian National Insurance Scheme you retain your right to receive healthcare during temporary residence in Norway. You can also be covered for expenses for planned healthcare in Norway.
To be covered for your expenses in Norway you must bring your decision from Nav about granting voluntary membership in the Norwegian National Insurance Scheme.
You will have to pay your own travel expenses to and from Norway.
When you move out of Norway, you lose the right to a GP even if you have voluntary membership in the Norwegian National Insurance Scheme.
Family members
Any family members supported by you and staying with you abroad may also be granted voluntary membership by applying to Nav. They will then gain the same rights as you.
Example
Gudmund is a pensioner and is a resident in Thailand. He has applied to Nav for voluntary membership of the Norwegian National Insurance Scheme and has been granted this.
Tourists outside the EU/EEA
If you are a pensioner living in Norway and are on holiday or temporarily resident abroad, you have the same rights as other tourists. Read about being a tourist outside the EU /EEA.
What can you be covered for?
As a voluntary member of the Norwegian National Insurance Scheme you are entitled to health care subject to the rules of ordinary subsidisation.
You will have to pay the expenses out of pocket and apply to Helfo for reimbursement. Your expenses will then be reimbursed to you subject to the rules on ordinary subsidisation. This typically means that the reimbursement you receive is less than what you paid for the healthcare.
Read more about what you can be covered for when you are entitled to ordinary subsidisation.
Example
After living in Thailand for some time, Gudmund is diagnosed with lung cancer. He investigates the cost of treatment in Thailand and discovers that reimbursement from Helfo will only cover a small fraction of the cost. Gudmund considers travelling to Norway to receive treatment there. He is entitled to this because he has taken care to retain his membership in the Norwegian National Insurance Scheme by being granted voluntary membership from Nav.
Don't forget the documentation!
It is important to ensure that you obtain all the necessary documentation before you apply to Helfo.
This is the documentation you must send to Helfo after you have received the treatment:
- detailed documentation of all examinations and treatments that have been carried out
- an original itemised invoice showing the price per treatment
- original receipts or other documentation of payment, such as a bank statement
- if you are applying for reimbursement of expenses for medicines: a copy of the packaging
For Helfo to consider the claim and reach a decision, the documentation must be comprehensible. This means that all documentation must initially be in Norwegian, Danish, Swedish or English. You should therefore try to get the documentation issued in one of these languages. If the documents are in another language, Helfo can, if necessary, ask you to have them translated. You must pay for the translation yourself. If you send in a translated document, you must also send in the original.
Example
Gudmund has decided to receive the treatment in Thailand. He asks for the necessary documentation in English.
Submit your application
Once your treatments have been completed, you can apply to Helfo for reimbursement. You must send in your claim form within six months.
Deadline
You must send the application form and documentation to Helfo within 6 months of each treatment date. If you have not settled on the spot but paid later, we calculate the deadline from the payment date.
Paper form
If you are unable to use our digital form, you can complete the following form and send it to Helfo, Postboks 2415, 3104 Tønsberg instead:
Example
Gudmund knows that he has to cover a large percentage of the costs of treatment himself. However, Helfo will cover a fraction. He sends the application form to Helfo, enclosing the original receipts and documentation as proof that he has received the treatment. He takes care to do this within six months from each payment date.
Contact Guidance Helsenorge
Contact Guidance Helsenorge if you are not sure whether you are entitled to a European Health Insurance Card or coverage for healthcare services abroad:
- Telephone: +47 23 32 70 00
- Fax: +47 33 34 73 73
Power of attorney in connection with enquiries to Helfo
If you contact Helfo on behalf of anyone else, you must have power of attorney for them.
Parents/guardians must also have power of attorney from any children aged 18 or over. In the case of health information, you must have power of attorney from any children aged 16 or over. This is because the age of majority under health law is 16.
Complete the power of attorney form and send it to Helfo as an attachment to a digital form, or send it by post to Helfo, PO Box 2415, 3104 Tønsberg. Remember to enclose a copy of valid identification for the person granting power of attorney.