Social Benefits

The Social Institution of Finland does not compensate the hospital and health centre polyclinic and bed-day expenses. Those with private treatment insurance can claim compensation from insurance companies.

Polyclinic and bed-day costs however accrue to a payment ceiling. This is determined by municipal healthcare for each calendar year. Payment accrual is monitored using client payment cards, which patients obtain from their health centre or hospital.

If the payment limit is reached before the end of the calendar year, the patient will be given a free card, which is valid for the rest of the year. This frees the patient of polyclinic fees and reduces the costs of bed-days.

Patients must themselves check when the payment limit is reached and keep originals of their receipts or bank statements.

The Social Insurance Institution of Finland reimburses a portion of private treatment costs. Reimbursements must be applied for within six months.

Further information is available from the Social Insurance Institution of Finland.

The Social Insurance Institution of Finland reimburses a portion of travel expenses related to medical treatment. A one-way journey is not reimbursed, being defined as a named limit. The costs of one-way journeys should however be collected, as they may accumulate beyond the annual accrual of the named limit and may be reimbursed. Application forms can be approved when you go for your appointment. Reimbursements for travel costs have to be applied for within six months. Further information is available from the Social Insurance Institution of Finland.

The amount of reimbursements are paid according to three levels of reimbursement: basiv reimbursement is 42% of the price of medicines, the lower special reimbursement is 72% of the cost of medicines and the upper special reimbursement is 100% for costs over the three Euro named limit. Reimbursements can be made for up to three months worth of medical products. Patients have to apply for the special reimbursements themselves. This requires a medical statement B providing for eligibility for reimbursement. If the Social Insurance Institution grants the application, it will give the applicant a new insurance card, which indicates the entitlement to special reimbursements.

The is a limit set on the costs of medicines that patients have to pay during the calendar year. The Social Insurance Institution covers all costs that exceed this limit. This additional reimbursement must be applied for by patients themselves on production of payment receipts for medicines.

Further information about the reimbursement of medication expenses is available from the Social Insurance Institution.

Patients who are in work initially receive sick pay. The duration of the payment depends on the employment contract.

Sickness pay covers loss of earnings due to work invalidity. The Social Insurance Institution pays this for people aged between 16-64, if due to illness they are unable to work and have been in work for three months before the onset of work invalidity. The amount of sick pay is determined according to one’s income and patients must apply for it themselves. People who have reached the age of 65 can apply for care support for retired people from the Social Insurance Institution.

You can receive income support if you do not get sick pay or if it does not provide sufficient income. In addition, temporary income support can be applied for care costs. Income support is applied for from the municipal social welfare office.

You should contact the hospital social worker concerning income support issues.

The Holiday Association arranges supported theme holidays with the assistance of the Finnish Slot Machine Association. The holidays are designed for families and single people who for financial or other reasons cannot use paid holiday services and who are reckoned to be in need of a holiday. A supported holiday can be applied for by a family or individual permanently domiciled in Finland. Holiday support is not usually granted for successive years.