Special cases, medical tourism and digital services in Norway: insurance nuances

Hey, I totally get it – these days, it's so easy to combine a trip to Norway with medical procedures and all these cool digital services. But what if you need insurance for something specific, like planned operations, cryopreservation, animal attacks, digital threats or emergencies? This article is full of great information about medical tourism and insurance in Norway.

I'm planning a trip soon and was wondering if it would be possible to combine it with laser vision correction surgery? I'm also hoping to find out if it would be covered by insurance.

I totally understand, but laser vision correction is considered an elective cosmetic procedure and is not covered by standard travel insurance policies, including complications after the procedure. The good news is that LASIK surgery in Norway (e.g. in Oslo) is reasonably priced at approximately NOK 17,000 for both eyes. Don't worry, you can buy a separate 'Surgical Complications' policy for only about €250. This will cover you for repeat surgery and any necessary medication if anything goes wrong. If you're thinking of having this procedure while you're away, it's a good idea to check the details with the clinic and your insurer in advance.

I was just wondering if the insurance would cover the storage and transport of genetic material, like egg freezing?

It's important to know that standard travel insurance policies usually don't cover the costs of storing and transporting genetic material, like egg freezing (cryopreservation). This is just to let you know in case you're considering 'elective IVF'. But if any problems come up after the procedure (like an infection), you can relax knowing that the policy will cover the costs of treatment up to the set medical limit. We know how important it is to you that your dry ice container is transported safely, and we're here to help! SAS are happy to help with this, but just one thing: you'll need to fill out the MEDIF medical form to get approval. The patient only pays for the transport, which is about NOK 1,200.

I'd love to know if I can use Norwegian e-Prescriptions when I'm abroad?

Absolutely! If you get an e-prescription in Norway, you can use it in any of the countries that are part of the Nordic Prescription Exchange programme. Sweden, Finland and Iceland. When you're on holiday abroad, you'll be given a special PIN code to use at a pharmacy so you can get the medicines you need. Don't worry, though, because the insurance company will still cover the costs at the rates set in Norway. The only thing to bear in mind is that they won't be responsible for any price differences in other countries. Don't worry - your electronic prescription is valid for a full 180 days from the date of issue! If you're heading off to another country, it's always a good idea to check in advance whether e-resept is available and what the conditions are for using it at local pharmacies.

I was wondering if insurance would consider telemedicine via ChatGPT-Health to be a full visit?

At the moment, telemedicine consultations using artificial intelligence, including services based on ChatGPT-Health, are not recognised by insurance companies as full medical visits, which is a shame. Insurance companies are there to help you pay for consultations with licensed doctors, but unfortunately they don't cover the costs of AI services as they consider them to be 'informational' rather than 'wellness'. But don't worry, insurance companies are already testing these technologies, and in the future, AI triage might even be included in policy coverage. Hey, just a heads-up: if you go with AI recommendations without checking with your doctor first, your insurance company might reduce your compensation if things don't go as planned.

I was wondering if the policy would cover treatment after a bite from a Greenland shark?

Absolutely, and we're here to help! While Greenland shark bites are rare, travel insurance typically covers the cost of treatment after an animal attack. Don't worry - if you have a Premium policy, you'll be covered for the costs of surgical treatment and reconstructive procedures up to €500,000! Don't worry, you will get the compensation you deserve, all you need is an official report from the Sysselmannen (the governor of Svalbard) and a report from the rescue service. You might remember a similar case in 2024, when a diver was seriously injured by a Greenland shark. Thankfully, the insurance company fully compensated the bill of approximately NOK 180,000 for surgery and treatment.

I was wondering if you could tell me whether vaccinations for dogs against Lyme disease are covered before the trip?

I'm sorry to say that standard travel insurance policies for animals ('Pet Travel') do not cover preventive vaccinations such as Lyme disease vaccination. The good news is that the EURICAN B vaccine is reasonably priced at around NOK 450 at veterinary clinics. But if your pooch gets sick on the way, don't worry, because the insurance will cover the cost of antibiotics, which is about NOK 2,600 for a 14-day treatment. Before you go on your travels, it's always a good idea to check if your pooch needs any vaccinations. And if they do, it's better to pay for them in advance to avoid any risks or extra costs.

I was wondering if insurance would cover the cost of emergency transport of the car if the driver were hospitalised?

Absolutely! If you've got the 'Car-Assist' add-on, your insurance company will help out by paying for the emergency evacuation and transport of your car (like a tow truck to the nearest port and ferry). The average cost of this service is approximately NOK 8,500, which is a very reasonable price for the peace of mind you'll get. If you don't have this extra coverage, the insurance company will only pay for the services of a professional driver (Relief Driver), which will cost about NOK 1,200 per day. It's really important that the police report says the driver was incapacitated, otherwise the insurance company might not cover the expenses.

I was wondering if you could tell me whether I can get a tax deduction for private insurance as a self-employed person?

Hey, just so you know, if you're a self-employed person in Norway (called 'selvstendig næringsdrivende'), you can claim a tax deduction for those private health insurance costs. Don't worry - these premiums are deducted in the tax return (Schedule P) as 'forsikring mot sykdom', with a maximum limit of NOK 15,000 per year. Hey, just so you know, to get the tax deduction you'll need to get a document from your insurance company that shows the medical and non-medical parts of your insurance premium. We just want to make sure that everyone's on the same page: this deduction is only available for tourists and expats who pay taxes in Norway.

I'd be really grateful if you could tell me whether the policy covers cyber attacks on telemedicine platforms and data leaks.

Don't worry - if you have the extra Cyber Addon option on your policy, you'll be covered for any costs related to the leakage of personal data during a cyber attack on a telemedicine platform (like KRY or Eyr). I'm so glad you asked about our policy. If you're ever in a situation where you need legal assistance or credit monitoring after an incident, rest assured that we've got your back. We'll cover up to €5,000 for these services, so you can feel safe and supported. But if you don't have this option, then unfortunately you are liable for all damages. Don't worry, telemedicine platforms – we're here to help! If you experience a breach, please report it to the Data Protection Authority (DPA) within 72 hours. Your insurance company will usually require a copy of this notification to reimburse the costs, but we're sure they'll be understanding.

I would be so grateful to hear your thoughts on what I should do if a drone were to crash into a person and medical compensation were required.

Don't worry – if your drone weighs up to 2 kg and causes injury to a person, the costs will be covered by special civil liability insurance ('Liability Drone') with a coverage limit of up to €1 million. Don't worry - it's really easy! Just make sure you register your drone in advance with Luftfartstilsynet, and take out insurance before you get going. If you're involved in an accident, it's really important to call the police straight away. Please take photos of the scene and the victim's injuries, and make sure you note the coordinates. If you don't have insurance, you might have to pay a fine of NOK 10,000 and cover the costs of the victim's medical treatment and legal fees.

Medical tourism and digital innovations in Norway are opening up new opportunities, but it's important to be careful with insurance and safety rules. Now you know exactly what to do in any unusual situation and how to make your trip comfortable and safe!