Iceland Health
Travel and living expenses
You can apply for reimbursement for travel expenses for health care services within Iceland. The condition is that you travel on the advice of a doctor to receive necessary health care services that Iceland Health participates in paying for.
You can apply for reimbursement if:
The journey is longer than 20 kilometres.
Similar services are not available in your local area.
The journey itself takes less than one week unless it is a case of hospitalization or longer medical treatment.
Four or fewer trips in a calendar year
It is possible to apply for reimbursement for four trips per calendar year. Documents that must be included:
Ticket for flights, ferries, buses, or public transport.
Receipt for fuel purchase if you went by private car.
Confirmation of arrival at the doctor or a copy of the invoice if Iceland Health has not received electronic information about arrival/admission from the therapist.
More than four trips in a calendar year
Iceland Health reimburses for repeated long journeys due to:
Malignancies.
Renal failure.
Severe heart disease.
Serious illnesses in children.
Serious mental illness.
Serious problems during pregnancy.
Artificial insemination treatment in which Iceland Health participates.
Dental treatment due to very serious consequences of congenital defects, accidents, and diseases
Prophylactic treatment designed to prevent malignancies in individuals who have an increased risk of such diseases due to genetic factors.
It is also permissible to apply for reimbursement for the return journey after emergency transport.
Documents that must be included:
A report for travel expenses, a form filled out by a doctor or midwife
Receipts for flights, ferries, buses, public transport, or tolls.
Receipts for fuel purchases if you went by private car.
Confirmation of arrival at the doctor or a copy of the invoice if Iceland Health has not received electronic information about arrival/admission from the therapist.
Submission of data
Data can be submitted electronically through Data Submission for Individuals or on paper to the authority of Iceland Health at the District Commissioner in the local area.
What is refunded?
Iceland Health reimburses 2/3 of the fare by air, ferry, or bus. If an individual travels in their own car, the cost is calculated based on the distance and mileage fee.
Individuals pay 1/3 of the cost, but never more than 1500 kr. for each trip back and forth.
The cost component of an individual decreases to ISK 500 per trip if the individual has already paid over ISK 10,000 in a calendar year.
Older rules
If trips were made before 2024, only two trips are refunded in each 12-month period. Refunds are made for three trips made between January 1, 2024 and June 30, 2024.
Application Process - Valid for trips taken before July 1, 2024.
Documents that must be included:
A report for travel expenses, a form filled out by a doctor or midwife
Receipts for flights, ferries, buses, public transport, or tolls.
Receipts for fuel purchases if you went by private car.
Confirmation of arrival at the doctor or a copy of the invoice if Iceland Health has not received electronic information about arrival/admission from the therapist.
It is possible to apply for reimbursement for repeated short trips due to serious illnesses.
You can apply for reimbursement if:
This is a serious illness.
The distance is less than 20 kilometres.
There are two or more trips over a period of four weeks or less.
An individual is unable to travel by public transport due to their illness.
Travel is by taxi or private car.
Application for reimbursement
Documents that must be included:
A report for travel expenses (skýrsla vegna ferðakostnaðar) , a form filled out by a doctor or midwife.
Receipts for taxis.
Overview of visits from a therapist.
Submission of data
Data can be submitted electronically through Data Submission for Individuals or on paper to the authority of Iceland Health at the District Commissioner in the local area.
What is refunded?
3/4 of the total cost is refunded by taxi or 2/3 of the mileage fee by private car.
Iceland Health pays for travel outside your local area for emergencies (such as an accident or illness that needs to be attended to within 48 hours). A doctor must make the decision about the travel.
Application for reimbursement
Documents that must be included:
Travel expense report ((skýrsla vegna ferðakostnaðar), a form filled out by the doctor who makes the decision to send a patient away.
Receipts for flights, ferries, buses, public transport or tolls.
Receipts for fuel purchases if you went by private car.
Confirmation of doctor's appointment or a copy of the invoice if Iceland Health has not received electronic information about arrival/admission from the therapist.
What is refunded?
Iceland Health reimburses 2/3 of the fare by air, ferry or bus. If an individual travels in their own car, the cost is calculated based on the distance and mileage fee.
Individuals pay 1/3 of the cost, but never more than 1500 kr. for each trip back and forth.
The cost component of an individual decreases to ISK 500 per trip if the individual has already paid over ISK 10,000 in a calendar year.
Submission of data
Data can be submitted electronically through Data Submission for Individuals or on paper to the authority of Iceland Health at the District Commissioner in the local area.
It is possible to apply for reimbursement of travel expenses for regular trips of up to 60 km for haemodialysis treatment.
You can apply for a refund if:
A person goes to treatment at least twice a week.
An individual is unable to drive a car or use public transport due to their health.
Iceland Health pays 95% of the cost for agreed travel and the individual must:
Seek the most economical route and make a written payment agreement with the taxi driver for the trips. Iceland Health can ask for a copy of the contract.
Application for reimbursement
Documents that must be included:
A report for travel expenses (skýrsla vegna ferðakostnaðar), a form filled out by a doctor.
Receipts for taxis.
Overview of visits from a therapist.
Submission of data
Data can be submitted electronically through Data Submission for Individuals or on paper to the authority of Iceland Health at the District Commissioner in the local area.
Iceland Health reimburses part of the travel or accommodation costs of parents of children under the age of 18 who are hospitalized. There must be at least 20 kilometres distance between home and hospital.
Parents can apply for one of the following:
Reimbursement for part of the accommodation costs for one person, in the case of difficult treatment of a life-threatening illness, it is possible to apply for two parties.
Reimbursement for travel expenses for daily trips to a hospitalized child.
Application for reimbursement
Documents that must be included:
A report for travel expenses (skýrsla vegna ferðakostnaðar), a form filled out by a doctor or midwife.
Receipts for fares or accommodation expenses.
Confirmation of the child's hospitalization.
If both parents request reimbursement of accommodation costs, a medical certificate is also required.
Submission of data
Data can be submitted electronically through Data Submission for Individuals or on paper to the authority of Iceland Health at the District Commissioner in the local area.
What is refunded?
For accommodation costs: Iceland Health reimburses 80% of the cost of accommodation, but never more than 50% of the daily fee to the hospital hotel. If both parents request a refund, no more than 75% of the daily fee is paid in total.
For daily trips to a hospitalized child, a fee is paid for up to 200 kilometres each way. If you travel by air, a refund is made for one trip per week.
2/3 of the fare by air, ferry or bus. If an individual travels in their own car, the cost is calculated based on the distance and mileage fee.
An individual pays 1/3 of the cost, but never more than 1500 kr. for each trip back and forth.
An individual's cost share is reduced to ISK 500 per trip if he/she has already paid over ISK 10,000 in a calendar year.
Parents or family members of individuals with a severe disability or a chronic and serious illness can apply for reimbursement for two trips a year to attend:
Educational courses.
Necessary meetings that are recognized by Iceland Health.
Application for reimbursement
Documents that must be included:
A report for travel expenses (skýrsla vegna ferðakostnaðar), a form filled out by a doctor or midwife.
Receipts for flights, ferries, buses, public transport or tolls.
Receipts for fuel purchases if you went by private car.
Confirmation of attendance at the course or meeting.
Submission of data
Data can be submitted electronically through Data Submission for Individuals or on paper to the authority of Iceland Health at the District Commissioner in the local area.
What is refunded?
Iceland Health reimburses 2/3 of the fare by air, ferry or bus. If an individual travels in their own car, the cost is calculated based on the distance and mileage fee.
An individual pays 1/3 of the cost, but never more than 1500 kr. for each trip back and forth.
An individual's cost share is reduced to ISK 500 per trip if he/she has already paid over ISK 10,000 in a calendar year.
Iceland Health pays part of the cost of return trips every other weekend if:
Hospitalization is at least 26 days.
The distance home is at least 20 kilometres.
If an individual is under 18 years of age, Iceland Health pays for home trips every weekend.
Iceland Health contributes to the cost of travel to an interview or examination at Tryggingastofnun if you are applying for disability or rehabilitation pension.
The interview or examination must then be for a skills assessment, disability assessment, or other assessment that needs to be carried out.
Application for reimbursement
Tryggingastofnun sends Iceland Health information about an interview or examination.
An individual only needs to send Iceland Health payment receipts for fares, if applicable.
Submission of data
Data can be submitted electronically through Data Submission for Individuals or on paper to the authority of Iceland Health at the District Commissioner in the local area.
What is refunded?
Iceland Health reimburses 2/3 of the fare by air, ferry or bus. If an individual travels in their own car, the cost is calculated based on the distance and mileage fee.
An individual pays 1/3 of the cost of going to the destination, but never more than ISK 1500 per return trip.
An individual's cost share is reduced to ISK 500 per trip if he/she has already paid over ISK 10,000 in a calendar year.
The patient always pays a certain fee for a trip by air ambulance.
When does Iceland Health contribute to the cost of air ambulances?
When a patient needs to be transported to a hospital or from a hospital to the patient's home or place of residence.
When the patient's health is such that the patient cannot be transported by other route, i.e. by normal passenger and transport routes.
Patient's companion
Iceland Health pays the fare of an patient's companion if the doctor deems it necessary for the patient to have an companion.
If it is necessary for a healthcare professional to accompany a patient, Iceland Health pays the fare and fee.
Ambulance transport between hospitals
The hospital that sends a patient to another hospital pays the cost of ambulance transport.
If an individual needs to seek health care in Akureyri, they can apply for subsidized accommodation for up to 21 days.
Reykjavík
The Landspítali Hospital Hotel provides accommodation in Reykjavík.
Individuals pay ISK 1,890 for each day. Health insurance does not pay that cost.
Akureyri
Request for accommodation services in Akureyri.
Individuals may be entitled to accommodation services in Akureyri due to the healthcare services they need there.
A referral/request from a doctor/nurse/midwife must be available before accommodation is booked.
Accommodation can be booked for the time indicated by the reference, subject to availability at the property. The request must be submitted upon check-in at the property.
The property is authorized to request a credit card number to ensure payment if it is not notified within the stipulated time limit if the stay is cancelled.
Agreements are in place between Iceland Health and the following accommodations:
Hotel Akureyri, Hafnarstræti 67, 600 Akureyri.
Guesthouse Hrafninn, Brekkugata 4, 600 Akureyri, tel. 462 5600.
Heilsuvernd Nursing Home ehf., hospital apartments, Austurbyggð 17, 600 Akureyri, tel. 460 9100.
Individuals pay ISK 1,890 for each day. This includes accommodation and full board. Iceland Health does not pay that cost.
Nursing services and patient's companion
Accommodations do not offer nursing services and residents must be self-sufficient with the activities of daily living.
If individuals are disabled or confined to a wheelchair, they must familiarize themselves in advance with the facilities of the property regarding accessibility for the disabled and facilities for the accompanying person/relative.
An patient's companion pays ISK 1,890 per day if he stays in the same room.
If a person under the age of 18 is accompanied by two accompanying persons staying in the same room, they pay a total of ISK 1,890.
In the case of a child's admission to hospital, there may be a right of guardians to payment of travel expenses and/or accommodation costs.
Exclusions
In certain cases, exemptions are granted if a stay longer than 21 days is required.
If it is foreseeable that an individual will need to stay longer than 21 days in a 12-month period, it is possible to apply for an exemption for an extended stay. A doctor/nurse/midwife sends Iceland Health an application along with a medical certificate and information on what health services are planned during the exemption period in question.
If an individual needs regular medical treatment in a hospital for a long time, such as haemodialysis, away from his/her home and for that reason needs to stay in a hospital hotel, he/she may be granted an exemption from the maximum length of stay. A request for an exemption must be submitted to Iceland Health from a doctor or nurse through the Data Portal, and the institution assesses whether an individual meets the requirements for an exemption.
If you cannot find the information you need, you can send an inquiry to Iceland Health