Statistics from Finland, provided by the Contact Point for Cross-Border Health Care in Finland and Kela (the Social Insurance Institution of Finland) include information on cross-border healthcare, European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), medical care costs incured abroad and their reimbursements, and prior authorisations for seeking treatment abroad.
2. Table of contents
1. Medical costs incurred in EU and EEA countries, in the United Kingdom and in Switzerland and their reimbursements
2. Top 5 countries: medical costs and their imbursements when seeking treatment independently
3. Medical costs incurred outside EU and EEA countries, the United Kingdom and Switzerland and their reimbursements
4. Top 5 countries: Medical costs incurred outside EU and EEA countries, the United Kingdom and Switzerland and their
reimbursements
5. Prior authorisation provided in Finland for treatment provided in an EU or EEA country, in the United Kingdom or in
Switzerland and information on the costs
6. Amounts Kela has invoiced EU and EEA countries, the United Kingdom and Switzerland for treatment provided in
Finland on the basis of prior authorisation (€)
7. State reimbursement for costs of treatment and urgent social services
8. Debts and receivables for medical costs between Finland and other EU and EEA states, the United Kingdom and
Switzerland
9. Numbers of European Health Insurance Cards (EHIC) issued by Kela
10. Contact Point for Cross-Border Healthcare
June 15, 2023 Statistical information on cross-border health care in Finland 2022. Source: Kela
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3. 1. Medical costs incurred in EU and EEA countries, in the United Kingdom
and in Switzerland and their reimbursements
Number of resolutions Costs € (paid by customer) Paid reimbursements €
2022 2021 2020 2022 2021 2020 2022 2021 2020
Physiotherapy 31 22 49 4,606 6,416 10,726 680 607 1,384
Dentist’s fees 2,182 1,892 3,384 1.127,728 895,175 1.603,897 108,272 90,935 162,110
Medicines 1,335 836 1,551 260,942 181,915 338,540 98,451 69,488 141,445
Doctor’s fees 839 807 1,274 387,337 366,983 441,021 36,525 35,097 54,139
Travel 597 633 801 424,655 416,572 256,088 226,837 184,749 144,126
Examination and care 1,200 1,200 1,912 137,738 159,415 162,894 31,209 28,097 41,554
Necessary treatment 2,376 3,352 3,863 2.867,569 4.272,381 3.822,141 2.016,999 3.241,913 3.042,497
• The costs mentioned in the table have been incurred from either.
• sudden illness, meaning that the need for treatment has occurred during a stay abroad; or
• seeking treatment independently, meaning that the customer has travelled abroad with the purpose of receiving treatment and they do not
have prior authorisation pursuant to EU regulations.
• The number of resolutions means the number of decisions given to customers. One resolution or decision may include one or more procedures,
examinations, treatments, medicines or travels. Kela does not keep statistics of the numbers of people.
• The statistics are compiled according to the resolution date. Reimbursement must be sought within half a year of paying the costs. Therefore, the
treatment relating to the statistics may have been given the year before.
• More information at Kela website: Medical treatment abroad
June 15, 2023 Statistical information on cross-border health care in Finland 2022. Source: Kela
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4. 2. Top 5 countries: medical costs and their imbursements when seeking
treatment independently
Year 2022
Country Costs € Reimbursements €
1. Estonia 1.473,900 154,400
2. Spain 265,500 22,500
3. Germany 114,200 4,500
4. Poland 35,200 3,900
5. Belgium 13,600 4,500
Year 2021
Country Costs € Reimbursements €
1. Estonia 1.282,000 144,000
2. Germany 104,000 5,000
3. Spain 88,500 7,500
4. Cyprus 41,000 3,000
5. Belgium 37,000 5,000
• The costs are the price charged to the customer abroad for which they have applied to Kela for reimbursement.
• In 2022, Kela reimbursed the costs of seeking treatment independently if the treatment had been provided in an EU or EEA country or in Switzerland.
Treatment costs were reimbursed in the same manner as treatment given in Finnish private health care. As of the beginning of 2023, Kela pays
reimbursements up to the amount that equivalent treatment would have cost in the customer’s own wellbeing services county in Finland.
• Medicine expenses are reimbursed in the same manner as medicines purchased in Finland.
• Travel costs are reimbursed in the same way as if the customer had travelled to the health care unit closest to their home address where they would
have received the necessary treatment.
• The statistics are compiled according to the resolution date. Reimbursement must be sought within half a year of paying the costs. Therefore, the
treatment relating to the statistics may have been given the year before.
• The majority of the reimbursements for health care costs are reimbursements for dental care provided in Estonia. More detailed information on the
treatment is not available.
• More information at Kela website: Seeking treatment abroad
June 15, 2023 Statistical information on cross-border health care in Finland 2022. Source: Kela
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5. 3. Medical costs incurred outside EU and EEA countries, the United Kingdom
and Switzerland and their reimbursements
Number of resolutions Costs € (paid by customer) Paid reimbursements €
2022 2021 2020 2022 2021 2020 2022 2021 2020
Physiotherapy 19 34 34 7,471 7,131 19,556 607 620 1,047
Dentist’s fees 27 43 38 11,488 28,235 34,583 1,234 2,494 1,883
Medicines 230 328 439 87,089 43,461 108,864 36,777 11,708 22,520
Doctor’s fees 391 661 1,045 470,347 600,233 686,948 40,140 48,378 59,155
Travel 53 28 44 70,199 290,235 30,263 15 0 430
Examination and
care
315 566 693 268,503 481,484 520,607 24,210 37,424 39,488
• The costs resulted from sudden illness and they were reimbursed in the same manner as treatment given in Finnish private health care.
As of the beginning of 2023, Kela no longer pays reimbursements for medical costs incurred outside the EU and EEA countries, the
United Kingdom and Switzerland.
• Kela does not keep statistics of the numbers of people. The number of resolutions means the number of decisions given to customers.
One resolution or decision may include one or more procedures, examinations, treatments, medicines or travels.
• The statistics are compiled according to the resolution date. Reimbursement must be sought within half a year of paying the costs.
Therefore, the treatment relating to the statistics may have been given the year before.
• More information at Kela website: Medical treatment abroad
June 15, 2023 Statistical information on cross-border health care in Finland 2022. Source: Kela
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6. 4. Top 5 countries: Medical costs incurred outside EU and EEA countries,
the United Kingdom and Switzerland and their reimbursements
Year 2022
Country Costs paid by customer
(€)
Reimbursements
(€)
1. Thailand 438,000 42,000
2. Turkey 386,000 19,000
3. USA 358,000 5,000
4. Hong Kong 93,000 1,000
5. Singapore 93,000 3,000
Year 2021
Country Costs paid by customer
(€)
Reimbursements
(€)
1. Thailand 1.764,000 41,000
2. USA 912,000 9,000
3. Turkey 346,000 12,000
4. Indonesia 280,000 3,000
5. Hong Kong 177,000 2,000
June 15, 2023 Statistical information on cross-border health care in Finland 2022. Source: Kela
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7. 5. Prior authorisation provided in Finland for treatment provided in an EU
or EEA country, in the United Kingdom or in Switzerland
and information on the costs
Year Resolutions Graned Denied Not processed Amount paid by hospital districts for treatment
covered by prior authorisation, €
2022 143 81 62 2 1.125,230
2021 152 93 55 4 707,198
2020 111 74 34 3 816,657
2019 176 102 69 5 659,419
2018 215 103 104 8 468,966
• Under certain conditions, Kela may grant prior authorisation for treatment in EU or EEA countries, the United Kingdom or Switzerland.
Kela grants prior authorisation according to the statement by public health care.
• When a patient receives treatment abroad on the basis of prior authorisation, the country providing the treatment invoices Kela for the
actual costs of treatment and collects a client fee from the patient. Kela pays the costs and invoices them to public health care.
• The prices of treatment may vary considerably: a single treatment may cost between 100 and 100,000 euros. Therefore, the amounts in
euros depend on what treatment has been given each year.
• Prior authorisations have mainly been granted for the care of pregnancy, childbirth, eye disease and cancer. Most prior authorisations
have been granted for treatment in Estonia.
• The statistics on amounts paid by hospital districts refer to the year when public health care has paid Kela the costs of treatment covered
by the prior authorisation. The patient living in Finland has received the treatment abroad earlier, possibly the preceding year.
• More information at Kela website: Seeking treatment abroad
June 15, 2023 Statistical information on cross-border health care in Finland 2022. Source: Kela
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8. 6. Amounts Kela has invoiced EU and EEA countries, the United Kingdom
and Switzerland for treatment provided in Finland on the basis of prior
authorisation (€)
Year Amount invoice by Kela, €
2022 11,313
2021 81,318
2020 5,207
2019 195,009
• Another EU or EEA country, the United Kingdom or Switzerland may grant a patient prior authorisation for treatment
to be provided in Finland.
• If a customer has prior authorisation, they pay the client fee for treatment in Finnish public health care.
Public health care invoices the actual treatment costs to Kela. Kela pays the costs and invoices them to the state that
granted the prior authorisation.
• There is no information on the numbers of patients that have come to Finland with prior authorisation.
• The statistics are compiled according to the year when Kela has invoiced the costs of seeking treatment in Finland
from abroad. The treatment has been given to the patient from abroad earlier, possibly the preceding year.
• More information at Kela website: Who pays for your care?
June 15, 2023 Statistical information on cross-border health care in Finland 2022. Source: Kela
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9. 7. State reimbursement for costs of treatment and urgent
social services
Year Number of invoices Reimbursements €
2022 44,299 26.06 M€
2021 37,405 25.80 M€
2020 26,135 22.03 M€
2019 25,644 20.63 M€
2018 23,898 19.59 M€
• The purpose of state reimbursement is to compensate:
1) public healthcare for treatment costs when treatment has been given to persons who
• do not have a municipality of residence in Finland or who
• have a municipality of residence in Finland but whose medical care costs are covered by another EU or EEA
country, the United Kingdom or Switzerland;
• 2) for costs of emergency social services to municipalities that have provided food, medicine or emergency
accommodation to a person who has received a negative asylum decision.
• Kela pays the state reimbursement four times a year on the basis of applications.
• More information at Kela website: Who pays for your care?
June 15, 2023 Statistical information on cross-border health care in Finland 2022. Source: Kela
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10. 8. Debts and receivables for medical costs between Finland and other EU
and EEA states, the United Kingdom and Switzerland
Year Number of invoices sent by
Finland
Reimbursements
received, € million
Number of invoices received by
Finland
Reimbursements paid,
€ million
2022 9,066 5.4 M€ 46,689 10.4 M€
2021 12,154 6.0 M€ 28,167 13.2 M€
2020 9,835 6.6 M€ 25,111 24.6 M€
2019 10,690 9.5 M€ 40,192 24.3 M€
2018 9,934 10.1 M€ 35,685 18.1 M€
• The table shows the costs that EU and EEA states, the United Kingdom and Switzerland charge for medical care given to people. The cost
include actual medical care costs and flat-rate amounts calculated costs.
• Reimbursements for treatment costs are paid directly between the states. The patient pays the local client fee but not the actual treatment
costs.
• The costs are invoiced at a different time to when the actual treatment is given. The patient may have received the treatment several years
earlier.
• In 2022, Finland switched to the Electronic Exchange of Social Security Information (EESSI) for the reimbursement of medical costs between
states. This meant an increase in the number of incoming invoices, but not in euros, which means that the total costs of a single invoice
have been lower than before.
• More information at Kela website: Who pays for your care?
June 15, 2023 Statistical information on cross-border health care in Finland 2022. Source: Kela
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11. 9. Numbers of European Health Insurance Cards (EHIC)
issued by Kela
Year Number of European Health Insurance Cards
2022 2.178,837
2021 2.116,295
2020 2.104,361
2019 2.078,088
2018 1.977,781
• Kela issues a European Health Insurance Card to people who have health insurance in Finland or whose treatment costs
are the responsibility of Finland.
• The card is applied for from Kela, and it is valid for two years at a time. If the justifications for issuing the card are met, a
new card is mailed automatically when it has been ordered once.
• With the card, a patient can receive necessary treatment in EU and ETA countries, in the United Kingdom and in
Switzerland during a temporary stay, for example, when travelling. For the patient, the treatment costs the amount of the
local client fee.
• More information at Kela website: European Health Insurance Card
June 15, 2023 Statistical information on cross-border health care in Finland 2022. Source: Kela
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12. 10. Contact Point for Cross-Border Healthcare in
Finland
• The Contact Point for Cross-Border Healthcare provides advice on using health services in Finland and
abroad. Each EU country has a contact point. In Finland, the contact point is located within Kela.
• The Contact Point provides service online and by e-mail:
• EU-terveydenhoito.fi
• EU-hälsovård.fi
• EU-healthcare.fi
• EU-dearvvašvuođadikšun.fi
• EU-terveydenhoito.fi in Finnish sign language
• EU-hälsovård.fi in Finland-Swedish sign language
• Email: yhteyspiste(at)kela.fi
• The Contact Point is also on:
• Twitter: @rajayhteyspiste
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rajayhteyspiste/
June 15, 2023 Statistical information on cross-border health care in Finland 2022. Source: Kela
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