General information about co-payment for treatment that is not available in Iceland

The artificial insemination treatment that follows microthesis treatment is paid for in the same way as for artificial insemination treatment that takes place in Iceland. Thus, reimbursement for the first treatment is up to ISK 150,000, but up to ISK 400,000 for the second to fourth treatment. There is no co-payment for treatments after that.

Payment of travel expenses and cash sickness benefits for microthesis treatment.

Cash sickness benefits will be paid to the individual undergoing the microthesis treatment and to the parent who will be pregnant. Fares and cash sickness benefits are made up to and including the day the embryo is inserted. Included in this time may be preparation time that a service provider abroad deems necessary. Cash sickness benefits are also paid before the day of return.

Travel expenses are not paid for spouses, as such permission is based on medical necessity.

The length of treatment required abroad may vary for microthesis treatment and embryo placement. Iceland Health assesses how many days cash sickness benefits are paid at any given time. If the processing time for embryo placement is unusually long, Cash sickness benefits will generally be based on four days, including travel days.

Co-payment of the storage fee for embryos abroad

If embryos are produced that can be frozen after microthesis and artificial insemination treatment, Iceland Health will not pay for the storage of such embryos abroad, unless the storage fee is higher than according to the amount in Regulation No. 1579/2024 on such fee in Iceland. If so, then the difference is paid. This is in accordance with national regulations where the storage fee for frozen embryos is generally not paid.

The maximum storage fee is ISK 105,000 per year, in which case the maximum difference between that amount and ISK 25,000 is refunded, cf. the amount in Regulation No. 1579/2024.

Placement of frozen embryos obtained after microthesis treatment

When it comes to the placement of frozen embryos, there is no co-payment according to national regulations, and the same therefore applies to such treatment abroad. If the installation of a frozen embryo is more costly abroad than according to the national regulation, Iceland Health will pay the difference.

The maximum cost of the treatment is ISK 260,000, and then the difference between that amount and ISK 100,000 is reimbursed, cf. the amount in Regulation No. 1579/2024.

Conditions for co-payment for prenatal diagnosis abroad.

Prenatal diagnosis is not performed in Iceland. An application must be made to Iceland Health for co-payment for treatment abroad, and a medical certificate is required. The application must in all cases be submitted before treatment begins and consent must be obtained.

When deciding whether to approve co-payment, it must be assessed whether there is an urgent necessity for the study. This assessment takes into account, among other things, the following factors:

• Whether there is a significant chance that a serious disease will occur in the fetus due to gene mutations/chromosomal abnormalities. Among other things, implementation is being looked at in the UK and Sweden.

• In general, co-payments are not accepted in the case of a disease that could occur in adulthood, e.g. a BRCA mutation.

• Whether an prenatal diagnosis has been attempted many times without success. When assessing whether treatment is considered urgently necessary, consideration is given to whether it is likely to be effective. If an prenatal diagnosis has been attempted several times without a healthy embryo being obtained, the chances of success decrease.

• General co-payment for fertility treatments in Iceland is limited to four sessions and it is generally assumed that prenatal diagnosis is not attempted more often without success, unless special medical reasons recommend it.

If co-payment is approved, Iceland Health pays all costs of the prenatal diagnosis itself. Hospitals abroad can send Iceland Health an invoice for that part of the treatment.

Examinations that the foreign therapist deems necessary to perform before the actual prenatal diagnosis is carried out, shall be carried out in Iceland if it is available domestically. If such examinations are nevertheless carried out abroad, it can be expected that Iceland Health will not pay for them in full, but that the co-payment will be the same as if the examination had been carried out in Iceland. If such studies extend the travel time abroad, cash sickness benefits will not be paid for all days of the trip.

Co-payment for IVF treatment (artificial insemination treatment) that follows an embryo analysis

The IVF treatment that follows the prenatal diagnosis is paid for in the same way as for artificial insemination treatment that takes place in Iceland. Information on co-payment in treatment that takes place in Iceland can be found in Article 2 of Regulation No. 1579/2024.

Thus, reimbursement for the first treatment is up to ISK 150,000, but up to ISK 400,000 for the second to fourth treatment. There is no co-payment for treatments after that. If the fee for the treatment abroad is higher than in Iceland, Iceland Health will pay the difference. However, the maximum is that the treatment costs ISK 950,000.

Payment of travel expenses and cash sickness benefits for prenatal diagnosis and embryo placement

Iceland Health therefore pays a parent who is pregnant with a child a fare and cash sickness benefits up to and including the date on which the embryo is inserted. Included in this time may be preparation time that a service provider abroad deems necessary. Cash sickness benefits are also paid before the day of return.

Travel expenses for a parent who is not pregnant are only paid in the case of a gamete donor. This is because its presence is necessary for an embryo to be created. If donor gametes are used, Iceland Health is not permitted to contribute to the travel expenses of the spouse.

The length of treatment required abroad may vary for prenatal diagnosis and embryo placement. Iceland Health assesses how many days cash sickness benefits are paid at any given time. If the processing time for embryo placement is unusually long, cash sickness benefits will generally be based on four days, including travel days.

Co-payment of the storage fee for embryos abroad

If embryos are produced that can be frozen after completion of embryo examination and artificial insemination treatment, Iceland Health will not pay for the storage of such embryos abroad, unless the storage fee is higher than according to the amount in Regulation No. 1579/2024 on such fee in Iceland. If so, then the difference is paid. This is in accordance with national regulations where the storage fee for frozen embryos is generally not paid.

The maximum storage fee is ISK 105,000 per year, in which case the maximum difference between that amount and ISK 25,000 is refunded, cf. the amount in Regulation No. 1579/2024.

Setup of frozen embryos obtained after embryo analysis

When it comes to the placement of frozen embryos (beyond those performed immediately following prenatal diagnosis), there is no co-payment according to the national regulation, and the same applies to such treatment abroad. If the installation of a frozen embryo is more costly abroad than according to the national regulation, Iceland Health will pay the difference.

The maximum cost of the treatment is ISK 260,000, in which case the difference between that amount and ISK 100,000 is reimbursed, cf. the amount in Regulation No. 1579/2024.

General information about co-payment:

Iceland Health contributes to the cost of artificial insemination in the member states of the EEA, Switzerland and the United Kingdom on the basis of Article 23 a) of the Health Insurance Act No. 112/2008, cf. Article 2 of Regulation No. 484/2016.

Co-payment for the treatment is the same as if the treatment had taken place in Iceland.

Payment is only made for services provided in a clinic operated on the basis of a license from the health authorities in the country in question. A service provider shall comply with all official requirements for professional service, operation and supervision.

Co-payment in artificial insemination treatment

The IVF treatment is paid for in the same way as for artificial insemination treatment that takes place in Iceland. Information on co-payment in treatment that takes place in Iceland can be found in Article 2 of Regulation No. 1579/2024.

How to apply

• The appropriate application must be filled out

• For reimbursement, itemized, approved invoices must be submitted from the service provider's accounting system that clearly state how much each service that was provided cost. Without accurate information, it is not possible to calculate the correct co-payment.

• Payment confirmations.

• Confirmation that treatment has been completed with installation.

Please note that applications can only be processed when the processing has been completed with the installation. If it was not possible to complete the treatment with installation, Iceland Health must receive a confirmation from the therapist why in order to assess whether further documentation is needed

Further information can be found at the following link: Health insurance for Icelandic tourists abroad | Iceland Health