Kela no longer reimburses travel expenses and expenses for procedures related to COVID-19 tests and vaccinations | KelaSkip to content
Press release

Kela no longer reimburses travel expenses and expenses for procedures related to COVID-19 tests and vaccinations

Published 22/6/2023

Starting 1 July 2023, it is no longer possible to get reimbursements from Kela for travel expenses related to COVID-19 vaccinations and tests. The payment of reimbursements for expenses related to COVID-19 tests and vaccinations at private healthcare providers will also end.

On the basis of temporary changes to the Health Insurance Act, Kela has paid reimbursements for travel expenses related to COVID-19 and for expenses related to COVID-19 tests and vaccinations at private healthcare providers. The temporary changes made to the Health Insurance Act will expire on 30 June 2023.

As of 1 July 2023, Kela will no longer pay reimbursements for travel expenses related to COVID-19 vaccinations and tests or for expenses related to COVID-19 tests and vaccinations at private healthcare providers.

The expiry of the temporary changes to the Health Insurance Act will not affect the COVID-19 vaccinations and tests coordinated by the wellbeing services counties.

Kela began paying reimbursements for expenses related to COVID-19 tests at private healthcare providers in April 2020 and for expenses related to COVID-19 vaccinations in March 2021. The payment of reimbursements for travel expenses related to COVID-19 vaccinations and tests began in March 2021.

Kela paid EUR 80 million in expenses related to COVID-19 tests. The amount paid in expenses related to COVID-19 vaccinations was EUR 1.7 million. There is no separate data available on the travel expenses related to COVID-19 vaccinations.

Last modified 6/3/2024