Health insurance when moving to Iceland
In general, a person receives health insurance six months after registering their legal domicile in the National Register. This means that for the first six months, individuals are uninsured and pay full fee for medical services in Iceland. It is common for individuals to talk to private insurance companies to become health insured for the first six months.
Exceptions
It is possible to avoid the six month waiting period in the following cases:
Individuals from EEA country, United Kingdom or Switzerland
Individuals who were covered by the social security system in the country of previous residence can avoid the waiting period. It is not enough to have been covered by private insurance.
The applicant must
Have a registered domicile in Iceland
Spouses and children
Registered spouse and children (under 18 years) of an individual who is national of the EEA and insured in Iceland may be entitled to health insurance without a six-month waiting period.
This means that the social security rights of the social security system are transferred between EEA countries, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.
Persons moving back to Iceland from the Nordic countries
within 12 months you will automatically be covered by health insurance when you register your legal domicile in the National Registry. No need to submit an application for health insurance.
after a absence of more than 12 months, they must apply for health insurance
Students
Students who move their legal domicile back to Iceland
within six months of the end of their studies, may submit a confirmation of studies as well. They will be insured from the date of registration of legal domicile.
if more than six months have passed since the end of your studies, you must apply for health insurance and go to a six month waiting period pending a response.
Medical exemptions
There are medical exemptions that give people the right to health insurance without meeting all the conditions. These exemptions are:
In the case of a person who is required by the Icelandic Civil Protection Authority to undergo an examination and/or investigation because of the suspicion of a serious infectious disease or if it is confirmed that the person has fallen ill with such disease and that it is necessary to initiate treatment without delay. The exemption only covers diagnosis and treatment according to the laws and regulations on the basis of which the disease is diagnosed.
In case of a kidney patient who needs regular treatment with a kidney machine or a patient who needs oxygen. The exemption only covers the said treatment.
In the case of a person suffering from a life-threatening disease who moves to Iceland for permanent residence, as long as he/she previously resided in Iceland for at least 20 years and has close relatives here. The same applies to a child under the age of 20 who is suffering from a life-threatening disease and moves to Iceland with parents or a parent who meets the abovementioned residence requirement.
If you think any of these apply to you, please contact international. A medical certificate must accompany the application, justifying the exemption.
Note that it may take time to confirm previous rights, but once confirmation is received, an individual will be insured from the date of registration in the National Registry.
Service provider
Iceland Health