Direct reimbursement at the pharmacy

You will usually be reimbursed for your medicine purchases directly at the pharmacy after you have reached the initial deductible.

The pharmacy obtains up-to-date information from Kela on the following:

• how much you have paid towards the initial deductible
• how much you have paid towards the annual maximum limit on out-of-pocket medicine costs
• what rights to reimbursement you have.

Your reimbursement is automatically deducted from the price of the medicine at the pharmacy, and you pay the remaining cost.

The pharmacy also receives the following information from Kela:

• whether or not you are a member of an workplace sickness fund
• if you have been granted any vouchers for medicines (basic social assistance).

The pharmacy needs your consent in order to receive information

Pharmacies need your consent in order to receive the necessary information from Kela for granting direct reimbursements.

You express your consent at the pharmacy when you show, for example

• your Kela card
• printed patient instructions that your doctor gave you in addition to an electronic prescription
• your driver's licence
• an official ID.

You can also express your consent verbally. In that case, be prepared to prove your identity.

If you wish to prevent the pharmacy from acquiring direct reimbursement information

You can deny the pharmacy the right to check the information they need for direct reimbursement. If you do so, you must claim the reimbursement from Kela afterwards. 

If you do not want Kela to provide your information to pharmacies

If you wish, you can deny Kela the right to pass on information about your right to a special rate of reimbursement. In that case, you can only receive reimbursement at the basic rate at the pharmacy. You can claim the reimbursement at the special rate from Kela afterwards.

If you do not want Kela to provide your information to pharmacies, call our customer service number at 020 634 2650.

Acting on behalf of another person

If someone else visits the pharmacy on your behalf and you would like to be reimbursed directly at the pharmacy, give that person one of following documents:

• your Kela card
• printed patient instructions that your doctor gave you in addition to an electronic prescription
• your freely formulated, written consent to the pharmacy checking your information from Kela.

Another option is to authorise the other person to handle your matters for you in the Suomi.fi online service. Once you have granted an electronic power of attorney to the other person, the pharmacy will reimburse you directly for medicine purchases.