Healthcare Reimbursement in Norway: Who Reimburses What Depending on Your Situation

Norway is not a member of the European Union, but CLEISS indicates that Regulations 883/2004 and 987/2009 apply to the 27 EU States, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. The carte Vitale does not work at a Norwegian doctor: proof of rights is registration with the national insurance scheme for a resident, the EHIC (European Health Insurance Card, CEAM in French) for a temporary stay, or a portable form (A1, S1) for a lasting stay.

The notions of reimbursement base and out-of-pocket cost help you compare cover. How the care network works is described in the guide to the Norwegian healthcare system.

The locally employed worker becomes a member of the national insurance scheme from their first day of work (NAV). They pay the same co-payments as Norwegians and can obtain a Norwegian European Health Insurance Card for stays in other EEA countries (helsenorge.no). See the glossary entry on the local contract.

The seconded employee sent by a French employer for at most 24 months generally does not become a member of the Norwegian scheme: they remain under the legislation of their country of origin (NAV) thanks to the A1 form. See secondment versus expatriation and the glossary entry on the seconded employee.

The self-employed person settled in Norway contributes to national insurance on the basis of their activity; their affiliation and access to care are confirmed with NAV, which indicates that an EEA citizen becomes a member of the scheme by having the legal right to work. The contributions are presented in the page on working in Norway.

The retiree who receives only a French pension asks their pension fund, if possible before departure, for the S1 form: it allows the local scheme to cover them on behalf of French social security (CLEISS). Helsenorge.no specifies that an EEA retiree holding an S1 receives care under Norwegian rules and may have to pay co-payments. Outside France, health insurance contributions replace the CSG and CRDS (French social levies): 3.2% on the basic pension and 4.2% on the supplementary pension according to CLEISS, to be confirmed with the pension fund. See the guide to the S1 form: how to use it and the page on retiring in Norway.

The student from the EEA is generally not considered a Norwegian resident during their studies and keeps their rights in their home country: the EHIC proves their right to necessary care in public facilities. Helsenorge.no recommends supplementary insurance for medical transport home, and invites a student who works to contact NAV. See student insurance abroad.

The spouse and children who reside in Norway fall under the scheme as residents when their stay lasts, or is planned to last, at least 12 months (NAV). Family members of an employee of Norway who reside in another EEA country can obtain an S1, requested from Helfo (the Norwegian Health Economics Administration) with copies of the employment contract and a confirmation from the employer; processing generally takes up to four weeks (helsenorge.no). See expat family insurance.

The person without an occupation who settles for more than 12 months falls under the scheme as a resident (NAV); during the administrative waiting period, the EHIC or supplementary insurance serves as a bridge.

The CFE member can keep French cover: Assurance Maladie (the French national health insurance) specifies that an expat then contributes to the CFE and to the country’s compulsory scheme. According to the CFE, no waiting period applies if enrolment takes place before departure or within three months of expatriation; beyond that, the waiting period is three months before age 45 and six months after. Enrolment involves no medical questionnaire, and the conception of the child must take place after enrolment for maternity. See the guide to CFE reimbursements.

International health insurance with first-euro cover reimburses actual costs within its ceilings, after any deductible, waiting periods and exclusions. It covers private services without an agreement with the public sector, which helsenorge.no describes as paid in full by the patient, and may include repatriation.

The tourist presents their EHIC, which entitles them to the same cover as local insured people with public system professionals, with local co-payments; a provisional replacement certificate valid for three months replaces it in case of loss or oversight (CLEISS). Travel insurance complements the EHIC for repatriation. See long-stay travel insurance.

An expat who returns sends form S1106 to their health insurance fund to restore their cover (Assurance Maladie). With an employment contract, rights open with no waiting period; with no activity, the fund assesses the condition of stable residence in France. The CFE indicates resumption with no waiting period on return for its members. See the guide to reducing the waiting period and the page on returning to France.

On returning from a temporary stay, form S3125 allows you to request reimbursement of costs advanced, according to the rates of Norwegian health insurance or French legislation (CLEISS).

• Consultation: co-payment of 179 NOK for a daytime consultation with the family doctor and 443 NOK with a specialist in 2026 (helsenorge.no); these amounts accumulate up to the cap of 3,278 NOK, then the exemption card exempts you from co-payments for the rest of the calendar year.
• Hospital stay: free in a public hospital; outpatient clinic consultations involve a co-payment (helsenorge.no). International contract with direct payment for a facility without a public agreement.
• Medicines: on a blue prescription, 60% of the cost is borne by the patient, at most 400 NOK per dispensing, since 1 January 2026 (Helfo).
• Dental: for adults, the general rule is to pay the full cost of treatment, with support from the national insurance for a list of specific conditions, presented in the page on the healthcare system.
• Optical: it is not among the benefits described by CLEISS; supplementary and international contracts set a ceiling per period.
• Maternity: pregnant women are exempt from co-payments for follow-up consultations, and a hospital stay in a public facility is free (helsenorge.no). The CFE requires conception after enrolment, and international contracts generally apply a waiting period to maternity.

The reimbursement guide and the page on expat health insurance give benchmarks; Expavy helps you weigh these options against your situation.