Medical treatment abroad

Benefits under the Health Insurance Act can be provided by Kela to all persons covered by the Finnish National Health Insurance system. Their purpose is to offset the cost of medical care, treatment by a doctor in private practice, medical examination and treatment, medicine purchases and treatment-related travel. Kela also pays sickness allowances for persons with a lengthy illness.

The National Health Insurance covers permanent residents of Finland (who are domiciled and spend most of their time in Finland). Coverage under the National Health Insurance and eligibility for Kela benefits is proved by presenting one's personal Kela card. Eligibility for public heatlh services, however, is governed by the Municipality of Residence Act.

If you leave Finland to work abroad for more than a year (or a shorter period), you should contact Kela to check your eligibility for Finnish health insurance. As a general rule, persons moving abroad for more than a year lose their eligibility for the health insurance benefits available from Kela. However, students and persons sent by a Finnish employer for a temporary assignment abroad retain their coverage, provided certain conditions are met.

This section tells you how to access medical treatment while living outside Finland either temporarily (for less than a year) or permanently (for more than a year). For more details about the medical care benefits available from Kela, click Sickness on Kela's website.

Updated 04/11/13

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