11/16/11

Immediate reimbursement of prescription drug costs: Eligibility extended to include seamen and cross-border workers

Seamen and cross-border workers who live in Finland but covered by the health insurance scheme of another EU/EEA country or of Switzerland are now eligible for immediate, on-the-spot reimbursements for prescription drugs purchased at a pharmacy. The right to reimbursement must be proven at the pharmacy by presenting a valid Certificate of entitlement to medical care in Finland (Todistus oikeudesta hoitoetuuksiin Suomessa), which is available from Kela. The right to on-the-spot reimbursement applies to prescription drugs belonging to the basic and special reimbursement categories.

Under the EU legislation, workers are covered by the social security system of one country at a time. Seamen are generally subject to the so-called flag rule, which means that they are covered by the social security system of the country whose flag their ship flies or in which it is registered. This applies also to cross-border workers domiciled in Finland but employed in another EU/EEA country or in Switzerland. They are covered by the social security system of their country of employment.

As seamen and cross-border workers are covered by the social security and health insurance systems of their country of employment, they do not qualify for a Kela card. They can instead request a Certificate of entitlement to medical care in Finland (Todistus oikeudesta hoitoetuuksiin Suomessa) from Kela by contacting the customer service number for migration issues at 020 692 207, or by completing the form SV140.

Further information:

The customer service number for migration questions, at 020 692 207, is open Monday to Friday between 8 am and 6 pm.