Several times a year, the Evensen family in Narvik have to get in the car and drive the 23-mile trip to the University Hospital of Northern Norway (UNN) in Tromsø. Three of Sissel Evensen’s four children are chronically ill, and need to see a specialist for treatment. This is treatment they cannot get closer than Tromsø. – The drive takes around four hours each way, she says. In the past, they have had the finances to make the expenses manageable. By finding cheap alternatives, they were able to have most of the expenses covered by Pasionreiser. But with price shocks on groceries and soaring hotel prices in Tromsø, it has become more difficult. – Not much to cut Sissel Evensen says that they have not yet dropped taking the children to appointments at the hospital in Tromsø, but that they have made a compromise in order to cut travel expenses. – There have been times when we have driven both ways on the same day to avoid the hotel cost. Then we got the children up in the middle of the night to make it to class, says Evensen. Sissel Evensen says that the trips to UNN in Tromsø are challenging for the family’s finances. Photo: Børge Hoseth / news It is usually the accommodation that they have to pay a part for themselves, although Pasiontreiser covers NOK 655 per person. According to Evensen, she has been quoted a price of NOK 1,900 for one night at the patient hotel in Tromsø for her and one of the children. In addition, it is challenging for the family to pay for everything themselves as they will not be reimbursed until at least 22 days later. The money must be taken from other items for the economy to improve. This means that the food budget will be smaller, or that clothes that need replacing will have to last a little longer. – We are also very frugal in the first place, so there is not much to cut back on. There is follow-up the children must have, and it feels unfair that we should have an expense that others avoid because they live closer, says Evensen. She is concerned that others in a similar situation may opt out of treatment because of the costs. Shouldn’t cover everything – You have the right to have part of the expenses you incur in connection with patient travel covered, says managing director of Pasiontreiser, Rita Kilvær. The background for the compensation scheme is that everyone should have equal access to treatment in Norway. It is determined in the Act on patient and user rights. The right to have travel expenses covered is enshrined in law in the Patient Travel Regulations. Managing Director of Pasitereiser, Rita Kilvær. Photo: Birgitte Sjøberg / Patient Trips As the arrangement is today, you pay everything yourself and get a part back from Patient Trips. This goes according to rates (see fact box). In addition, you must pay a deductible if you do not have a free card. This exempts some groups, including children under the age of 16. – The scheme has been introduced so that social, economic or geographical conditions do not prevent you from receiving treatment, says Kilvær. Nevertheless, she is clear that the scheme is a form of benefit, and that it is not intended to cover the entire cost. – In cases where you cannot get treatment because you have no money yourself, you can apply for financial social assistance from NAV, says Kilvær. These are the rates for Patient Travel Standard rate NOK 2.90 per kilometer Standard rate for companion (only when traveling by public transport. Must be documented) NOK 2.90 per kilometer Food allowance NOK 253 per day Accommodation allowance (must be documented) Up to NOK 655 per day Lost earnings for companion (must be documented) NOK 153 per hour for a maximum of eight hours per day Companion’s expenses for hired help, to compensate for own work (must be documented. Hired help from the patient’s or companion’s next of kin is covered not) Up to NOK 51 per hour for a maximum of eight hours per day Lost earnings due to occupational injury NOK 79 per hour (maximum NOK 411 per day) Source: Patient journeys Concerned patient representative – It is very unfortunate if we have a system that not everyone gets picked up by, says Jannicke Bruvik, national patient and user representative. She explains that it can be difficult for some to access some types of health care, due to Norway’s geographical layout. National patient and user representative, Jannicke Bruvik. Photo: Synne Lykkebø Hafsaas / news Specialist health care is often located in a few places in order for the expertise to be good enough. Then people have to travel to get help. – This must be compensated in terms of expenses by having travel and accommodation covered afterwards. If the expenses nevertheless become so great that one has to consider dropping health care, then that is very worrying, says Bruvik. The Ministry of Health and Care does not wish to comment on the matter, but states that they are working on a consultation note on the patient travel regulations.
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Struggling to afford to take the children to hospital – news Troms and Finnmark
