Kela Benefits & Healthcare (Under Government Services)
This section explains how Kela (The Social Insurance Institution of Finland) supports residents with social security benefits and access to healthcare services in Finland. The information below is based on official sources — always verify on Kela’s own site as rules change frequently. (Kela)
What Is Kela?
Kela is Finland’s national social insurance institution that provides basic social security for people living in Finland. It supports health, livelihood, family welfare, unemployment, students, pensions, disability, and more. (Kela)
Official Kela website: https://www.kela.fi/english (Kela)
1. Who Can Get Kela Benefits
Whether you’re eligible depends on:
✔ Your residence status (e.g., living permanently in Finland)
✔ Your work status (income criteria, employment)
✔ Your type of permit and whether you pay into Finnish social insurance system
If you live and work in Finland and earn above a certain threshold (e.g., at least about €800/month gross), you usually gain the right to many Kela benefits, including healthcare coverage. (Kela)
If you live permanently in Finland, you normally qualify for a wider range of Kela benefits. (Kela)
2. Healthcare & Medical Coverage
Right to Public Healthcare
Once you have a municipality of residence in Finland, you have the right to necessary public healthcare services under the Finnish system at a client fee. (Kela)
If you do not yet have municipality residence but work in Finland, you may still be entitled to public healthcare — you can apply for the right to medical care from Kela. This can give you a Certificate of entitlement to medical care in Finland so you pay the same local client fees as residents. (Kela)
Temporary Visitors & EU Citizens
If you’re in Finland temporarily and hold a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) from your home country, you are entitled to necessary medical care within the public system. (Kela)
Visitors from outside the EU/EEA without municipality residence generally have emergency medical care only. (Kela)
3. Common Types of Kela Benefits
Kela offers a wide range of social security benefits. Here are the main categories:
✔ Health Insurance Benefits
Includes reimbursements for private healthcare costs, medicines, travel expenses for care, and part of occupational health services. (Kela)
✔ Sickness Allowance
Compensates loss of income if you are temporarily unable to work due to illness. (Kela)
✔ Family & Child Benefits
Support for families with children, including parental allowances. (Kela)
✔ Benefits for Students
Students may qualify for certain allowances if other criteria (e.g., long‑term resident) are met, though eligibility varies and not all student benefits are available to everyone. (Helsinki Times)
✔ Unemployment Assistance
If you are unemployed and not eligible for unemployment fund benefits, Kela basic unemployment benefits may be available. (Kela)
✔ Housing Allowance
Financial support to help with rent and housing costs, available if you live permanently in Finland and meet income/housing conditions. (InfoFinland)
✔ Pensions & Disability Benefits
Support when you retire or if you have long‑term disability. (Kela)
4. How Healthcare Works with Kela
✔ After you are covered by Kela, you will have access to public healthcare with subsidized fees. (Kela)
✔ You can claim reimbursements for some private care and medicine costs. (Kela)
✔ If you don’t yet qualify for full Kela coverage, you may still claim reimbursement later once entitled. (Kela)
5. How to Apply
Most benefit applications are done through Kela’s online service, called OmaKela (in Finnish or Swedish). (Kela)
➡️ OmaKela e‑service: https://www.kela.fi/e-services (Kela)
Some applications may also require paper forms or support documentation.
6. Kela Card
Once you are entitled to Kela benefits under the Finnish national health insurance scheme, you may receive a Kela card. The card helps identify you as someone entitled to benefits, but many services can be accessed digitally or with your Finnish personal identity code (municipality ID) as well. (Kela)
7. How Benefits Are Determined
Benefit amounts depend on:
✔ Your personal situation
✔ Income and expenses
✔ Municipality of residence
✔ The specific benefit rules in force
Kela uses official formulas that vary by benefit type. (Kela)
Official Kela & Info Resources
✔ Kela Official Website (English): https://www.kela.fi/english (Kela)
✔ Kela Benefits and Services: https://www.kela.fi/benefits-and-services (Kela)
✔ Entitlement to Medical Care in Finland: https://www.kela.fi/medical-care-entitlement-finland (Kela)
✔ Housing Allowance (InfoFinland summary): https://www.infofinland.fi/en/housing/housing-allowance (InfoFinland)
✔ OmaKela e‑service: https://www.kela.fi/e-services (Kela)
Tips
✔ You usually gain access to most Kela benefits once you have a municipality of residence in Finland and are covered by the social security system. (Kela)
✔ Notify Kela of changes in your situation via OmaKela to avoid missing benefits. (Kela)
✔ For questions about specific eligibility (e.g., student benefits), contact Kela directly.
⚠️ Important Reminder
Kela benefit rules, eligibility, and application processes can change frequently. Always verify all information on Kela’s official website before applying or relying on specific criteria. Translations and summaries may slightly alter meanings — check official English content if possible. If you notice outdated information on our page, please report it to us so we can update it promptly. (Kela)