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8 Health and social security8.1 General informationMembers of the staff of foreign missions who enjoy privileges and immunities in Norway are not covered by the provisions of the National Insurance Act. A copy of the National Insurance Act can be found at http://www.lovdata.no/all/nl-19970228-019.html (Norwegian only). Members of the mission and consular officers who are taking up a posting in Norway and are not covered in Norway by the public health insurance scheme of their home country are advised to ensure that they have valid health insurance for the duration of their stay in Norway. The Norwegian public health care system is based on the principle of cost-sharing between individual patients and the municipality in which they live. However, costs will only be shared if the patient is referred for treatment by a doctor who has an agreement (“fastlegeavtale”) with the municipality. The municipality will not normally contribute to the costs of medical treatment in private hospitals or clinics. More information about the health care system in Norway is available from the National Insurance Service (which offers information in English and can be reached by telephone on 810 33 810 or via its website at www.trygdeetaten.no) and your local National Insurance office. 8.2 Who is covered by the provisions of the national insurance scheme?8.2.1 According to section 2-11 of the National Insurance Act, persons employed in this country by a foreign State are exempt from membership in the national insurance scheme, provided that they are not Norwegian nationals. Special rules apply to persons permanently resident in Norway. 8.2.2 Spouses and children of such persons as described in paragraph 8.2.1 above are exempt from membership in the national insurance scheme, provided that they are not Norwegian nationals and do not support themselves by means of work. 8.2.3 Private servants of such persons as described in paragraph 8.2.1 above are exempt from membership in the national insurance scheme, provided they are not Norwegian nationals. (As stated, special rules apply to persons permanently resident in Norway.) 8.2.4 Persons who are already members of a foreign national insurance scheme may be exempted from membership in the Norwegian national insurance scheme, even if they do not fall into the categories mentioned in paragraphs 8.2.1 to 8.2.3 above. 8.2.5 Persons who are not exempt as described in paragraphs 8.2.1 to 8.2.4 above will automatically become members of the Norwegian national insurance scheme when taking up residence in this country. Under Norwegian law, a person takes up residence when he/she stays in Norway legally for more than one year or settles in Norway with the intention of staying longer than one year. 8.2.6 It should be noted that the Norwegian rules on exemption from compulsory membership in the national insurance scheme are more liberal than those laid down in Article 33 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. 8.2.7 The Agreement on the European Economic Area (EEA) includes provisions that entitle nationals of EEA states to sickness and maternity benefits when employed in an EEA state other than the one to whose social security system they belong. The benefits provided are the same as for nationals of the state in which they are employed. Consequently, a person from another EEA country who is employed in Norway is entitled to the same sickness or maternity benefits as Norwegian nationals. The persons concerned do not have to make any contribution to the Norwegian national insurance scheme, but will have to pay the individual patient’s charge (“egenandel”), the level of which is set by the authorities, when they receive treatment. In order to receive treatment, form E 106 should be sent to the national insurance office (“trygdekontor”) in the municipality in which the individual resides. In addition to the person employed in Norway, dependent family members should be included in the form. 8.2.8 Information on exemption from membership (as described in paragraph 8.2.4 above) and on voluntary membership can be obtained from national insurance offices or the National Insurance Administration, whose address is: Rikstrygdeverket |
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