If you wish, you can use private healthcare services. Kela will pay you a reimbursement for the use of such services. You can also receive reimbursements for medicine expenses.

What are national health insurance reimbursements?

In Finland, in addition to public healthcare services, there are also many private doctors' clinics and hospitals. Using these services often costs more than public healthcare services, but you can receive national health insurance reimbursements (sairaanhoitokorvaus) to cover the costs. These reimbursements will cover part of your costs.

Kela will also pay reimbursements for medicine expenses. National health insurance can provide partial or even full reimbursements for medicines.

How much can I claim back?

National health insurance will refund the patient part of the costs of care received and examinations carried out. The amount of the reimbursement is based on rates set by Kela. The costs of dental care and examinations can also be reimbursed.

Details on reimbursements of the costs of private medical treatment can be found on Kela's website: https://www.kela.fi/sickness. Travel costs can also be reimbursed if they exceed the amount set by Kela.

Medicine costs can be reimbursed if they are part of the reimbursement system. Reimbursement for emollients or clinical nutrition is possible if these are part of the care. The amount is a set percentage of the price of the medicine after meeting an initial deductible amount per calendar year.

There is a calendar-year cap on medicine costs reimbursed by Kela.

Details on reimbursements of the costs of medicines can be found on Kela’s website.

How do I claim the reimbursement?

Generally, private doctors' surgeries or laboratories will deduct the Kela reimbursement from your fee when you pay for the service. Reimbursements for medicines are usually deducted from the price of the medicine at the pharmacy. In order to get the 'direct' reimbursement, it is generally a requirement that you are covered by the Finnish social security system and have a Kela card. You can find additional information about exceptions on the Kela website.

You can also claim for a retrospective reimbursement from Kela.

In order to receive national health insurance reimbursements, it is generally a requirement that you are part of the Finnish social security system. You are part of the social security system if you live in Finland permanently, work in Finland, or you have business operations in Finland. For information about the rights of those who are not part of the social security system, see the Kela website.

Know your rights

The Commission's publication and website:

http://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=849&langId=fi

Who should I contact?

More information is available from Kela's customer services, https://www.kela.fi/web/en/customer-service.