Check user fees and find your exemption card
Treatment providers, laboratories/X-ray institutions and other service providers are required to report all approved user fees to Helfo at least every 14 days. These user fees will be automatically registered under your name. Find out more about what happens when you have an exemption card or have paid more than the user fee limit.
The types of investigations you can have covered by Helfo vary from one X-ray institution to the next, but they can include:
- CT scans
- MRI scans
- X-rays
- Ultrasound scans
The laboratory/X-ray institution must have an agreement with Helfo
In order for you to be entitled to benefits from the National Insurance scheme, the laboratory or X-ray institution must have:
- an agreement with Helfo regarding direct settlement
- a funding contract with a regional health authority
If you go to a laboratory or X-ray institution which does not have agreements with Helfo and a regional health authority, you will have to cover all the costs yourself. Read more about the conditions for investigations at laboratories/X-ray institutions.
You will need a referral for radiological investigations
In order for you to be entitled to coverage of your expenses for X-ray investigations and MRI, CT and ultrasound scans, you will need a referral from a doctor, dentist, chiropractor or manual therapist.
If you do not have a referral from a doctor, dentist, chiropractor or manual therapist and find a private laboratory or X-ray institution yourself, you will have to cover all your expenses yourself!
You will also have to cover all the costs yourself if you do have a referral, but want an appointment sooner than the appointment agreed between the public health service and the private X-ray institution.
You will need a requisition for laboratory tests and investigations
Laboratory tests must be requisitioned by a doctor, dentist or midwife. Many general practitioners and specialists have equipment which enables them to carry out laboratory tests themselves.
You doctor will also be able to send your sample to a private laboratory themselves. The private laboratory must have an agreement with a regional health authority in order for you to be able to claim back your expenses. Ask your doctor or regional health authority which laboratories you can use.
You can also use doctors or laboratory institutions which do not have an agreement, but you will then have to cover all your expenses yourself.
Contact your regional health authority for an overview of who they have agreements with.
Normal user fees for laboratories/X-ray institutions
Only approved user fees count towards exemption cards for health services.
The user fees above only cover laboratories and X-ray institutions which have an agreement with Helfo/regional health authority.
| Laboratory/X-ray institution | User fee |
| Laboratory tests | NOK 64 |
| Investigation/treatment at X-ray institution (CT, MRI, X-rays, ultrasound) | NOK 287 |
Children and other groups who do not have to pay user fees
Some patient groups are exempt from having to pay user fees. This applies for example to:
- investigations and treatment in connection with pregnancy and childbirth
- treatment of children under the age of 16
- psychiatric treatment of children and young people under the age of 18
- patients with an approved occupational injury
- persons with a communicable disease which may endanger public health and persons who suspect they may have such a disease. This applies for example to coronavirus (coronavirus, 2019-nCoV/SARS-CoV-2), chlamydia and gonorrhea. (Only in Norwegian).
Patient payments for laboratories/X-ray institutions which do not count towards en exemption card
You will have to pay all or some of the cost of some treatments yourself.
Laboratories/X-ray institutions which do not have an agreement with Helfo/regional health authority are free to set fees for their patients.
It does not matter whether you have an exemption card or are exempt from having to pay user fees.
Fees if you fail to attend appointments
If you do not turn up for an appointment you have been given without giving at least 24 hours advance notice, you will have to pay a fee of NOK 1,125.
This will not count towards your exemption card.
We strongly recommend you reschedule your appointment as soon as possible.
Requirement for direct settlement agreement with Helfo and agreement with a regional health authority
The laboratory or X-ray institution has a duty to inform you as their patient if they do not have an agreement with Helfo regarding direct settlement, to ensure that you know before the treatment starts whether or not you will have to pay the entire bill yourself. This obligation follows from Section 6 of the Health Personnel Act.
The private X-ray institution must have an agreement with a regional health authority (only in Norwegian). Ask your doctor or regional health authority which X-ray institutions you can use.