Egenbetaling

Egenbetaling refers to the portion of the cost for a service or product that an individual must pay themselves, with the remainder covered by public funding, insurance, or another payer. It is a common mechanism in welfare systems to share costs and encourage efficient use of services while ensuring access for those in need.

In the Norwegian context, egenbetaling is most often discussed in relation to health care and medicines. When you receive health services such as visits to a general practitioner, specialist consultations, hospital care, or prescribed medications, you typically pay a portion of the price yourself. The rest is subsidized by public funding or the national health insurance system. There is usually a yearly cap on patient payments, and after reaching that limit, further costs can be waived for the remainder of the year. Some groups, such as children, students, or people with low income or certain medical conditions, may qualify for exemptions or reduced rates.

Egenbetaling also appears in other public services where users contribute a share of the cost, though the specifics vary by service and region. The aim of mandatory or voluntary co-payments is to share the financial burden, encourage prudent use of services, and protect the overall sustainability of the system. Criticism often focuses on the balance between access to care and the impact of costs on vulnerable groups.

See also terms related to co-payments, such as frikort (a card indicating waived costs after a threshold) and the authorities that administer subsidies and exemptions.