“Norwegian hospitals are free though. I was just surprised the first time I learned Norwegians pay at all to visit the doctor because I assumed we had the same system.”
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$17 USD
seems a bit steep, but I assume it’s to keep it affordable but not used willy nilly
We have a system like that in Sweden too. The patient fee differs from region to region and it’s generally quite small. You’re still required to pay it if you book a visit and don’t show up.
I think it is essentially to deter unnecessary visits.
Youth do not pay at all. There’s also a high cost protection so if you end up paying a certain sum, then you’re given a free card and any subsequent costs for that year are nulled. That includes most anything, including medication, but not dental care.
Currently that sum is 1450 crowns, about $150USD.
There is some push to have dental care fall under the same rules.
As a Dane, I beg to differ. I think its essential that it’s free to visit the doctor, to not deter necessary visits.
There’s a line, and I don’t know where it is. I’d very much rather someone go who didn’t need it than the other way, but medical care is to some extent a finite resource that can be over utilized.
Maybe the answer is to incentivise using it correctly instead of penalizing using it incorrectly. Get a check for showing up to or giving proper cancellation notice for all appointments, getting your regular checkups and stuff like that. Appropriate use of whatever we’re calling non-emergency walk in clinics. (At least where I am, your doctor has a lead time before appointments, and the emergency room is more geared towards immediate specialized care. The clinics are designed for “let’s give that sprained ankle a double check and pop a stich in that gouge”. Routine care that shouldn’t wait)
