The Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration (NAV) administers healthcare and welfare benefits, childcare benefits, unemployment, and work assessment allowance.
To be eligible for NAV benefits, you need to be a member of the National Insurance Scheme. If you have a residence permit in Norway, you are a member of the National Insurance Scheme. To be considered a resident in Norway, your stay in Norway must last, or be intended to last, for at least 12 months.
General Practitioner (GP)/Fastlege
If you have a national ID number, you will automatically be assigned to a General Practitioner (GP). You may select and change GP by logging into helsenorge.no. You can change GP twice a year. Read more at Helse Norge (link).
You are eligible to take sick leave if you are registered in the National Population Register with your national identification number.
If you exceed the cap for medical costs, you may be entitled to "Frikort". Read more at Helse Norge (link).
If you have a D-number for temporary residence, you will not be assigned a GP, but you are entitled to necessary medical treatment. The municipality is responsible for providing this kind of healthcare, if you live in Oslo read more here.
What about a dentist?
The Public Dental Service in Norway provides free dental care for priority groups, including children under 18. Adults must use private dentists and pay fees, while youths aged 19-20 receive subsidized care.
You can find dentists in your area on Tannleger Norge (link), and private dentists usually have shorter waiting periods. Check with your insurance company for coverage, maybe your company offers any benefits?
In case of emergencies, find an emergency dentist on your state's website.
Some treatments may be reimbursed, and fees vary by practice.
You're expecting!
If you are expecting children (congrats!), there are several parental benefits available (link). You have the right to obtain these if you have been employed with a pensionable income for at least six out of the last ten months prior to the start of your parental leave.
In general, mothers, fathers or birth partners have the right for paid leave for up to one year in total. The system is made so that each family can choose how they want to divide their paid leave - handy right?
The first 6 weeks however are reserved for the mother. All female residents in Norway are entitled to have an abortion, and they are free.
Read more about pregnancy week by week, check-ups during pregnancy, and advice for pregnant women, avaliable on Helse Norge (link).
Pharmacies
There are pharmacies all around Oslo, and there’s also a 24/7 branch in the city center, outside of the Central station. Prescriptions from the doctor are issued digitally (usually straight after your appointment, it's called "Resept") and available for the pharmacists when you come to pick up your medicine.
Do you have BankID? Download the Helse Norge app, and you can check your prescription under "Medisiner". It will say the number pick ups you have left on your prescription.
If you need immediate medical care, please call 113.
For all other enquiries that require immediate medical assistance out-of-hours, visit the public emergency ward ("Legevakt" in your municipality).
The emergency wards are open 24 hours, 365 days a year.
