egenandelstak

Egenandelstak is a Norwegian term describing the annual limit on out-of-pocket payments for health care covered by the national health insurance system. The aim is to cap the portion of medical costs paid directly by individuals and to protect people from high health expenses. Once a person reaches the cap for the year, further eligible health costs are covered by the public system, and the patient receives a frikort, a card allowing free access to eligible services for the remainder of the year.

The system operates with two levels, egenandelstak 1 and egenandelstak 2. These thresholds determine which services are charged and to what extent. Egenandelstak 1 generally covers co-payments for primary care visits and certain outpatient services, while egenandelstak 2 encompasses hospital services and other major categories of care. The specific services counted toward each level and the monetary thresholds are set annually and published by the government.

Costs that count toward the cap and those that do not are defined by the national insurance scheme (folketrygden) and NAV, the Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration. Some services and groups are exempt or receive full reimbursement, such as certain long-term treatments or specific age-related exemptions for children.

Purpose: to limit personal health spending while ensuring access to essential care. Because thresholds change yearly, individuals should check NAV or government communications for current limits and the status of their frikort.