Here is an overview of the services that the Icelandic Health Insurance provides and the main policy areas for which the administration is responsible.

Assistive devices

Icelandic Health insurance employees provide advice on assistive devices, evaluate applications and assign the devices. In addition, workshops are run where aids are received and evaluated with regard to recovery. Reusable devices are cleaned, repaired and ready for re-assignment. The Icelandic Health Insurance also keeps track of medical aids as well as distributing devices to many outer rooms located in healthcare institutions around the country.

Examples of assistive devices include beds, wheelchairs, communication computers and many other things, but also include Icelandic Health Insurance changes to cars to accommodate a wheelchair. In addition, Icelandic Health Insurance shall contribute to the cost of therapeutic aids, which include, for example, splints, ventilators, diapers and diabetes equipment.

Payments for services of hospitals and other healthcare institutions

Agreements are in effect with hospitals and various healthcare institutions to provide services to the public and to see Icelandic Health Insurance for payments on account of the public. For example, the hospital in Reykjavík, SÁÁ and the health institution in Hveragerði are important. Agreements are also in effect with Landspítali and Akureyri hospital on services based on so-called production-related funding, which means that they are paid in accordance with the services provided.

Payments for health care facilities services

Icelandic Health insurance is responsible for paying for services to the public in healthcare centres, both public and private. The payments are based on a special payment model maintained by the Icelandic Health Insurance.

Payments for nursing home services

Icelandic Health insurance contracts with nursing homes and provides payments to them for services rendered.

Medicinal products

Icelandic Health insurance shall provide subsidies for medicinal products that receive payment from a special payment participation system and calculate the payment portion of patients at any given time, as well as processing applications for medicinal product certificates and other items. Icelandic Health insurance shall have the authority to issue licences to provide payment for medicinal products which are not otherwise subject to payment participation.

Health services abroad

Icelandic Health insurance issues the European Health Insurance Card, processes applications for treatment abroad and handles payments to healthcare institutions or individuals for healthcare services abroad.

Excessive administration by Icelandic Health Insurance is made in respect of payments to sister institutions abroad (for health insured persons travelling abroad) and claims against them (for foreign tourists in Iceland).

Accident insurance

Primary factors are occupational accidents, domestic accidents and sporting accidents. Evaluation of applications, reimbursement of costs and, as appropriate, assessment of invalidity.

Patient insurance

The right to compensation is assessed for damages that can be caused by inadequate medical treatment or tests, or if there are rare and serious complications of treatment.

Dental practice

The costs of dentistry of children and pensioners and in the event of serious consequences of illness or accidents are covered.

Specialist medicine, physiotherapy, midwifery and other services

Health insurance shall provide for payments for the services of self-employed healthcare practitioners. In addition, Icelandic Health Insurance maintains a special payment participation system that calculates patients' payments at any given time. If patients have paid too much, the costs are reimbursed in accordance with law and regulations.

Ambulance services

Health insurance shall pay for ambulance transport and for air ambulance services.

Domestic travel costs

Payments to those who need to seek healthcare services outside their home area.

Healthcare per diem benefits

Those who become incapable of work due to illness for longer than 21 days and are not entitled to wages may be entitled to sickness allowances. Students may also be entitled to per diem benefits.

Various smaller policy areas

Icelandic Health insurance maintains a number of other services relating to the health and welfare of the general public.

Contracts, monitoring and analysis

The Icelandic Health Insurance Department operates an economics department, a contracts department and an inspection department. Health insurance is required by law to analyse health services at cost, assess their quality and conclude contracts with service providers.

Numerous contracts are awarded to medical institutions, ambulance operators, self-employed healthcare practitioners, suppliers of medical aids and other private parties. In 2021, about 340 contracts were awarded by the Icelandic Health Insurance and in 2022, about 350 contracts were awarded.