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Healthcare in Norway: cost & waiting times

Tax-funded universal

Tax-funded universal care. Everyone has an assigned regular GP ('fastlege'). You pay a modest co-payment ('egenandel') up to an annual ceiling (~NOK 3,165), then a free card ('frikort').

Emergency number: 112 (ambulance 113)

How residents get care

1. Check your fastlege on Helsenorge — Change GP up to twice a year via helsenorge.no or 800 HELSE.
2. Book with the fastlege — Online or by phone; they refer to specialists and hospitals.
3. Legevakt for urgent out-of-hours — Call 116117 for the local urgent-care centre; 113 for emergencies.

Official waiting-time source

After a referral you receive a deadline for care by law; you may pick any public or contracted hospital to be seen sooner.

Velg behandlingssted (choose where you're treated — shows expected waits) ↗

Milestone	Reference
Assessment of referral	10 days (~1w)
Specialist assessment (typical)	60 days (~9w)

Typical private costs

Typical self-pay prices — for an exact figure use the official links above or ask a clinic for a written quote.

Item	Typical range
GP consultation co-pay	NOK 20–NOK 35
Specialist visit co-pay	NOK 35–NOK 50
Private MRI	NOK 400–NOK 800

Prescriptions

'Blue prescription' medicines for chronic conditions cost a capped share counting towards the egenandel ceiling; other medicines are paid in full.

Visiting Norway?

EHIC covers necessary care; you pay the same egenandel a resident pays and cannot get a frikort as a visitor.

Official links

• Helsenorge — GP, prescriptions, referrals ↗
• Velg behandlingssted — compare hospital waits ↗

Open the full interactive guide, compare tool & tracker →