In order for you to be entitled to benefits from the National Insurance scheme, your physiotherapist must have an agreement with Helfo regarding direct settlement. You need to clarify this before the examination and treatment starts. The physiotherapist is obliged to inform you before the treatment starts if he or she does not have a direct settlement with Helfo, so you will know whether or not you have to pay the entire bill yourself. This obligation follows from section 6 of the Health Personnel Act.
In order for your expenses to be covered, the physiotherapist must have an agreement with the municipality.
To find out whether the physiotherapist has an agreement, you can ask the physiotherapist or contact the municipality.
If your physiotherapist does not have such an agreement, you will have to pay all your expenses yourself.
You will have to pay a higher user fee if the physiotherapist has additional expertise as a specialist, such as manual therapy or psychomotor physiotherapy.
Referral for physiotherapy
You do not need to be referred to a physiotherapist in order to have your physiotherapy expenses covered.
General rule for payments to physiotherapists
Most patients must pay a user fee when they visit a physiotherapist.
Some groups are exempt from paying user fees for physiotherapy assessments and treatment.
This applies to:
- children under 16
- patients with an exemption card for health services
- patients with an approved occupational injury (also applies to soldiers on initial military service)
User fees payable to physiotherapists and exemption cards
Only approved user fees will count towards your exemption card for health services. The maximum user fees per year for 2024 is NOK 3,165.
Physiotherapists are obliged to put up a notice stating the user fees and prices they charge.
Here are the most common user fees which count towards an exemption card:
| Physiotherapist | User fee |
| For assessments lasting up to 30 minutes (including assessments by manual therapists and other specialists) | NOK 192 |
| Supplement for diagnostic ultrasound for musculoskeletal disorders | NOK 100 |
| Up to 20 minutes of treatment by a physiotherapist | NOK 139 |
| For every extra 10 minutes | NOK 43 |
| Separate charges apply for additional treatment/equipment use | |
| Up to 20 minutes of treatment by a manual therapist | NOK 182 |
| For every extra 10 minutes | NOK 66 |
| Up to 20 minutes of treatment by a physiotherapist with additional skills in psychomotor physiotherapy | NOK 136 |
| For every extra 10 minutes | NOK 44 |
| 30 minutes of group therapy | NOK 61 |
| 60 minutes of group therapy | NOK 105 |
| 90 minutes of group therapy | NOK 151 |
| * The user fee depends on the form of treatment. |
By logging in to the service Exemption card and user fees ("Frikort og egenandeler") at Helsenorge you can view your exemption card and user fees.
You will receive an SMS or e-mail depending on what notifications settings you have made at Helsenorge.
If you have paid to much in user fees, you will automatically get back the right amount.
Physiotherapy in the EU/EEA
You can have your expenses for certain types of physiotherapy in the EU/EEA covered in accordance with Norwegian rules. You must pay for your treatment and then apply to Helfo for a refund afterwards.
Illustration: Morten Rakke / Helfo