Tourists are entitled to urgent healthcare in Norway, but it's vital to understand the rules and who pays.
It's a sad fact of life that we all fall ill from time to time. It's a stressful experience at the best of times, but falling ill on holiday can be truly traumatic.
Make sure you understand the healthcare rules for tourists and buy comprehensive travel insurance before you visit.
In an emergency situation, call for an ambulance by dialling 113 from any telephone.
Citizens of Europe
Available to all citizens of EEA countries and Switzerland, the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) proves that you are entitled to coverage of urgent healthcare in Norway, under the same conditions as a Norwegian citizen.
If you are entitled to the EHIC card, you should absolutely order one in plenty of time and carry it with you during your trip.
How to apply for an EHIC card depends on your country of citizenship. British citizens can apply for a card from the NHS.
If you show your EHIC, you should be charged only the standard patient fees applicable in Norway. These are the same as a Norwegian would pay and therefore are non-refundable.
If you have had to pay full costs for medical care, contact the public health authority in your home country for reimbursement once you return home.
It should go without saying, but it's worth clarifying that the EHIC does not entitle you to medical care if you travel to Norway with the intention of receiving treatment.
Top Tip: The EHIC is not a substitute for insurance. If you fall ill in Norway but your condition is not deemed urgent, having your own insurance policy is the only way to avoid a hefty bill.
European citizens should still consider taking out appropriate travel insurance that covers ongoing medical treatments and costs, alongside cover for lost luggage, cancelled flights and so on.
Non-European visitors
Tourists from all other countries are not entitled to reimbursement for medical treatment given in Norway nor any subsidy of travel costs home. However, anyone staying in Norway is entitled to medical care as long as it is an urgent medical necessity.
Citizens of certain countries may have specific entitlements by agreement. This should be checked with your home country's public health authority before you travel. For example, some Australian citizens are entitled to urgent necessary medical treatment and can be reimbursed for necessary expenses on giving birth and for oxygen therapy and dialysis.
Top Tip: Although entitled to urgent medical care, non-European visitors will need to pay the full cost with no prospect of reimbursement. Private travel insurance that covers medical costs and repatriation is an absolute must.
A visit to the emergency ward cost me about US$200.00 without hospitalization in 2017.
Narada- I’m glad that is all you had to pay. You must have been worried it would be much more. I’m glad things worked out for you. Happy travels 🙂
What about doctor’s home visits in Norway?
Can I receive a COVID booster shot on Norway if I’m a traveller from Canada?
Do you know which Insurance company will cover for Hospital treatment in Norway in case if hospitalization is needed? I checked with all the insurance company so far and it seems none of them know that Medical system in Norway is using DRG (Diagnosis Related Group) which the invoice has only total amount (no detailed invoice). As a result, the travelling insurance will be useless if the traveller has any hospitalization needed. I also checked with some insurance company in Norway but they dont provide the travel insurance for a person who is not living in Norway.
Thanks,
My husband had an heart attack on the plane and the plane was diverted to Oslo. He is in the hospital and they had to put two stents and pump in aorta. I think they will keep him in the hospital for about a week. He is Canadian citizen. The travel insurance he had was only for 45 days and he was outside the country for 55 days when this happened. So he does not have travel insurance. Does anyone know how much it will cost. If it’s a lot we won’t be able to pay. What would happen in that case???