As a member of the National Insurance scheme, you only pay a fixed part of the cost of public health services, called patient charges. This applies to medical treatment, buying medicines on a refundable prescription, physiotherapy, seeing a psychologist and travel expenses to consultations and treatment appointments. If you have paid a certain amount in patient charges, you are eligible for an exemption card. This means you are exempt from paying patient charges for the rest of the calendar year. There are two types of exemption cards. The amounts are set annually by the Norwegian parliament, the Storting.
The exemption card for user fee group 1 covers approved patient charges paid to doctors, psychologists and outpatient clinics and for x-rays, patient travel and blue prescription medicine and equipment. The exemption card for user fee group 1 will automatically be sent to your registered address in the Population Register when you become entitled to it. Keep receipts for control purposes.
The exemption card for user fee 2 covers approved patient charges paid for physiotherapy, certain dental diseases, approved rehabilitation institutions and travel for treatment abroad organised by Oslo University Hospital - Rikshospitalet HF. To receive an exemption card for user fee group 2, you must submit an application to the Health Economic Administration (HELFO) and enclose the receipt from the person/institution treating you.
