Norway health insurance coverage reaches record high

The number of Norwegians covered by private health insurance has reached a record high. As of early July, 893,203 people held treatment insurance, representing a 2.2 percent increase compared to the same period last year.

Data from Tryg Forsikring and Finans Norge indicate a shift in how these policies are utilized. There has been a significant increase in the use of mental health services, which rose by more than 8 percent, and physical therapy, which now accounts for over half of all insurance usage. Conversely, there has been a decline in the use of medical specialists and surgical procedures.

While the majority of policyholders receive coverage through their employers, private individual purchases are also rising. The number of Norwegians purchasing their own private treatment insurance increased by 6.3 percent over the last year, reaching approximately 113,000 people. Despite an 8.9 percent decrease in overall usage, insurance companies reported a 1.7 percent increase in costs related to these schemes over the past year.