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Iceland Expat Health Insurance

The Republic of Iceland, commonly referred to as Iceland, is a large island nation in the North Atlantic Ocean. Iceland has an approximate population of 320,000 people with a majority of its citizens living in close proximity to the capital city Reykjavík. Although its name conjures up images of a barren landscape of ice and snow, Iceland’s climate is influenced by the Gulf Stream and hence enjoys a temperate climate despite its location just south of the Arctic Circle. Citizens of Iceland are descendants of Norse and Gaelic settlers and this influence can be found in the national language Icelandic and in cultural areas such as national cuisine and poetry. For centuries the Icelandic economy was reliant on fishing and agriculture until 1994 when Iceland became part of the European Economic Area (EEA) and the economy began to diversify into economic and financial services. Despite problems within the banking industry following the global economic recession in 2008, Iceland is widely acknowledged as being one of the wealthiest and most developed countries in the world and in 2010 it ranked highly on the United Nation’s Human Development Index.

Iceland Health Care and Insurance

The Ministry of Health and Social Security has overall responsibility for the provision of health care services. Iceland has a well developed Nordic welfare system which provides universal health care coverage for all citizens, regardless of age or employment status. The majority of health services are covered by the state although some fees are required for certain treatments. The State Social Security Institute (SSSI) oversees the administration of the public health system and ensures citizens have swift and easy access to health care. Expatriates and foreign nationals legally resident and employed in Iceland for a consecutive period greater than 6 months are eligible to apply to the SSSI for access to health care services. The application processing time can be lengthy and the decision to permit entry to SSSI is dependant on a number of factors such as employment and medical history. To ensure full and comprehensive health cover for expatriates and dependants, it is advisable to purchase international Iceland health insurance that will help offset health care costs for the duration of your time in Iceland.

Public health facilities in Iceland are of a very high standard and are capable of providing noteworthy health care. Health centers are the primary source of care and where conditions permit they can function alongside or within the same building or general area as hospitals. Health centers are located in designated areas and citizens may seek assistance at the health center which is closest and most convenient to them. Secondary and tertiary care is provided by a network of large health centers and hospitals. Hospitals can be divided into three distinct groups depending on their location and the care they are capable of providing namely community hospitals, general hospitals and specialized teaching hospitals. The Landspítali University Hospital in Reykjavík is the country’s pre-eminent medical facility and is capable of treating up to 950 patients at any one time. A number of medical specialists are based at the hospital and alongside providing care and treatment to patients, university students are able to study, work and carry out research at the facility.

The private health care sector in Iceland is small and limited to a number of practitioners who provide out-patient specialist services either on their own or in a group practice. The number of private facilities is on the rise and the increasing number of private practitioners constitutes one of the fastest growing areas of the Icelandic health care system. Private practitioners generally charge on a fee for service basis which has been previously agreed with the Ministry of Health. Few Icelanders opt to use private health facilities given the high standard of the public health system. As an expatriate of foreign national resident in or visiting Iceland who requires emergency medical treatment you will be expected to pay hospital charges at the time of treatment. These hospital charges can be expensive regardless of whether you use public or private facilities; therefore, purchasing an Iceland health insurance policy is advised.

Iceland Travel Insurance Concerns

Iceland’s health care system is capable of providing universal health care to all citizens while maintaining a high standard of care. With almost two thirds of the country’s population resident in or adjacent to Reykjavík, health facilities here can become crowded and long waiting times can be expected. In more rural and sparsely populated areas the opposite is true. As a result, medical standards in rural areas can be quite low when compared to facilities in larger cities. There is also a shortage of specialist personnel operating outside of the larger urban areas.

Iceland has numerous natural attractions and large numbers of tourists visit the country’s geysers, mountains, volcanoes and glaciers each year. In the event that you require medical assistance while visiting a remote part of the country, you may need to contact the emergency air services. Such services are extremely expensive and as such you are advised to include a provision for emergency air evacuation within your Iceland health insurance policy.

As a member of the European Economic Area (EEA), Iceland has bilateral agreements with EEA member states and with members of the European Union that European citizens in possession of the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) are entitled to seek a free medical consultation at Icelandic public health facilities. It should be noted that the EHIC entitles holder to emergency treatment only. Should you require in-patient services or further consultations, you would be required to pay out of pocket for these services.

Iceland Expat Health Insurance

As an expatriate or visitor to Iceland you can be assured of access to a modern and well equipped health care system should the need arise. Regardless of the level of treatment sought, please note that some out of pocket expenses will be incurred. To ensure peace of mind for you and your family invest in an Iceland expat health insurance policy. Global Health Insurance can assist you in the process of selecting the right expat health insurance policy that suits you and your family’s requirements. For a free quotation or for more information on Iceland health insurance plans please contact one of our advisors today.