This section contains information about health insurance in Iceland.

In what situation can I claim?

You need to have legal residence in Iceland to have Icelandic health insurance.

This means that those who have been legally domiciled in Iceland for six months or more are automatically entitled to health insurance in Iceland.

Children under the age of 18 are covered by their parents' health insurance.

Private insurance can be purchased for individuals who are undergoing the six-month waiting period before being entitled to health insurance. Private insurance companies are responsible for such insurance.

You may have to pay various costs for healthcare services despite having Icelandic healthcare insurance.

What conditions do I need to meet?

You will need to have been domiciled in Iceland for at least six months to have Icelandic health insurance unless otherwise provided for in international treaties.

All those who have been domiciled in Iceland for the past six months are automatically entitled to health insurance in the social security system. Those who have health insurance pay less than those who do not when they visit the doctor as well as pay less for medicinal products, aid equipment, tests, physiotherapy and more.

What am I entitled to and how can I claim?

Those who have health insurance pay less for medical services, medicinal products, aid equipment, tests, physiotherapy and more.

Healthcare services include:

• Medical treatment by a GP
• Medical treatment by a specialist
• Admission to hospital
• Ante-natal care by a midwife
• Hospitalisation
• Medicines
• X-ray examinations and radiation therapies
• Dental and orthodontic treatment for children and pensioners
• Travel and transport costs due to illness
• Medical aids
• Physiotherapy
• Nursing homes for the elderly
• Nursing in the patient's home.

Dental and orthodontic treatment:

• Icelandic Health Insurance (Sjúkratryggingar Íslands) refunds a proportion of the dental costs of the elderly and pensioners; https://island.is/s/sjukratryggingar
• Children pay ISK 2,500 for an annual appointment;
• Children must be registered with a family dentist in order to be entitled to refunds from Icelandic Health Insurance;
• The elderly (aged 67 and older) and disability pensioners are refunded a proportion of dental costs;
• Individuals aged between 18 and 66 are not refunded dentists' costs by health insurance except under extraordinary circumstances.

Equipment
Icelandic Health Insurance subsidises the purchase of medical aids required due to physical impairment or missing limbs. A fixed amount is paid in some cases, while in others, a proportion of the cost is paid.

Travel and transportation
Travel and medical transportation due to illness are sometimes partially refunded. When parents travel far from home due to the hospitalisation of their children, for example, they can apply for the refund of a proportion of their travel costs.

Physiotherapy
Physiotherapy is subject to partial or full reimbursement upon referral by a physician.

Home nursing
Nursing in the patient's home is free of charge if requested by a physician.

General practitioners (GPs) and healthcare centres
In Iceland, you can choose your own GP, whether they practise in a healthcare centre or a private clinic.

Patients need to pay certain fees for each medical appointment. Medical appointments for children under the age of 18 are free of charge, while special rules apply to pensioners.

The fees of GPs in private clinics are higher than those in healthcare centres.

In addition, you may have to pay a fee for any tests, diagnoses, vaccinations or medical certificates.

Healthcare services discount card
If an individual's expenses for healthcare services exceeds a certain amount during the calendar year, he/she is entitled to a discount card. Those who have a discount card pay less for healthcare services.

Hospitalisations
A referral from a physician is required for hospital admittance.

Jargon busters

• Domicile: The place in which you have your fixed, permanent and principal home for legal purposes. Permanent residence is the place where you spend your free time, keep your belongings and where you sleep. Your domicile is where you live each time.
• Dental costs: The amount paid for dental services;
• Refund: You pay the cost of the service and are subsequently reimbursed by a public body;
• Subsidised: Sometimes, a proportion of the total cost is refunded or has been pre-paid, and then you only pay the difference;
• Referral: A physician's request for a service.
• Free of charge: No cost.

Forms you may need to fill in

If you need medical services:

• Information on a healthcare centre in your area
• Medical services or healthcare services cost
• Emergency services for the ill and injured
• Emergency number (Neyðarlínan) – 112.
• Various forms from Icelandic Health Insurance (Sjúkratryggingar Íslands). https://www.sjukra.is/

Know your rights

The following websites provide information on your rights. They are not, however, operated by the EU Commission and do not reflect the Commission's views:

• The rights portal manages and publishes information on health insurance rights;
• Information on health insurance at Icelandic Health Insurance (Sjúkratryggingum Íslands).
• Information on healthcare services at Icelandic Health Insurance
• Healthcare Centres in Iceland
• Information on fees for services in healthcare centres
• Information on the European Health Insurance Card
• Information on health and wellbeing from the Directorate of Health

Publications and websites operated by the EU Commission:

• Social Insurance: Rights of EU citizens overseas

Who do you need to contact?

Icelandic Health Insurance
Vínlandsleið 16 (see map)
113 Reykjavik
Tel: 515 0002
E-mail: international@sjukra.is
www.sjukra.is