Reimbursements of the costs of private medical treatment

If you need to consult a doctor, you can either visit the municipal health centre or go to a private medical clinic. Kela reimburses part of the private doctor's fee and the examination and treatment charges according to a schedule of fixed charges (in Finnish). The maximum reimbursable fee specified in the schedule of fixed charges is often smaller than the fee actually charged by the doctor.

By presenting your Kela card, the reimbursement can often be credited to you at the clinic. No reimbursement is available for medical services obtained from public-sector providers nor periods in which you are being treated in a public hospital or institution (such as a home for the elderly). Some employers provide medical care as part of their occupational health care programme.

No reimbursement is available for the following items, among others:

• administrative fees

• hospital inpatient and outpatient charges

• expenses for preventive care (except for dental care).

Reimbursements may be available for the cost of acquiring a medical certificate if the certificate was issued for the purpose of satisfying an eligibility condition for a Kela benefit. However, no reimbursement is available for the purpose of acquiring

• a driving licence

• applying to a school

• satisfying the entry requirements for a job or

• applying for a pension.

If you have private medical insurance, you can claim additional reimbursement from your insurer. Before filing a claim with Kela, check the requirements for claiming reimbursement from your insurer.