Healthcare · For ages 13–17

What will my parents be told?

You can ask for healthcare even when you are under 18. What your parents are told depends on your age and circumstances.

You can ask about confidentiality before sharing personal information. Healthcare professionals should explain the rules that apply to you.

Your rights

What is useful to know before asking for help

You can ask for healthcare

You do not need to know what is wrong before getting in touch. You can ask about your body, periods, contraception, sex, mental health, relationships or anything else that concerns you.

Healthcare professionals have a duty of confidentiality

Confidentiality means that doctors, school nurses and other healthcare professionals generally cannot tell others what you have said or disclose information about your health unless there is a legal basis to do so.

If you are aged 12 to 15

As a general rule, your parents receive information about your health until you turn 16. From age 12, you can ask that certain information remain between you and the healthcare professional. They will consider your reasons. When your reasons should be respected, the information must be withheld. The healthcare professional should explain the rules that apply to your circumstances.

From age 16

From your 16th birthday, you generally decide about your own healthcare and who receives information about your health. This is known as having legal capacity to consent to healthcare. Until you turn 18, your parents must still receive information needed to fulfil their parental responsibilities, for example if there is a risk of serious self-harm. You should be informed when information is shared with them.

You can ask about confidentiality first

If you are unsure what may be shared, you can ask before you explain more. For example: “Before I tell you, can you explain what you must tell my parents and what can stay between us?”

Youth health clinics are free

Youth health clinics provide free services. You can get help with physical, mental and sexual health. You do not need parental permission to contact a youth health clinic.

You can also use the school health service

Your school nurse can help with questions both big and small. You can get in touch simply because you want to understand something better or are unsure whether you need more help.

Sometimes healthcare professionals must involve other services

When you or someone else is at serious risk, healthcare professionals may be required to share information, for example with child welfare services or the police. If informing your parents could place you in danger, healthcare professionals must also consider how to keep you safe. This applies regardless of your age. Ask them to explain what is happening and why.

No co-payment for covered healthcare under age 18

From 1 August 2026, people under 18 no longer pay co-payments for healthcare services covered by Norway’s exemption-card scheme. This includes GP appointments, out-of-hours medical services, hospital outpatient care and medicines on the blue-prescription scheme. Some services, products and other expenses can still cost money. You can ask in advance if you are unsure about charges.

If you want to understand the rules before speaking

You can ask about the rules first

“Before I tell you, can you explain what you must tell my parents and what can stay between us?”

You can also ask what may happen next before deciding how much you want to share.

Where can you go?

Here are places to find help and further information

School nurse

You can discuss physical and mental health, your body, periods, sex, relationships and other questions.

Youth health clinic

The service is free. You can get advice about sexual health, contraception and mental health, among other things.

Your GP

Your GP can investigate symptoms, take samples, provide treatment and refer you to other services when needed. If you are under 18, you do not pay a co-payment for the appointment.

Does seeing a doctor cost money?

If you are under 18, you do not pay a co-payment when visiting your GP or an out-of-hours medical service. You are also exempt from co-payments for other healthcare services covered by the exemption-card scheme.

This applies from 1 August 2026. Some costs, such as certain equipment, medical certificates and treatment from private providers without a public agreement, may still apply.

Read about healthcare co-payments on Helsenorge (Norwegian)

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Sources

This information is based on Norwegian rules concerning healthcare, confidentiality and co-payments. The co-payment exemption information was checked on 19 October 2026.