Lan Zheng (29) from Shanghai and Christopher Høvik (28) from Bergen are expecting a boy and a girl. Christopher is a Norwegian citizen; so will the two in the womb be when they are born. Nevertheless, the couple must pay expensive judgments for health care during pregnancy.
It was Bergens Tidende who mentioned the matter first.
The two met during their studies four years ago, and married in December last year at the Court House in Bergen. In March, the couple learned that Lan was pregnant with twins.
– At the beginning we were very shocked, admits Lan.
– BILLS: The hospital bills have already started piling up on the kitchen island at home at Sandsli. Photo: Paal S. Schaathun/TV 2
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Getting nowhere
But the shock barely subsided before the next thing was a fact.
Lan’s visa has expired, and in order to renew it she has to go to the embassy in Shanghai. But because the pandemic is still ravaging her home country, she is nowhere to be found.
She has tried several times, but every trip she has booked has been cancelled. Besides, it would be too risky for the expectant mother of twins to travel now.
– If I had gone there now, I would have had to spend two to four weeks in quarantine in a hotel, explains Lan.
During this mandatory quarantine period, the Chinese authorities cannot guarantee either health care or access to hospitals. The Norwegian government also advises against travel to Shanghai.
– CORONA WAVE: The coronavirus is still raging in China. Photo: Hector Retamal / AFP
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– Feeling hopeless
In June, Lan contacted the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI) for help renewing his visa. In the reply, which TV 2 has received permission to reproduce, it is stated that they cannot help Lan.
«Dear Lan.
We refer to your inquiry dated 23rd of June. In order to stay in Norway legally, you will need a residence permit. Since your visa has expired, you will need to return to China in order to apply. If you apply from Norway, the application will most likely be rejected on the grounds that you can not apply from Norway.
The fact that it is inconvenient or expensive to travel back to China to apply will not be sufficient reasons for us to excempt from the normal rules for applying for a permit.»
– Jostein Bakke, Directorate of Immigration
Since Lan lacks a visa, she has no right to Norwegian healthcare. The hospital automatically sends an invoice to patients who are not members of the National Insurance Scheme, and they themselves must contact the debt collection agencies to document their inability to pay.
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WEDDING: Lan and Christopher got married on Christmas Eve 2021. Photo: Private
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In a reply to TV 2 from Haukeland University Hospital, it is confirmed that invoices for healthcare are sent out automatically.
“Invoices are automatically sent to patients who are not members of the national insurance. If a patient contacts the debt collection company and provides documentation of inability to pay, the healthcare institution or service provider will have to cover the costs. In our opinion, this is in line with current regulations and guidelines.
We understand that this can cause anxiety for those concerned, and we are in dialogue with the Health Center for undocumented migrants in Bergen to find out how we can best look after the undocumented. Overall, this applies to very few cases.”
– Clara Gjesdal, deputy managing director Health Bergen
– INVOICING AUTOMATICALLY: Helse Bergen understands that the scheme can cause anxiety. Photo: Geir Johnny Huneide / TV 2
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But Lan cannot cover these health expenses, and has become a throwaway ball in the Norwegian system. No one seems to know what they can do to help as there are few situations like this. Lan sits in a telephone queue for hours with various agencies, but to no avail.
19,000 for miscarriage
The couple have also not been told what the final sum of the pregnancy will end up being, but fear bills of hundreds of thousands of kroner.
This is not the couple’s first pregnancy either. For a miscarriage in December, they had to shell out NOK 19,000.
Because the couple are now expecting twins, they must count on closer checks and follow-up than in a normal pregnancy. The bill for the first ultrasound came to NOK 1,568.
The costs so far have been paid by Lan’s husband, but they cannot manage much more on their own. In that case, they have to take out expensive loans.
– Twin pregnancies are more risky, so I may have to have a caesarean section, says Lan.
Due to her lack of a visa, she cannot work or earn an income in Norway either.
– HOPE: Lan and Christopher hope the Norwegian authorities can help them. Photo: Pål S. Schaathun/TV 2
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– It is very unfair. I am pregnant because I am a woman. If my husband, who works as a janitor and pays taxes, had the babies in his womb, he would have received free health care, says Lan.
The couple feel helpless and have no idea how they will be able to pay for the pregnancy.
Since they cannot get to China, they are now hoping that there is advice from the Norwegian authorities. The twins are already expected in October.
– I really hope that someone can help me, says Lan.
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