Healthcare in Finland

Written by Lais Cattassini Moderated by Oleksandra Dosii

Lais Cattassini

Lais is a Brazilian journalist and copywriter with over 17 years of experience, writing about things she knows really well (travelling, cinema, social media trends) and things she loves learning about.

Oleksandra Dosii

Oleksandra is a dedicated marketer with a passion for growing HR-tech products. She believes content marketing is about delivering high-quality content that provides value—not just generating leads. Since 2016, Oleksandra has been involved in tech talent relocation.

Last update: September 13, 2024

Next update: Scheduled for February 1, 2025

Interesting facts:

• Finland has one of the lowest infant mortality rates in the world, thanks to its well-established maternal and child healthcare programs.
• The country provides extensive mental health services through public healthcare.
• Expecting mothers in Finland receive a famous maternity package from the government, filled with baby clothes, diapers, and other essentials.

Overview of the Finnish healthcare system

Every resident of Finland is entitled to healthcare services, regardless of their income or employment status. This universal coverage is funded primarily through taxes and is designed to ensure equitable access to medical care for all.

The majority of healthcare services are provided by the public sector, with municipalities playing a significant role in managing primary healthcare. These local governments are responsible for organising healthcare services for their residents, including general practitioners, maternity care, mental health services, and elderly care.

While the public system dominates, there is also a private healthcare sector. Private healthcare is often used to reduce wait times or for more specialised care. Some employers offer private health insurance as a benefit, but it's not necessary for basic coverage as the public system covers the vast majority of healthcare needs.

Finland places a strong emphasis on preventative healthcare, promoting healthy lifestyles and early intervention to prevent more severe health issues. The country also integrates social welfare services with healthcare, focusing on social determinants of health like housing, education, and employment.

How to access the healthcare system in the Netherlands as an expat

Residency Requirement

To access Finland's public healthcare system, you need to be a legal resident. This applies to Finnish citizens and foreigners who have been granted residence in Finland. The first step is securing a residence permit if you're not a citizen of an EU/EEA country or Switzerland. For EU/EEA/Swiss citizens, registering with the Finnish Population Information System (FIS) is necessary after staying in the country for more than 90 days.

Once you are considered a permanent resident, you are typically eligible to receive a Kela card (from the Social Insurance Institution of Finland), which grants access to most healthcare services. Kela is responsible for managing the healthcare benefits and reimbursements available to residents.

Registration with the Finnish Population Information System (FIS)

You must register your residence with the Finnish Population Information System by visiting the nearest Local Register Office (Maistraatti) and providing necessary documents such as your residence permit, passport, and proof of address.

Once registered, you'll receive a Finnish personal identity code, which is used for administrative purposes, including healthcare services.

Applying for a Kela Card

Fill out an online application via the Kela website or visit a local Kela office in person. You'll need to present proof of residence (such as a rental contract), a residence permit (for non-EU citizens), or other documents proving your stay in Finland (employment contract, study permit).

It usually takes a few weeks for your Kela card to be processed and mailed to you.

Accessing Municipal Healthcare Services

You can access healthcare through your local municipal health centre (terveyskeskus), which provides primary healthcare services like doctor's appointments, health check-ups, and preventive care.

You are automatically assigned a municipal health centre based on your home address, but you are generally free to change it if necessary. To do so, contact your municipality and provide them with your Kela card and personal details.

Types of health insurance in Finland

Public Health Insurance (Kela Insurance)

Kela (The Social Insurance Institution of Finland) administers the public health insurance system. The funding for this insurance comes from taxes, and most healthcare services are either free or available for small co-payments.

Kela's coverage includes primary and specialist health care, reimbursements for private healthcare, prescription medication, rehabilitation and therapy, and maternity and child health services.

Some of the services that may incur a co-payment include doctor's visits, hospital stays, emergency services, and dental care.

Private Health Insurance

Private health insurance is available for individuals seeking quicker access to healthcare services, including specialist consultations, elective surgeries, and private hospital care.

Many employers offer private health insurance as a benefit, particularly for white-collar workers. This insurance typically covers occupational health services, routine doctor visits, and other healthcare services.

Occupational Health Insurance

In Finland, employers are legally required to provide occupational health services for their employees. These services ensure that workers have access to basic healthcare related to their work environment, including preventive care, medical check-ups, and treatment for work-related injuries or illnesses.

Coverage includes regular medical examinations, vaccinations, and consultations related to work, treatment of work-related injuries, mental health support, and rehabilitation services related to work tasks.

In this case, the employer arranges the insurance and services, often contracting with private healthcare providers to deliver occupational health services. Employees can access these services free of charge as long as they are employed by the company.

How much does health insurance in Finland cost?

Residents do not pay monthly premiums for public healthcare, as it is funded through taxes. Instead, the healthcare system is financed through income taxes, and the costs are shared by the state and municipalities.

While public healthcare is largely free or low-cost, there are small co-payments for services such as doctor's visits, hospital stays, and medications.

Doctor's visits cost around €20 to €30 per visit, hospital stays €48 to €61 per day, emergency room visits €20 to €40 and prescription medications require a 40% co-payment for most medications.

There is an annual out-of-pocket cap of approximately €700 per year. After reaching this threshold, healthcare services are free or significantly reduced for the remainder of the year.

Cost of Private Health Insurance

Private health insurance premiums vary depending on the level of coverage, the insurer, and the individual's age and health status. Basic plans cost approximately €300 to €600 per year, while comprehensive plans can cost upwards of €2,000 per year.

Some of the most popular health insurance companies in Finland are Pohjola, LähiTapiola, If, Fennia, and Turva.

Expat health insurance in Finland

Expats who move to Finland and plan to stay for more than a year are typically covered by the public healthcare system after registering with Kela.

If you're an EU/EEA or Swiss citizen, you can use your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) to access public healthcare for short-term stays (such as travel or temporary work). However, for long-term residency, you'll need to register with Kela.

Non-EU citizens planning to stay in Finland for more than a year usually need to apply for public healthcare coverage via Kela once they are legally residing in Finland.

English-speaking doctors in Finland

Public health centres usually have doctors who can speak English, particularly in larger cities like Helsinki, Espoo, Tampere, and Turku. You can check your local health centre website to discover more, and many health centres provide online appointment booking options where you can request a doctor who speaks English.

Some of Finland's largest private healthcare providers, such as Mehiläinen, Terveystalo, and Aava Medical Center, provide services in English.

What to do in an emergency?

You can call 112, which is the national emergency number in Finland. It connects you to the emergency services (ambulance, police, fire department, and other emergency support), is toll-free and can be called from any phone, even if it has no SIM card or credit.

Operators speak Finnish, Swedish, and English, so you can request assistance in English if needed.

ER services are available 24/7 in hospitals. However, note that in Finland, not all hospitals have emergency departments.