Sickness benefits

Health insurance and benefits while ill or after an accident

To have be covered by the health insurance administered bywith the Social Insurance Administration [Tryggingastofnun], the person concerned shall have been resident on Iceland for at least six months from the time of registration with the National Register, Þjóðskrát.

Treatment by a doctor and hospital visits

An insured person is assured of free hospital visits or care with other institutions according to a referral by a doctor. The Social Insurance Administration will also pay in full or in part for outpatient medical care, medicine, appliances/help and therapy and well as other type of help. In most cases the patient will pay a fixed charge.

Dental care

The Social Insurance Administration is not involved in the cost of dental care for adults apart from in exceptional cases such as serious consequences of congenital defects, accidents and illnesses. The Social Insurance Administration will reimburse part of the cost for dental treatment (according to ministry rates) for children and young people up to the age of 18 and for old -age and disability pensioners.

Dental costs are not regulated. The patient is obliged to pay the difference if the dentist’s costs are higher than the ministry rate.

Therapy and rehabilitation

The Social Insurance Administration pays part of the insured person’s costs of sickness, occupational and logopaedic therapy according to predetermined rules. A doctor’s referral shall be presented before the therapy is commenced.

Sickness daily benefi

Persons who are unable to work because of sickness may be entitled to sickness benefit from The Social Insurance Administration if the entitlement to sick pay according to a collective agreement has expired but for no more than 52 weeks. The amount is the same for everybody.

The Social Insurance Administration’s accident insurance

The Social Insurance Administration normally covers occupational accidents, accidents when involved in sport with recognised sport associations as well as accidents during rescue work if certain conditions are met. Payment is made as an accident benefit when the entitlement to wages according to a collective agreement has expired, invalidity or death benefit and reimbursement of sickness costs.