What about the health care?

If you have a Norwegian Social Security Number and are entitled to stay in Norway, you are covered by subsidized Government Health service.  Most of the EU/EEA nationals and members of other countries (check with your own country's health system) are covered under reciprocal health agreements. A good summary can be found here.

Once assigned a social security number, the resident is entitled to select a FastLege (Your First doctor or GP). For any non-emergency health issues, you must seek an appointment from your GP, who if necessary will refer you to an specialist.

Note: The health system in Norway could be painstakingly slow and it usually takes 1-2 weeks before you can seek your first appointment with your GP, who might advise some laboratory examinations and then it could be another couple of weeks before the results arrive and so..on. For acute problems, visit 24 hours x 365 days open Legevakten (Government hospital) at Storgata 40, Oslo. No prior appointment is needed and expect a minimum waiting time of few hours.

A summary pdf file listing how health services work in Norway and who are entitled for free treatment, etc. could be found in English, Norsk, Urdu and Sami language here (Click Andre Språk, next to the pdf file and choose your desired language). For more detailed information, contact Norwegian Health administration or HELFO. 

Fee:
If you visit your fastlege (GP)/Legevakten, you must pay the minimum contribution of 136NOK  or 180 NOK, if your GP has specialist degree. The fee of evening visits higher. All the pricecs are correct as on 1 May 2013. For more details, see here (in Norwegian).

Each year (from Jan-Dec), if your the contributions (Doctor visits + prescribed tests + medicines) exceed a certain amount (2040 NOK for year 2013), then you are entitled for Frikort. All of subsequent medical expenses will be paid for by the government for the rest of the year, i.e., you are entitled to 100% free treatment. For more details on Frikort, see here (in Norwegian).

Tip: You can select your GP by calling HELFO @ +47 81059500. Not all fastlege are equally good, I recommend reading some reviews here, before selecting your lege.



God Bedering.