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Finland Expat Health Insurance

Finland is a country situated in Northern Europe whose neighbors include Sweden, Norway and Russia, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland. With a land area of 338,424 square kilometers and a population of approximately 5.4 million people, Finland is one of the largest countries in Europe and also one of the most sparsely populated, with a majority of people residing in the southern part of the country. Finland was predominately an agrarian society until the 1950s when rapid economic development and modernization of the country began. This development resulted in the economy moving away from its dependence on agriculture to one which is now largely reliant on electronics, manufacturing, forestry and chemicals. Finland is widely regarded as having Europe’s best educational system and is also highly ranked among the world’s most desirable and peaceful countries in which to reside.

Finland Healthcare System

Along with rapid development of the economy, successive Finnish governments dedicated themselves to modernization of the health care system, namely increasing the number of primary health facilities and establishing medical schools to train and educate the required number of medical personnel. As a result, the Finnish health care system now compares favorably to its Nordic neighbors and is capable of offering universal health care coverage for a range of services which are provided primarily by publicly operated institutions funded by the government.

Health care services are divided into three distinct categories and each falls under the remit of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health (MSAH) which has full responsibility for health policy and its implementation across the sector. The three categories are defined as municipal health care, private health care and occupational health care. The municipal health care system provides the majority of Finland’s health care services. Municipalities are required by law to provide adequate services to citizens within its boundaries and these services are funded by the state and from income levies. The municipal system is capable of providing specialist care through its network of district hospitals with the number of hospitals per municipality dependant on its size and population and each has one main central hospital.

The three categories of health care services can be further broken down into three levels of care: primary, secondary and tertiary. District health centers staffed by general practitioners and nurses provide primary health care services. Secondary or specialist care is provided at municipal level by the district hospitals. Tertiary level care is provided by the five university teaching hospitals which contain the most advanced facilities and equipment in the country. It is also at these hospitals where Finnish doctors study and work internships. The university hospitals are funded by the municipalities although all medical training costs are covered by the government through the MSAH.

Overall, the Finnish private health care system is quite small with approximately 4 percent of hospital in-patient care provided by the private system. Dentistry, physiotherapy and occupational health services make up the bulk of private health care services. Occupational health services are carried out by both public and private providers and employers are obliged by law to provide such services for their employees.

The statutory National Health Insurance (NHI) scheme, known as Kansaneläkelaitos or KELA, covers all Finnish residents and is operated by the Social Insurance Institution (SII). KELA provides financial assistance to citizens in relation to their health care costs. Contributions to the scheme are income based and calculated as a fixed percentage of the member’s salary. Reimbursement of medical expenses including doctor’s fees, dental care costs and examination and treatment charges is available. It should be noted that reimbursement is not calculated on actual costs but on a pre determined list of fixed charges.

Finland has many natural attractions which entice millions of tourists to visit each year. With nearly 200,000 lakes and approximately 86 percent of the territory designated as forest, Finland is a country of many contrasts. Finland’s winters are extremely cold and many lakes freeze over. Skiing, ice skating and visits to Lapland are the most popular winter attractions. Surprisingly warm summers attract many hikers, walkers and fishing enthusiasts. Visitors in summer intending to hike and camp outdoors should consider receiving the tick borne encephalitis vaccination prior to departure from their home country. Ticks and mosquitoes are common to forest and lake areas and standard precautions against insect bites should be adopted.

Finland Expat Health Insurance

European expatriates relocating to Finland and other short term visitors who are in possession of the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) are ensured equal access to medical care. Those in possession of an EHIC should note that they are only entitled to a limited range of medical services and may be required to pay in cash for specialist or complicated treatment. Non-European nationals in Finland are required to pay in cash for any treatment received. Therefore, both European and non-European nationals are advised to purchase comprehensive Finland expat health insurance to ensure they receive the full range of medical care available and that they are covered from excessive costs should they require medical treatment.

Expatriates in Finland have access to a health care service which is generally acknowledged as one of the best in the European Union. While there may be some long standing issues such as access to specialist treatments and exaggerated waiting times, the Finnish health care system is dependable and provides a high standard of care to those who seek treatment at its facilities.

Travelers, short term visitors, expatriates and their families are advised to obtain supplemental health insurance with specific coverage for Finland. Non-EU nationals visiting Finland are strongly advised to purchase comprehensive travel and medical insurance prior to their arrival in the country. Purchasing Finland expat health insurance will give peace of mind and ensure you are sufficiently covered for all possible medical situations. For more information about the various international health insurance products and services we can offer, or to receive a free quote, please contact a Global Health Insurance adviser today.