Right to healthcare services in Finland

If you live or work in Finland, you are entitled to healthcare services. If you are temporarily resident in Finland, you are also entitled to certain services. You also have the right to seek treatment from Finland in another Nordic country, or from another Nordic country in Finland.

If you are registered as living in Finland in the population register, you are generally entitled to public healthcare in a health centre or hospital in your municipality of residence. You can also use private medical clinics. Employers often provide occupational healthcare for their employees. If you are a student, you can also use university and college health centres.

Kela card and European Health Insurance Card

The Kela card proves that you are entitled to health insurance benefits in Finland. You need the card to receive health insurance reimbursement at private medical centres.

You can apply for benefits from the Social Insurance Institution of Finland (Kela) and for the Kela card in the OmaKela e-service. If you have not previously applied for benefits or a Kela card and you have moved to Finland, make a notification of move in addition to applying for benefits or a Kela card. You will get a written decision on the benefits you are applying for. If your move to Finland is considered permanent, you will be sent a Kela card. Read about notifying a move on the page Notifying a move and population registration in Finland.

If your healthcare expenses are paid by Finland, you are entitled to a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) granted by Kela. The card allows you to receive medically necessary treatment when you travel or stay temporarily in another EU or EEA country, Switzerland, Great Britain or Northern Ireland.

Reimbursement of expenses

You can get reimbursement for some medicines, a portion of private physicians’ fees and travel expenses for medical treatment.

You get reimbursement for purchases of medicines directly at the pharmacy. You usually get health insurance reimbursement of private physicians’ fees straight away when you show your Kela card. If you are not reimbursed straight away, you can apply to Kela for reimbursement within six months. Use the application form to claim reimbursement.

Seafarers and cross-border workers living in Finland are entitled to healthcare both in their country of employment and their country of residence. Healthcare expenses are met by the country where the seafarer or cross-border worker is covered for health insurance. 

If you are covered by health insurance in another Nordic country and you suddenly fall ill while in Finland, you are entitled to receive care for your illness. Persons covered by health insurance in another Nordic country should receive treatment from the Finnish public healthcare system by showing their passport or other identity card and giving their permanent address in the other Nordic country, or you can show your European Health Insurance Card.

If you want you can seek treatment in another Nordic country. You can seek treatment either with or without prior authorisation. If you do not have prior authorisation, you can often apply for reimbursement afterwards from the health insurance institution in your country of residence.