All Norwegians are insured by the National Insurance Scheme. This is a universal, tax-funded, single-payer health system. Compared to France, Italy, Spain and Japan, Norway has the most centralized system.
Percent Insured. 100%. All Norwegian citizens and residents are covered.
Funding. The National Insurance Scheme is funded by general tax revenues. There is no earmarked tax for health care. The Norwegian tax burden is 45% of GDP. The government sets a global budget limiting overall health expenditures and capital investment.
Private Insurance. Norwegians can opt out of the the government system and pay out-of-pocket. Many pay out-of-pocket and travel to a foreign country for medical care when waiting lists are long.
Physician Compensation. Hospital and nonhospital physicians generally are paid on a salaried basis. Some specialists can receive an annual grant and fee-for-service payments. Reimbursement rates, however, are set by the government and, unlike in France, the physician can not charge higher rates than the centrally-set reimbursement rate.
Physician Choice. Patients choose general practitioners (GPs) from a government list. These GPs then act as gatekeepers for specialist services. Patients can only switch GPs twice per year and only if there is no waiting list for the requested GP.
Copayment/Deductibles. There are no copayments for hospitals stays or drugs. There are small copayments for outpatient treatment.
Waiting Times. There are significant waiting times for many procedures. Many Norwegians go abroad for medical treatments. The average weight for a hip replacement is more than 4 months. “Approximately 23 percent of all patients referred for hospital admission have to wait longer than three months for admission.” Also, care can be denied if it is not deemed to be cost-effective.
Benefits. Very generous. The program also provides sick pay.” As Michael Moore has noted, the Norwegian system will even pay for ’spa treatments’ in some cases.”
- Tanner, Michael D. (2008) “The Grass Is Not Always Greener: A Look at National Health Care Systems Around the World” Cato Policy Analysis no. 613.
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From Geir Vollsaeter via email:
“The reference is from 2000 stats and the result of a short term fix in the past to some hospitals and national capacity problems but that turned permanent for good reasons. The option for treatment abroad is for people with psoriasis, skin problems, severe asthma and lung disease etc which is mostly related to Norway’s climate where temperature, humidity and lack of sun is a challenge for those patients during most of the year. So it is entirely useless as an argument for a failure of a national healthcare system. Its a calculated an human response for patients in need of help where natural conditions in Norway, beyond human control, leads to a economically efficient and rational response with patients in mind.”
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hey if it was free I would wait 4 months for a hip replacement
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but the thing is, it isn’t free, you’ll be paying for your hip replacement through your taxes. Heck, you’ll be helping to pay for someone else’s hip replacement too!
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