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What is Helfo, and when do you need to contact it?

Refunds, the European Health Insurance Card, GPs and contact details.

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Short answer

Helfo, an agency under the Norwegian Directorate of Health, handles health refunds, the European Health Insurance Card and changing your regular GP (fastlege). Most of its services for private individuals are on helsenorge.no. You can call Helfo free of charge on 23 32 70 00 on weekdays from 08:00 to 15:30.

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Why

  1. Helfo administers health refund schemes worth around NOK 50 billion a year, including refunds of patients' co-payments and of medicines.
  2. The Directorate of Health's annual report says Helfo issued 827,298 European Health Insurance Cards in 2025.
  3. Helfo also refunds costs of necessary health care abroad.

Details

Helfo's services for private individuals are on helsenorge.no: changing your GP, applying for the European Health Insurance Card, checking co-payments and the exemption card (frikort), and refund and support schemes. The e-mail address [email protected] is only for health professionals and partners, so private individuals should use contact and help on helsenorge.no. Helfo's postal address is Postboks 2415, 3104 Tønsberg.

Tip

Log in to helsenorge.no before you call, because you can change your GP and apply for the European Health Insurance Card there yourself.

What may differ

Only people registered as living in Norway have the right to a regular GP, so most people with only a D-number cannot get one. Doctors, dentists, physiotherapists and other health professionals call Helfo on a separate number, 23 32 70 40.

People also ask

  • What does Helfo do?
  • How do I contact Helfo?

Sources

This answer is for reference only. Rules can change, so check Helfo or helsenorge.no before you apply.

Public healthcare and insurance in Norway
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