More people with a low income to qualify for medicine cost credit – higher income limit as of 1 January 2027 

At the beginning of 2027, the income limit for Kela’s credit for medicine costs (lääkeluotto, medicine cost credit) will increase from EUR 1,800 to EUR 2,200 per month. The child increase will remain unchanged. As a result of the raised income limit, more people with a low income can get interest-free medicine cost credit from Kela to help them pay the annual maximum limit on out-of-pocket medicine costs (lääkekatto, annual out-of-pocket maximum). The new income limit will apply as of November to applications for medicine purchases that will be made in 2027.   

In 2025, the medicine costs of a total of around 298,000 people reached the annual out-of-pocket maximum. Some customers reach the annual out-of-pocket maximum early in the year. This means that they have to pay the large annual maximum within a short time. 

“It may also be difficult to pay the annual out-of-pocket maximum if your income is slightly higher than the current income limit. With the raised limit, more people can divide the large annual maximum into smaller monthly instalments. The aim is to ensure that people with a low income do not need to postpone buying the medicines that they need because they do not have the money,” says Petri Hassel, Legal Counsel at Kela. 

In 2027, the annual out-of-pocket maximum is EUR 650.56. Kela’s medicine cost credit allows for the sum to be divided into several monthly instalments. 

Prepare in advance for medicine costs payable in early 2027 

You can apply for medicine cost credit at the earliest 2 months before you buy your medication. If you estimate that you will reach the annual out-of-pocket maximum in January in one purchase or during the same calendar month, you can apply for the credit already in November. Kela will apply the new income limit of EUR 2,200 to these credit applications. 

You must submit your application before you buy the medicines. You can submit the application and the necessary supporting documents in the OmaKela e-service. Kela will transfer the granted medicine cost credit to your bank account to help you buy the medicines. 

The credit is repaid in monthly instalments 

Medicine cost credit is paid back to Kela in equal instalments over the span of 12 months. Kela does not charge any interest or any other costs on the credit. 

Medicine cost credit can help for example a pensioner who does not qualify for social assistance (toimeentulotuki) because of their savings but who finds it difficult to pay the whole annual out-of-pocket maximum in one go. The credit is also available to other people with a low income if they meet the conditions for granting it. 

Who can get medicine cost credit? 

Medicine cost credit is available to people 

• who reach the maximum annual limit on out-of-pocket medicine costs with one purchase or within one calendar month 
• whose monthly income does not exceed EUR 2,200 
• who does not have the right to social assistance 
• who has not been granted debt adjustment by a court. 

If the customer has dependent children, the income limit is EUR 100 higher per each child. Customers can also get medicine cost credit for the medicine costs of a child who is under 18. 

More information on the conditions for granting medicine cost credit and on applying for it is available at kela.fi/credit-for-medicine-costs. 

Some 600 customers have received medicine cost credit 

Medicine cost credit was introduced in October 2025 in a 3-year pilot. Preliminary findings indicate that medicine cost credit has been granted for the costs of medicines used for the treatment of, for example, psoriasis, asthma and type 2 diabetes.  

By the end of September 2026, medicine cost credit had been granted to about 600 customers. The granted medicine cost credits amounted to about EUR 373,000. The raised income limit is estimated to extend the medicine cost credit to about 1,200 new customers per year.