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Finland International Health Insurance / Healthcare System |
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Finland is a Nordic country situated in Northern Europe sharing it borders with Sweden, Norway, Russia and Estonia. Finland has a population exceeding 5.2 million people and became a European member state in 1995. Finland has an economy focused on wood, metals, engineering, telecommunications and the electronics industries. Finland has a modern welfare state and prides itself on the high standard of education and national social security system it provides for its citizens.
The standard of healthcare in Finland is very good, with the Finnish government providing all registered citizens with universal healthcare coverage. The Finnish healthcare system is similar to other Nordic countries, although it is more decentralized compared to regional neighbors; this followed a reform of healthcare in the 1990's. The public health sector plays a major role in the provision of healthcare services in Finland, with the private sector only providing a small proportion.
The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health (MSAH) in Finland is responsible for all healthcare issues in the country and oversees all social and healthcare services; MSAH will develop and implement healthcare policy and ensure all healthcare reform is applied.
In principal there are three different Finnish healthcare systems which receive state funding: municipal healthcare, private healthcare and occupational healthcare. Citizens of Finland in employment can usually choose between any of these three systems, although low income citizens in Finland, or the unemployed, only really have health access to municipal healthcare. There is a difference between the three healthcare systems, such as the scope of health services, waiting times and user-fees.
The Finnish healthcare system has two main sources of funding for public healthcare services. Municipal funding is based on local taxes and National Health Insurance (NHI) contributions requiring compulsory fees to be paid by all Finnish citizens. Municipalities fund Finnish municipal healthcare services except transport costs and drugs for outpatients. Municipalities must also arrange health services for their residents and raise funds through municipal taxes, state subsidies and from patient’s fees. The Finnish NHI is the second source of funding for the Finnish healthcare system and generates income from general taxation on employers and employees working in Finland. The Finnish NHI funds private health care services, including occupational health care, drugs for outpatients, sickness allowances and transport costs.
A National Project to ‘Ensure the Future of Health Care in Finland’ was a programme commenced in 2001 by the Finnish government to reform and develop healthcare services in the country. The project was designed to eliminate problems surrounding patient access, waiting times and waiting lists and the development of human resources in the medical profession. This resulted in the central Finnish government, and the local authorities, adopting a new structural plan and funding arrangements for the Finnish healthcare system. Much of the reform for public healthcare services was implemented in 2005, although the health sector can still suffer from a backlog in patient waiting lists.
Municipalities in Finland are required by Finnish law to ensure basic healthcare and social services are provided to the inhabitants of the region for which they are responsible. In 2008, there were a total of 415 municipalities with an average population of 13,000 people in each. The municipalities have the right to levy taxes on income and property and will also receive subsidies from central government to assist in funding arrangements for the services they are obligated to provide to their inhabitants. The central government’s level of subsidy is determined by factors impacting on local populations, including average age and mobility within the municipality. The central government’s subsidies will usually amount to approximately 25% to 30% of the local municipal spending on public health services.
Municipalities are regulated by the Finnish Primary Health Care Act which entails following guidelines for primary healthcare services. Municipalities in Finland can work independently or jointly with neighboring local authorities in the provisioning of health centres. There are roughly 237 health centres (Terveysasemat) in Finland providing primary health services to patients. In more densely populated areas, there will be a numbered of primary health centres - in Helsinki there are 29 primary health centres located across the city. Municipalities in Finland can also purchase certain primary health services from privately run providers or district hospitals to ensure adequate provision of healthcare services. In 2006, there was 24.9 million outpatient visits to primary healthcare centres.
Secondary healthcare services are mainly provided by municipality-owned hospital
districts. There are roughly 20 hospital districts (Sairaalat) across Finland, offering patients and municipalities a range of specialist medical services. Each hospital district in Finland has a central hospital, with five more being at university teaching level. Hospital districts are funded by municipalities located in their region. There is a range in the catchment population for a hospital district, with numbers varying from 65,000 to 1.4 million inhabitants. For a patient to be granted access to healthcare services at a district level
they must be referred to it by a doctor - the doctor can be working in the private sector if appropriate. In addition to publicly provided secondary healthcare services, there are approximately 40 privately run hospitals, although they are very small facilities. Hospital districts in Finland will provide specialized outpatient care, inpatient care and day surgery, usually in the same healthcare facility.
Employers in Finland are obligated under the Occupational Health Care Act to provide employees with occupational healthcare. The Occupational Health Care Act was enacted in 1979 and defines compulsory occupational healthcare as a healthcare service necessary to prevent health risk caused by work. The Finnish NHI will reimburse employers 50% of the necessary and appropriate costs incurred under the Occupational Health Care Act. Both employer and employee will contribute to Occupational Health Care through payments made to the NHI. Employers can also supplement the compulsory Occupational Health Care, with voluntary private health insurance if they wish to. The act was introduced to address work related health issues, which employees in Finland may be subjected to. The Occupational Health Care will cover physical examinations, first aid in
the workplace and medical check-ups for health status.
The Finnish private healthcare sector makes up a small part of the overall Finnish healthcare system. Dentistry, physiotherapy, private doctor care and occupational health services are the main private health services used in Finland. Private health insurance among citizens in Finland has increased steadily over recent years, although it still has relatively low penetration in the market. Much of the private healthcare services are paid out-of-pocket by citizens in Finland at the time of use; however, a significant share of payments can be reclaimed from the Finnish NHI.
The Finnish government's social insurance agency is known as Kansanelakelaitos (KELA) and is responsible for coordinating the state contribution system. Reimbursement for treatment by doctors, dentists, examinations in hospitals and medical treatment will be allocated by the KELA to all registered citizens in Finland. There are set fees for treatment provided and the KELA will calculate the citizen’s repayment amount, although the patient may be required to make some contribution towards health service costs themselves. All citizens in Finland, who are permitted to reside in the country, will be given a KELA card
which is needed when they require medical attention and to claim for recovery of healthcare costs and the collection of prescription medication.
KELA has set fees for healthcare services provided by the Finnish public healthcare system. Registered citizens able to claim reimbursements from the local KELA office - but this can take up to six months to complete. A consultation with a doctor in a municipal health centre will cost a patient between 11 Euros (US$14) and 22 Euros (US$ 28) per visit. Fees are charged for outpatient visits and surgery consultation for medical treatment and rehabilitation. Patients need to pay 22 Euros (US$29) per outpatient visit, while outpatient surgery has a ceiling of 72 Euros (US$ 96). A fee of around 26 Euros (US$35) is applicable for each day’s inpatient treatment, which is not refundable. If a patient is under 18, the daily change is limited to no more than the charge for 7 days per calendar year. There is a standard charge for any road ambulatory services of 9.25 Euros (US$ 12) for each transportation service.
Helsinki University Central Hospital (HUCH) is a two hospital region for the province of Uusimaa and the capital city of Helsinki. HUCH is a 24 hours acute-care healthcare facility and is nationally responsible for treating severe and rare illnesses. The HUCH is technologically well advanced, with some of the best medical expertise in Finland working within the hospital. There are a total of 5 university hospitals including the HUCH in Finland, spread between the different districts - all 5 provide the most advanced and specialized medical treatment for patients in Finland. They will also be used for patients who have been medically evacuated from countries in the former Soviet Union.
The Mehiläinen Group is a private healthcare provider in Finland. The Mehiläinen Group provides various healthcare services to the Finnish public and is funded through private, public and Finnish social services. The nationwide network consists of 20 medical centres and 8 hospitals. Part of the Mehiläinen Group structure is elderly care centres, child welfare units and mental health rehabilitation units; healthcare services provided include emergency and on-call services, paediatrician, dentistry, laboratory, cardiac services.
As Finland is part of the European Union, there is a reciprocal agreement in place for European citizens holding a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) to receive medical treatment while in Finland. Registered citizens of a European country are entitled to apply for a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), which enables the holder of the card to seek equal access to healthcare facilities available to citizens of the home nation. However, the holder of an EHIC will not be entitled to full healthcare services, including prolonged medical care or medical repatriation costs. It is recommended that all visitors to Finland take out full Finnish international health insurance to give them complete medical
coverage while in Finland.
As a foreign national in Finland, who does not hold a European Health Insurance Card, you will need to pay for all healthcare services provided; holders of a European Health Insurance Card will only get a limited amount of health services free of charge or subsided. It is recommended that all visitors to Finland obtain Finnish international health insurance to ensure that they are protected from financial costs of seeking medical treatment in Finland.
Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) can occur in Finland, mostly in the Ãland Islands. TBE is normally spread by infected ticks and visitors to Finland can opt to have the vaccination against the disease. There are between 20 and 40 cases reported each year; if you are planning to spend time in rural parts of Finland, it is recommended that you seek doctor’s advice on vaccinations against the TBE infection before visiting the country.
The Finnish healthcare system generally provides a good standard of healthcare service and represents relatively good value for money for the citizens of Finland, although there are still issues with patient waiting times and access for certain treatments; it is regarded as one of the best healthcare providers in the European Union. As a short term visitor, or an expatriate in Finland, you can be confident there are more than adequate health services available, although the cost of certain Finnish health services can be expensive. It is, therefore, important to take out international medical insurance for Finland for the duration of your time in the country.
If you are looking for peace-of-mind knowing that medical costs will be covered in case of an accident or illness, to yourself and your family, while traveling to or residing in Finland, international health insurance plans will be the ideal solution. Policies can be tailor-made to ensure all your needs are met while in Finland. Should you require further information on Finland, international health insurance, or to receive a free quotation, please do not hesitate to call one of our expert advisers now. |
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