Treatment, training and courses abroad for children with disabilities
Helfo can reimburse expenses for stays abroad to enable children with disabilities to attend specific treatment, training or courses. Helfo can also reimburse persons over the age of 18 when they start treatment or training.
Illustration: Morten Rakke / Helfo
Before you travel
Before the first treatment stay, you must obtain a statement from the child’s doctor which states that the stay abroad for the treatment, training or course concerned is considered to be medically justified.
You will also need to obtain a statement from your regional health authority stating that the existing habilitation service available in Norway is not sufficient.
You do not need to obtain another statement from the doctor each time you apply.
It is a condition for reimbursement that the child travels/receives the treatment.
Example
Rasmus is five years old and has several diagnoses. Rasmus' parents want him to receive treatment specifically for his condition. In cooperation with Rasmus' doctor, they have found suitable treatment in the USA. The parents obtain a statement from the doctor which states that the service is medically justified, along with a statement from the regional health authority that the treatment that is available in Norway is not available or sufficient.
Relevant treatments
Helfo can cover essential expenses for travel and stays for the following treatment, training and course stays:
- The Institutes for the Achievement of Human Potential (IAHP) in Philadelphia, USA, in connection with training according to the Doman method
- courses on the Kozijavkin method in Ukraine
- ABR (Advanced Bio-mechanical Rehabilitation) in Europe
- FHC (The Family Hope Center – An International Center for the Development of Children) in Philadelphia, USA
Helfo can also cover travel and accommodation expenses if the IAHP Institute and FHC arrange courses in Europe.
Example
Rasmus and his family plan to travel to FHC in Philadelphia, USA. This is a service that Helfo can cover.
What expenses can you have covered?
Amongst other things, Helfo can cover participant fees and essential travel and accommodation/subsistence expenses.
Helfo can cover essential expenses for:
- travel and accommodation
- participant fees
- subsistence based on receipts (or at the applicable rates if expenses cannot be documented through receipts)
- visas (not passports/electronic passports)
Example
Rasmus’ parents find out that they can have their expenses for travel and accommodation, participant fees and subsistence covered.
Who can have their expenses covered?
Amongst other things, Helfo can cover expenses for parents and children.
Helfo can cover expenses for the following:
- Parents and children.
- Siblings, if there is a programme or service for siblings at the course centre.
- An escort, if other parents must accompany the child in addition to the parents.
- More than one escort when a doctor has declared this to be necessary. You must have such a declaration (confirmation) for each trip.
- An assistant may be an appropriate escort when they are involved in the daily provision of support, if it is necessary for the assistant to participate in order to complete the course/meeting. Helfo does not cover expenses for an assistant who will attend the course solely to receive essential training in order to follow up the day-to-day training after the course.
Helfo does not cover expenses for other relatives, childminders or relief workers, unless they are participating as essential escorts.
Example
Rasmus and his parents can have their expenses for the course stay covered. Rasmus does not need any adults other than his parents.
You can apply for an advance payment and/or prior authorisation
You can apply for an advance payment to cover your expenses in connection with treatment, training or courses. Alternatively, you can solely apply for prior authorisation.
If you wish to apply for an advance or alternatively prior authorisation only, it is important that you do so well in advance of the trip. It normally takes at least five weeks to process cases. Once Helfo has processed your application, you will receive a decision.
You must notify Helfo if you have received an advance payment but are unable to travel after all. You will then have to repay the advance.
If you do not wish to receive an advance payment, you can still apply for prior authorisation of reimbursement of your expenses only. You must then pay your expenses and submit an application for reimbursement to Helfo afterwards.
Example
Rasmus’ parents obtain documentation of what their travel and stay cost.
Remember documentation!
The documentation you will need to obtain is listed below.
You will need the following documentation:
- a statement from the child's doctor stating that the treatment, training or course stay abroad is considered to be medically justified (you will not need to obtain a new statement every time you apply)
- a statement from your regional health authority stating that the existing habilitation service available in Norway is not sufficient (you will not need to obtain a new statement every time you apply)
- alternatively, a declaration (confirmation) of the need for more than one escort to accompany the child (you will need a new declaration for each journey)
In addition, you will also need:
- documentation of your anticipated essential expenses if you are applying for prior authorisation or an advance payment
- itemised receipts for expenses when you are applying for reimbursement
Example
Rasmus's parents make sure to get the documentation they need.
Submit your application digitally
You must submit your application to Helfo by no later than 30 June in the year after that in which the treatment, training or course stay took place.
Log in to Helfo's digital form
For details of the documentation requirements, see "Remember documentation!"
Once your application has been processed by Helfo, you will be sent a decision.
Paper form
If you are applying for reimbursement and are unable to use the digital form, you can apply by sending the following form:
together with the necessary documentation to: Helfo, Postboks 2415, 3104 Tønsberg.
It can be a good idea to make a copy of your original receipts before you send them to Helfo.
If you are applying for an advance payment or alternatively prior authorisation only, send the statements to Helfo. You do not need to use a specific form for this.
Rasmus’ parents decide to apply for an advance. They submit the digital form together with the necessary documentation.
Guidance Helsenorge
If you have any questions, please call Guidance Helsenorge: +47 23 32 70 00