Did you fall ill?
- To be able to apply for sickness allowance, see a doctor
If your incapacity for work lasts longer than the waiting period, you can apply for sickness allowance. To qualify for sickness allowance, you need a medical certificate showing that you are incapable for work.
Read more about the sickness allowance. - Find out if you are able to return to work on a part-time basis
If you are employed, find out if you could work part-time. Working shorter hours and adapting work to your health may promote healing. You can apply for partial sickness allowance for the period of part-time work.
Learn more about the partial sickness allowance. - Prolonged illness
If you are ill for more than 60 working days, you need a medical statement B or other documentation showing your incapacity for work. Submit the statement or documentation to Kela. If you are employed and your illness continues for more than 90 working days, you also need a statement from the occupational health doctor concerning your possibilities to continue working. If your occupational healthcare provider has not submitted a statement to Kela, you can submit it yourself.
If you are incapable for work for over a year
Find out if you qualify for rehabilitation subsidy or disability pension.
Learn more about rehabilitation subsidy and disability pension
The maximum annual limit on out-of-pocket medicine costs (lääkekatto)
The maximum annual limit on out-of-pocket travel costs (matkakatto)
The maximum annual limit only applies to public healthcare services. There is no annual out-of-pocket maximum for private medical care costs.
What else is going on in your life?
Seeing a doctor in the private sector?
Kela reimburses part of the costs of appointments with a private practitioner (doctor in the private sector) if you see one due to illness, pregnancy or childbirth.
Do you have a long-term illness or a disability diagnosed by a doctor?
Find out if you qualify for disability allowance.
Do you need rehabilitation?
Rehabilitation is a way to help persons with an illness or impairment to live a full life, continue working, or return to work.
Has your income decreased?
Changes in your income may affect Kela benefits.
Current topics
Are you over 65? A new opportunity to see a private GP
The Government is proposing to amend the Health Insurance Act to allow persons aged 65 or over to see a private general practitioner by paying a copayment equal to the local user fee charged by primary healthcare providers operating in the public sector.
Medicine cost credit helps with high prescription medicine costs
Starting from the end of October 2025, low-income customers will have the opportunity to get a loan from Kela in the form of a credit for medicine costs to pay the annual maximum limit on out-of-pocket medicine costs. Kela grants the credit as part of a pilot study that begins on 27 October 2025.