Published on and written by Cyril Jarnias
Moving to Finland often means seeking a better quality of life, safety, and an exceptional natural environment. For many expatriates, however, a decisive point remains more down-to-earth: how to access healthcare on-site, at what cost, through what procedures, and to what extent the public system can truly replace good private insurance. The country has a universal healthcare system renowned for its quality, but also for its sometimes lengthy wait times and its fairly technical access rules for newcomers.
This article details the organization of the Finnish healthcare system, registration procedures, costs, private insurance, access to pharmacies, as well as aspects related to maternity and mental health. It provides a practical and comprehensive overview for people coming to work, study, or settle permanently in the country.
Understanding the Finnish Healthcare System
The Finnish healthcare system is based on a simple principle: all permanent residents are entitled to public healthcare, funded primarily by taxes and supplemented by moderate patient co-payments. It is therefore far from a completely free model, but also very different from systems where every consultation costs a fortune.
The Finnish healthcare system is organized on three levels. The first is primary care, provided by municipal health centers (*terveysasemat*) for general practitioner consultations, prescription renewals, chronic disease management, and common vaccinations. The second level consists of district hospitals, which offer common specialties like surgery and cardiology. The third level, that of highly specialized care, is concentrated in the five major university hospitals in Helsinki, Turku, Tampere, Kuopio, and Oulu, which are also centers for medical training and research.
Since 2023, the responsibility for organizing health and social services has been transferred to 21 “Wellbeing Services Counties” (hyvinvointialueet), in addition to the City of Helsinki. In practice, this does not fundamentally change patients’ daily lives: access is still through your local health center and district hospitals, but governance is more regional than municipal.
Finland spends less than 10% of its GDP on healthcare expenditures.
Your Rights: Who Has Access to What?
For an expatriate, everything revolves around two administrative concepts: the “municipality of residence” (kotikunta) and coverage by the Finnish social security system via Kela, the country’s Social Insurance Institution.
As a permanent resident, the Digital and Population Data Agency (DVV) assigns you a municipality of residence. This normally gives you access to all public healthcare services at the same rates as Finnish citizens. You only pay the regulated client fees, which are capped amounts per consultation or per day of hospitalization.
Simultaneously, Kela reviews your situation regarding national health insurance. Coverage can be acquired either through residence or through employment. If you are hired in Finland for several months, even without settling permanently, you may be covered. Once accepted, you receive the Kela card, an essential key to benefiting from reimbursements for private care, medications, and certain travel expenses for medical care.
The situation can be summarized schematically.
Typical Statuses and Associated Rights
| Expatriate Profile | Access to Public System | Kela Card / NHI | Main Specificities |
|---|---|---|---|
| Permanent resident with kotikunta | Yes, all care with standard client fees | Yes generally | Full access to the system, same rights as locals |
| Employee in Finland, non-permanent resident | Possible access, depending on certificate of eligibility | Possible yes | Coverage based on employment, important to apply for the Kela certificate |
| EU/EEA/CH Student | Necessary care via CEAM/EHIC | Not always | Use of the European card, travel insurance still recommended |
| Non-EU Student | Emergencies only without insurance | No by default | Mandatory international private insurance for residence permit |
| EU/EEA/CH/UK/Australia Visitor | Medically necessary care at local rates | No (coverage via home country) | Access upon presentation of CEAM card, GHIC, or Australian passport |
| Non-EU/EEA/CH/UK Tourist | Emergencies only, at full cost | No | Travel insurance highly recommended |
| Seasonal workers with work permit | Possible access to local rates via certificate | Rare | Must request a certificate of entitlement from Kela |
An important point for expatriates: even without a municipality of residence, it is sometimes possible to obtain a “Certificate of Entitlement to Healthcare in Finland” issued by Kela. This document allows you to pay the same client fees as residents for public care, instead of being billed at the actual cost, which is significantly higher.
In Finland, any person present in the country, regardless of their legal status, has the right to emergency care in the public healthcare system. Furthermore, undocumented individuals can also access certain non-urgent care, as long as it is deemed necessary. This inclusive policy contrasts with more restrictive approaches adopted by other countries.
The Kela Card and National Health Insurance
The Kela card is the physical object that materializes your inclusion in the Finnish social security system. It is automatically sent to people recognized as covered by national health insurance. You will present it at every paid medical consultation, in pharmacies, and often also for other social benefits (allowances, pensions, etc.).
Concretely, the Kela card does not make access to the public system free: the “client fees” of health centers and hospitals remain your responsibility. However, it notably enables:
Discover the main financial benefits related to your healthcare, allowing you to significantly reduce your medical expenses.
Benefit from reduced prices on prescribed medications. The pharmacy directly applies the portion reimbursed by national insurance, you only pay the co-payment.
Get partial reimbursements for certain procedures performed at a private clinic or by a private dentist.
Have a portion of travel expenses related to medical care covered, for example for a long trip to a specialized consultation.
It should be noted that if you work in Finland but remain affiliated with the social security of another EU/EEA/CH or United Kingdom country, European forms (such as S1) can be taken into account to coordinate rights. Retirees coming from another European country can also be covered on this basis.
Costs and Caps: How Much Does Public Healthcare Cost?
In Finland, public healthcare is “reasonably paid”. The bulk of the expenditure is covered by taxes; the direct contribution from patients represents around 10% of the system’s funding. To avoid unpleasant surprises, the amounts are regulated by the law on client fees for health and social care, which sets national caps.
For 2024, the basic consultation with a doctor at a health center cannot exceed €23. This maximum amount can only be charged three times a year: beyond that, additional visits of this type are free. A possible alternative in some regions is to pay an annual fee (just over €40) which covers all visits for general medicine.
Outpatient specialized care (hospital consultations, certain imaging exams, public dental procedures) is also capped, with maximum amounts around €40 to €50 per procedure for those over 15. Same-day outpatient surgery in a public hospital is limited to just over €130. A standard hospital stay incurs a capped daily fee, which cannot exceed about €50 per day. Children and adolescents under 18 benefit from very broad free care: most of their care is free, and they pay no more than seven days of hospital daily fee per year.
An annual cap limits your out-of-pocket public healthcare costs. Once this threshold (defined annually by law) is reached, you are exempt from most fees for the rest of the calendar year, except for some institutional accommodation fees. Furthermore, the most modest households can benefit from a reduction or cancellation of their fees, decided by their municipality or county, based on their income and family responsibilities.
For medications, a parallel mechanism exists: your annual out-of-pocket expenses are capped. When you exceed this threshold (€577.66 in 2020), pharmacies only charge you a very small co-payment – typically around €2.50 per medication – with the rest covered by health insurance. Again, the Kela card serves as the automatic key to your rights at the counter.
This structure allows residents not to be crushed by a long illness or expensive treatments. On the other hand, it requires expatriates to understand the rules well, because without proper registration or a certificate of eligibility, the same treatment can suddenly be billed at the real cost, which is much higher.
Getting an Appointment: Process and Wait Times
On paper, Finland guarantees its residents access to a general practitioner within a maximum of 14 days for non-urgent cases, thanks to what is called the “care guarantee”. In reality, some regions meet this target, but others struggle to maintain it, especially in rural areas or in already strained specialties (psychiatry, dermatology, orthopedics…).
The standard process starts with your assigned health center (terveysasema), determined automatically based on the registered address in the population register. You are not normally free to consult at another health center, unless you officially request a transfer, which can take up to three weeks and requires a specific form.
Booking appointments varies by municipality: by phone, via an online form, or in person. A nurse often performs an initial triage during the call or visit. She assesses severity, gives advice, can prescribe simple tests, or schedule a consultation with a doctor for the same day or later.
Wait times for a routine consultation can exceed two weeks, especially during peak demand periods. Access to a specialist requires a referral from your family doctor and wait times can be several months in some disciplines. This is one of the major reasons that push many expatriates and Finns to turn to the private sector, at least for certain needs.
In case of an emergency in the European Union, dial 112 to alert emergency services (ambulance, police, fire department). The “112 Suomi” mobile app automatically transmits your location, which is particularly useful while hiking or in unfamiliar areas.
For non-life-threatening but concerning situations, Finland has set up a national medical helpline, 116 117, which connects you with a healthcare professional able to assess the situation and tell you whether you should go to the emergency room, wait for an appointment, or resort to self-care. In the Helsinki metropolitan region, a separate telephone service (09 10023) offers advice in Finnish, Swedish, and English 24/7.
Punctuality being a strong value in Finland, missing an appointment without notice generally results in a no-show fee of around €50, whether for general medicine or dental care.
Public or Private: How to Choose as an Expat?
The private sector in Finland remains modest in volume – about 3 to 4% of hospital care and a minority of doctors practice there exclusively – but it plays a key role in absorbing demand and reducing wait times. For an expatriate, it mainly offers better flexibility, online booking, wider time slots, and more frequent availability of English-speaking professionals.
Approximate cost of an MRI exam in the private sector in Finland, according to mentioned rates.
Most large cities (Helsinki, Tampere, Turku, Oulu, etc.) host the main private clinic chains, such as Terveystalo, Mehiläinen, Pihlajalinna, Aava or Eira in Helsinki. They often bring together general practitioners, specialists, physiotherapists, laboratories, and imaging services in the same place. For many expatriates, these structures offer an appreciated compromise between accessibility, language, and comfort, even if it means accepting a higher cost, often partially covered by supplementary private insurance.
International Private Insurance: A Strategic Complement
The Finnish public healthcare system offers a solid foundation, but it does not cover everything and does not eliminate wait times. That’s why many expatriates – and a certain number of Finns – take out supplementary international or local private insurance.
These insurances generally allow:
Taking out private health insurance in Finland allows you to: cover a significant portion, or even the entirety, of costs at private clinics; include options like maternity, dentistry, psychiatry, rehabilitation, or even medical evacuation to another country if necessary; consult specialists quickly without going through the public pathway or waiting months; and access care in other countries, a major advantage for mobile expatriates and international profiles.
Actors like Cigna Global, AXA, Allianz Care, April International, William Russell, or IMG, Bupa Global or GeoBlue are among the insurers often cited for covering expatriates in Finland. Policies are often modular, with several levels (for example with Allianz: Care, Care Plus, Care Pro) allowing adjustment of reimbursement limits, annual deductible level, and geographical coverage area.
Health insurance premiums depend mainly on age, coverage level, and medical history. Insurers manage pre-existing conditions either by total exclusion of the condition, coverage after a waiting period (often 24 months), or by applying a premium surcharge. It is crucial for expatriates with a chronic illness to carefully analyze these contract clauses before any subscription.
In any case, it is essential to understand that neither the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) nor the Kela card replaces travel insurance or comprehensive private health insurance. The EHIC only covers medically necessary care in the public system during a temporary stay, not repatriation, purely private care, or lost luggage.
Pharmacies, Prescriptions, and Medications
In Finland, medications are strictly regulated. Only pharmacies (apteekki) are authorized to sell them; you will not find painkillers or antibiotics in supermarkets. Pharmacies are recognized by the green cross symbol. The Finnish Medicines Agency, Fimea, issues authorizations and regulates prices.
Medical prescriptions are primarily electronic and recorded in the national Kanta system, accessible in all pharmacies. You can view and manage your prescriptions, their validity dates, and renewals via the MyKanta online service. Validity is generally one year, but it is shorter for some medications like psychotropics or narcotics.
At the pharmacy, you usually present your Kela card or your identity number so the pharmacist can retrieve your prescriptions. The pharmacy then instantly applies the national reimbursement: you only pay the co-payment. A generic substitution system may be offered to you, with an equivalent, cheaper medication, unless the doctor has explicitly prohibited it.
The table below allows for a quick distinction between public and private regarding medications.
| Element | System with Kela Card | Without Card / Visitor Outside Agreement |
|---|---|---|
| Purchase Location | Pharmacy only | Pharmacy only |
| Price Calculation Basis | Regulated price, then reimbursement | Full regulated price at your expense |
| Annual Spending Cap | Yes, with low residual co-payment | No, no automatic cap |
| Prescription Validity | Generally 1 year | Same, but foreign prescriptions limited |
| Foreign Prescriptions Accepted | Nordic + some EU cross-border e-prescriptions | Other countries not accepted |
Foreign prescriptions are in principle not valid, except those from Nordic countries and certain European e-prescriptions (e.g., from Estonia, Croatia, Portugal, Poland, Spain, Lithuania, Czechia), provided they meet precise information criteria. For visitors from the EU/EEA or Switzerland, a paper prescription may be accepted if properly filled out (patient’s name, active substance, dosage, prescriber’s details…). Otherwise, you will need to consult a local doctor to obtain a new prescription.
It is prohibited to import or have medications mailed from outside the European Economic Area (EEA). Bringing narcotics for personal use is strictly regulated by customs rules: it is limited to a quantity corresponding to 14 days of treatment and requires a medical certificate.
Maternity, Early Childhood, and Family Allowances
Finland is often cited as a model for the support of pregnant women and young children, and expatriates who become parents there discover a particularly comprehensive system.
Pregnancy is monitored at maternity clinics (äitiysneuvola or neuvola), free services for residents. As soon as a pregnancy is confirmed, it is recommended to contact the nearest clinic. Standard monitoring typically includes between 11 and 15 visits with a nurse or doctor, regular exams, screenings (structural and chromosomal abnormalities), birth preparation classes, home visits, and psychological and practical support for expecting parents.
Pregnant permanent residents in Finland are entitled to a maternity grant (äitiyspakkaus) after the fifth month of pregnancy. They can choose a modest cash sum or a very comprehensive baby box containing clothes, care products, bedding, and accessories for the newborn. This system, supported by a network of maternity clinics established in the 1920s, is recognized for having contributed to the very low maternal and infant mortality rate in the country.
After birth, monitoring shifts to child health clinics (lastenneuvola), which monitor growth, development, and vaccination of children until school age, free of charge. Young parents benefit from advice, parenting support, and a vaccination schedule aligned with the national program, renowned for its good coverage.
Kela pays several financial benefits to families: maternity allowance, paid leaves (maternity ~105 days, parental ~158 days, paternity), monthly allowances until the child turns 17, supplement for single parents, and childcare support. To be eligible, one generally needs to have been insured in Finland for at least 180 days before the expected due date, or justify periods of insurance in an EU/EEA country, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, or Israel.
Expatriate women in more precarious situations, for example asylum seekers or students with temporary residence permits, can nonetheless obtain full medical coverage for their pregnancy through the public system. Organizations like the Federation of Mother and Child Homes and Shelters complement this support, especially when the social situation is difficult.
Mental Health and Support for Immigrants
Finland has profoundly transformed its psychiatric services since the 1980s, moving from an asylum-based model to a largely outpatient care system integrated into general care. National programs for suicide prevention, schizophrenia or depression management have contributed to reducing mortality and strengthening psychosocial care resources, even though staffing tensions persist.
Expatriates face specific mental health challenges, such as cultural integration, isolation, language barriers, or a difficult climate. Although they have the same rights to access care, they encounter particular obstacles: unfamiliarity with the local healthcare system, language difficulties, different cultural representations of mental illness, and fear of stigma.
Several actors try to bridge this gap. The SOS Crisis Centre, managed by the Finnish Association for Mental Health (Mieli ry), offers free, short-term crisis consultations without prior referral, in several languages, as well as an English-language helpline. The association SAMHA (Substance Abuse & Mental Health Association) specifically targets immigrants, with support services and cultural mediation.
Age limit until which children and young migrants benefit from a guaranteed maximum time for psychiatric assessment and treatment.
The use of interpreters is possible and should be free for the user within public services. Nevertheless, research shows that people of immigrant background use mental health services less than their needs would suggest, and their durations of follow-up in psychiatry are often shorter than those of native Finns.
In this context, private insurance can also fund psychotherapy sessions in the private sector, which is more flexible linguistically. Kela also reimburses, under certain conditions, rehabilitation psychotherapy aimed at improving work or study capacity for those aged 16-67.
Special Cases: Students, Seasonal Workers, Asylum Seekers
International students represent a significant portion of expatriates. Those coming from an EU country can generally use their European Health Insurance Card for medically necessary care in the public system, but they often need to take out private insurance to meet the requirements of some institutions or to cover private care and repatriation. Non-EU students are required, to obtain their residence permit, to subscribe to international private health insurance broadly covering care in Finland.
Seasonal workers with a seasonal work permit (agriculture, tourism, picking) can benefit from the local rate for public healthcare. To do this, they must request a certificate of entitlement to care from Kela. The employer can carry out this procedure by proxy. This formality is crucial for these workers, often not registered as residents, in case of illness or accident.
Asylum seekers and refugees, finally, benefit from a specific regime: reception centers organize their care, and Finland has progressively opened access to more comprehensive services for pregnant women and minors, even without legal status. Psychological trauma being common in these populations, specialized structures – supported by THL and NGOs – are dedicated to their psychotherapeutic support.
From Emergencies to Scheduled Care: Practical Guidelines
To navigate the Finnish system concretely, a few numbers and reflexes should be kept in mind:
– 112 for any life-threatening emergency (accident, chest pain, respiratory distress, etc.);
– 116 117 for a telephone medical assessment outside usual health center opening hours, to avoid an unnecessary emergency room visit;
– in the Helsinki region, 09 10023 for telephone advice in several languages 24/7;
– the InfoFinland and eu-healthcare.fi websites, linked to Kela, to understand your rights based on your country of origin.
In Finland, you are generally assigned to a health center (terveysasema) based on your address. If you move, check if the change is automatic or requires a written request. Note that missed appointments are charged and delays of more than 15 minutes are frowned upon.
In the private sector, the online platforms of the major groups (Terveystalo, Mehiläinen, Aava, Pihlajalinna, etc.) allow you to book an English-speaking doctor in a few clicks, sometimes as early as the next day. Prices are displayed in advance, which helps anticipate the non-reimbursed portion.
Prevention, Vaccinations, and Finnish Specificities
Finland is one of the most vaccination-friendly countries in Europe, with a free national program covering 13 diseases for children, administered through child health clinics and school healthcare. For adults, regular boosters against tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis are offered through health centers, as well as targeted vaccines for at-risk groups (flu, pneumococcus, hepatitis, tick-borne encephalitis in some regions, etc.).
Immigrants and refugees benefit from a specific assessment of their vaccination record compared to the Finnish schedule. Free updates are offered if necessary. Foreign children passing through can also receive vaccines deemed essential, sometimes on an accelerated schedule.
For expatriates who enjoy the outdoors, one point deserves attention: tick-borne encephalitis. Certain areas – archipelagos, coastal regions, parts of Uusimaa, Karelia, Ostrobothnia, and southern Lapland – are defined as at-risk. A free vaccine is offered to residents who live there or spend their summers there regularly; others can receive it by paying or through private insurance. Coupled with simple measures (covering clothing, repellents, skin inspection after hiking), this vaccine significantly reduces the risk of a potentially serious infection.
A Culture of Health… and the Sauna
Beyond formal structures, Finland maintains a special relationship with well-being. The sauna, listed as UNESCO intangible cultural heritage, is omnipresent: there are over three million saunas for 5.5 million inhabitants, and nearly 99% of Finns would use one at least once a week, whether in an apartment, a summer cottage, or a company.
The sauna is perceived as a tool for relaxation, muscle recovery, and socializing, and can be prescribed as a complement for stress or chronic pain. For an expatriate, it is also a way to integrate culturally. It is essential to respect certain precautions: stay well hydrated, avoid alcohol, and be cautious in case of heart conditions.
Conclusion: A Solid System to Get Acquainted With
For an expatriate, healthcare in Finland offers an interesting balance: a robust public foundation, with capped costs, accessible to all permanent residents, and a quality private sector capable of speeding things up at an extra cost, usually partly covered by international insurance.
The main challenges for accessing care in Finland are not so much their quality as understanding eligibility rules, managing wait times, and adjusting one’s private insurance. For a smooth settlement, the key steps are: register correctly with the DVV (Population Register), request the opening of rights and the corresponding card from Kela (Finnish Social Security), know your emergency numbers, and know when to favor the public or private system.
Once this initial hurdle is crossed, many expatriates discover a system in which pregnancies are very well monitored, children benefit from solid prevention, costs remain contained even in case of serious illness, and healthcare professionals master English sufficiently to make consultations understandable. In a country where health is seen as a right, but also as a shared responsibility between the individual, the community, and the state, newcomers gradually find their place, between appointments at the health center and long evenings in the sauna.
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Cyril Jarnias is an independent expert in international wealth management with over 20 years of experience. As an expatriate himself, he is dedicated to helping individuals and business leaders build, protect, and pass on their wealth with complete peace of mind.
On his website, cyriljarnias.com, he shares his expertise on international real estate, offshore company formation, and expatriation.
Thanks to his expertise, he offers sound advice to optimize his clients' wealth management. Cyril Jarnias is also recognized for his appearances in many prestigious media outlets such as BFM Business, les Français de l’étranger, Le Figaro, Les Echos, and Mieux vivre votre argent, where he shares his knowledge and know-how in wealth management.
