Norwegian National Contact Point for healthcare

You are entitled to receive healthcare in another EU/EEA country and subsequently apply for reimbursement of your expenses.

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EU/EEA citizens can choose freely in which EU/EEA country they want to receive healthcare. They may be able to have health care expenses covered by their social security authorities.

Norwegian citizens seeking to receive healthcare in another EU/EEA country

Norwegian citizens, and others with a membership in the Norwegian National Insurance Scheme, who have the right to receive healthcare in Norway, may choose to receive their healthcare in another EU/EEA country. To be eligible for reimbursement of out of pocket expenses, the healthcare must be equivalent to the healthcare the public health system would have covered in Norway. The health services under Chapter 5 of the Norwegian National Insurance Act, the Norwegian Dental Health Services Act and the Norwegian Specialist Health Service Act are comprised by this scheme.

If you travel to another EU/EEA country and receive healthcare, you must pay for the healthcare out of pocket. If the terms and conditions are met, you will be eligible for subsequent reimbursement from Helfo.

The reimbursement is limited to the amount that the equivalent health service would have cost the Norwegian public health system if the health service had been received in Norway. Travel expenses are covered only to a limited extent. You will not be reimbursed for more than if you had travelled to your nearest healthcare provider in Norway.

If you are assessed as entitled to necessary healthcare from the specialised health service within a certain time limit, you may apply to Helfo for prior notification before travelling abroad for treatment. Read more about prior notification in the article "Hospital treatment and other specialised health services in EU/EEA countries".

Click here for a list of the type of healthcare for which patients may apply for reimbursement of expenses (in Norwegian).

EU/EEA citizens seeking to receive healthcare in Norway

​Citizens from other EU/EEA countries can choose to come to Norway for treatment. These patients must pay out of pocket and later seek reimbursement from their home country depending on national legislation.

Click here for more information about being an EU/EEA citizen seeking to receive healthcare within the specialised health service in Norway.

Norwegian National Contact Point

​The Norwegian National Contact Point in Norway can provide details about the rules regarding reimbursement of healthcare received outside of Norway, and issue information on behalf of other countries' national contact points (in Norwegian).

The Norwegian National Contact Point in Norway can also provide information for people seeking to travel to Norway to receive healthcare and advise on the Norwegian health service.

Norwegian National Contact Point

Helfo is the National Contact Point in Norway and is operated by Veiledning Helsenorge. Telephone number: +47 23 32 70 00

The lines are open Monday–Friday from 8.00 a.m. until 3.30 p.m.

Content provided by Helfo

Helfo. Norwegian National Contact Point for healthcare. [Internet]. Oslo: The Norwegian Directorate of Health; updated Tuesday, January 23, 2024 [retrieved Friday, November 8, 2024]. Available from: https://www.helsenorge.no/en/treatment-abroad/norwegian-national-contact-point-for-healthcare/

Last updated Tuesday, January 23, 2024