Health insurance covers payments for interpretation services in accordance with the framework agreement of Ríkiskaupa (now The Financial Management Authority, ice. Fjársýsla ríkisins) on translation and interpretation services.

Iceland Health draws attention to the fact that according to the framework agreement, healthcare professionals are to procure services for individual projects from the framework agreement through direct purchases under the terms and conditions defined in the framework agreement. In direct purchases under the framework agreement, the selection should be based on the lowest price, i.e., by first contacting the service provider offering the lowest price and then proceeding sequentially if that provider is unable to perform the task. The framework agreement provides a comprehensive list of the service providers from whom interpreting services should be purchased. In exceptional cases, it is permissible to procure interpreting services from a service provider not included in the framework agreement if there are reasonable grounds, such as specific needs. This may apply in cases where no service provider under the framework agreement can provide an interpreter for a language the patient understands, or cannot provide the necessary interpreting services for other specific reasons. Exceptions are, however, interpreted narrowly by their very nature.

Iceland Health places strong emphasis on healthcare professionals ensuring whether a service provider is under a framework agreement before requesting interpreting services. If services are sought outside the framework agreement, payment by Iceland Health cannot be guaranteed. The framework agreement is valid until March 7, 2026.