The State Health Service
The government social insurance agency called Kansanelakelaitos or more popularly known as KELA, is responsible for co-ordinating the state contribution system. KELA will reimburse all registered citizens for treatment by doctors, dental care, hospital examination and treatment. Reimbursement is calculated based on a set of fixed fees, which means that citizens may be eligible to pay some of the costs themselves.

State healthcare is only available if you are employed and paying into the healthcare insurance fund or if you are a dependant of an employed person or if you belong to one of the vulnerable groups like the disabled and even these groups sometimes have to contribute towards the cost of treatment. The size of each person’s contribution depends on how much they earn. It is deducted directly from people’s wages.

Preventive healthcare, maternity care and child health is free to everyone. Children below the age of 18 receive all of their medical care free. However, parents may sometimes have to pay a daily fee (up to seven days) for inpatient hospital treatment.

Employers must provide preventative healthcare for all employees. Some also provide medical treatment and other health services. KELA gives back 50 percent of all necessary costs incurred through the provision of work-based healthcare, while the municipal health centre. Some employers offer private healthcare insurance as a job benefit.

To claim back fees, you may be able to submit all of the necessary documentation through your workplace or you can take it along to your local KELA office. You need to submit an itemised invoice from your doctor, proof of any diagnostic tests or treatments and proof of payment. Reimbursement can take up to six months.