Pilot study on credit for medicine costs

In autumn 2025, Kela will launch a pilot study to test a new type of credit Kela can grant for medicine costs. During the pilot study, low-income customers can apply for interest-free credit from Kela that will cover the annual maximum limit on their out-of-pocket medicine costs.

Prime Minister Petteri Orpo’s Government has granted Kela funding for the pilot study, which is conducted as a step towards achieving the objectives set in the Government Programme for dividing the annual maximum limit on out-of-pocket medicine costs into parts and the transfer of the social lending system under Kela’s administration.

The pilot study will run for 3 years

The pilot study on the credit for medicine costs will last for a period of 3 years. Its primary objective is to ensure that low-income customers have uninterrupted access to their prescription medication. In addition, the pilot study will generate data on what kinds of requirements the provision of this new type of credit imposes on Kela’s operations, including its information systems and customer services.

Kela can grant the credit for medicine costs to low-income customers who do not qualify for social assistance and whose annual maximum limit on their out-of-pocket medicine costs is reached within a short period of time. Kela will plan out how the credit for medicine costs can be implemented in practice in cooperation with the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health.

Research is an important facet of the pilot study

Kela and the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health will strive to achieve a fast, efficient and customer-focused system when implementing the credit for medicine costs. This means that customers will be issued a decision on the credit as quickly as possible, and that prompt processing helps ensure the continuity of their medication treatment.

A study to determine how well the pilot study meets the objectives set for the successful implementation of pharmacotherapy will also be conducted as part of the pilot study.

Kela estimates that it will grant the credit for medicine costs to approximately 5,000 customers during the pilot study.