Emergency Care in Iceland (2026 Legal Guide) — Rules & Requirements
About this article
Sourced from Icelandic Acts of the Althingi, statutory instruments, and official guidance. Written in plain language for general understanding — this is educational content, not legal advice. Our editorial standards
What is this right?
Everyone has the right to emergency medical care in Iceland, regardless of insurance status:
Cost-sharing system (monthly caps):
- General public: Monthly cap of 37,794 ISK.
- The elderly, the disabled and rehabilitation pensioners: Monthly cap of 25,198 ISK.
- Children aged 2–18: Monthly cap of 25,198 ISK.
- Children under 2: No charge.
Once the monthly cap is reached, a lower fixed fee applies:
- General public: 6,299 ISK/month.
- The elderly/disabled/children under 18: 4,331 ISK/month.
Hospital admission is generally free for insured individuals.
When does it apply?
- You need emergency medical care in Iceland.
- Non-residents must usually pay in full unless covered by an EHIC card (the European Health Insurance Card) or bilateral agreements.
What to do if you need emergency medical care in Iceland
- Call 112 in an emergency — ambulance, fire service and police.
- Go to the nearest hospital emergency department.
- Track your cost-sharing — once you reach the monthly cap, you are entitled to lower fees.
What should you NOT do?
- Don't avoid the emergency department because of cost — emergency care cannot be refused and cost-sharing is capped.
- Don't assume the service is free — cost-sharing applies to most services (except hospital admission and children under 2).
About Healthcare Rights in Iceland
Healthcare in Iceland is universal and tax-funded, covering all legal residents under Lög um heilbrigðisþjónustu (the Health Services Act, Lög nr. 40/2007) and Lög um sjúkratryggingar (the Health Insurance Act, Lög nr. 112/2008), with Sjúkratryggingar Íslands (Icelandic Health Insurance) the sole public purchaser nationwide. You pay a co-payment for GP visits, specialist visits and prescriptions. Your patient rights — informed consent, access to your medical record, confidentiality, a second opinion and the right to refuse treatment — fall under Lög um réttindi sjúklinga (the Patients' Rights Act, Lög nr. 74/1997). Complaints about a doctor go to Embætti landlæknis (the Directorate of Health). Visitors from the EEA are covered by an EHIC card.
Common Questions
What number do I call in an emergency in Iceland?
112 — for ambulance, fire service and police. Everyone has the right to emergency medical care in Iceland regardless of insurance status. Go to the nearest hospital emergency department if you can, or call 112 if you cannot travel safely. Don't avoid the emergency department because of cost — emergency care cannot be refused and cost-sharing is capped by law.
What does emergency care cost in Iceland?
It depends on your category. The monthly cost-sharing caps are 37,794 ISK for the general public, 25,198 ISK for the elderly, the disabled and rehabilitation pensioners, 25,198 ISK for children aged 2–18, and no charge for children under 2. Once the monthly cap is reached, lower fixed fees apply — 6,299 ISK for the general public and 4,331 ISK for the lower categories.
Are tourists covered for emergencies in Iceland?
Not automatically. Non-residents must usually pay in full unless covered by the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) or bilateral agreements. EEA citizens with an EHIC card are entitled to necessary services during a temporary stay on the same terms as Icelandic residents. Tourists without an EHIC should rely on travel insurance for emergencies. Hospital admission is generally free for insured individuals.
What is the emergency care right in Iceland?
Everyone has the right to emergency medical care in Iceland, regardless of insurance status:Cost-sharing system (monthly caps):General public: Monthly cap of 37,794 ISK.The elderly, the disabled and rehabilitation pensioners: Monthly cap of 25,198 ISK.Children aged 2–18: Monthly cap of 25,198 ISK.Children under 2: No charge.Once the monthly cap is reached, a lower fixed fee applies:General public: 6,299 ISK/month.The elderly/disabled/children under 18: 4,331 ISK/month.Hospital admission is generally free for insured individuals.
When does it apply — emergency care?
You need emergency medical care in Iceland.Non-residents must usually pay in full unless covered by an EHIC card (the European Health Insurance Card) or bilateral agreements.
What should I do if I have a medical emergency in Iceland?
Call 112 in an emergency — ambulance, fire service and police.Go to the nearest hospital emergency department.Track your cost-sharing — once you reach the monthly cap, you are entitled to lower fees.
What should you NOT do — emergency care?
Don't avoid the emergency department because of cost — emergency care cannot be refused and cost-sharing is capped.Don't assume the service is free — cost-sharing applies to most services (except hospital admission and children under 2).