Medical care when moving abroad

I am a Finnish citizen but live permanently abroad. Can I still use health services in Finland in a normal manner?

Finnish citizenship does not decide whether you have the right to use health services in Finland. The right to use public healthcare services is based on the municipality of residence. If you have a municipality of residence in Finland, you are entitled to use public healthcare services in a normal manner.

If you do not have a municipality of residence in Finland, your entitlement to treatment in Finland depends on which country you are covered by health insurance. For example, if you are covered by health insurance in an EU or EEA country or Switzerland, you have wider access to health services in Finland than if you are covered by health insurance in some other country. You can find more information about your right to treatment in Finland in the Moving abroad section if you have moved abroad as a student, employee or pensioner, for example.

I am going abroad as an exchange student. How can I get medical care during the exchange year?

If you move abroad from Finland to study abroad, you are usually covered by Finnish health insurance. In an EU or EEA country, the United Kingdom and Switzerland, you will get treatment by presenting a European Health Insurance Card. In the Province of Quebec in Canada, you will receive treatment in accordance with the social security arrangement. In other countries, you will get treatment in accordance with the legislation of the destination country. Find out in advance from the educational establishment, for example, whether you will need private insurance to use healthcare services.

Going abroad to do paid training relating to your studies may affect your health insurance coverage in Finland. In this case, notify Kela that you will be working abroad.

I am retired and live in another EU country. Can I come and use healthcare services in Finland?

Yes, you can. If you have a European Health Insurance Card for pensioners granted by Kela, you are entitled to use all municipal healthcare services in a normal manner during your stay in Finland. You will recognize the card from the lime green backside.

You can also come to Finland for treatment from another EU country on your own initiative, even if you are not entitled to a Kela-issued European Health Insurance Card for pensioners. In this case, find out from the health insurance institution in your country of residence how it will cover the costs of treatment.

In which country can I see a doctor if I work and live in different EU countries?

If you live and work in different countries in the EU area, you are a frontier worker. As a frontier worker, you are entitled to medical care in both your country of residence and country of employment at the same price as local residents.