Healthcare in Finland: complete guide for immigrants

Healthcare in Finland

Finland has a high-quality healthcare system that combines public, private, and occupational healthcare. As an immigrant, the type of care available to you depends on your residence status, employment, and social security coverage. This guide explains how the system works and how to access the care you need.

Public healthcare (julkinen terveydenhuolto)

Public healthcare in Finland is organized by wellbeing services counties (hyvinvointialue), which replaced municipal healthcare in 2023. It provides affordable care to all residents.

Who can access public healthcare?

• Finnish residents registered with DVV and covered by social security
• EU/EEA citizens with a valid EHIC card (for necessary treatment)
• Asylum seekers (urgent and essential care)
• Undocumented persons (urgent care only)

Health stations (terveysasema)

Your primary point of contact with public healthcare:

• Register at the health station in your area of residence
• Call or book online for non-urgent appointments
• A general practitioner (GP) assesses your condition and refers you to specialists if needed
• Nurse appointments are often available sooner than doctor appointments
• Services include general consultations, vaccinations, chronic disease management, lab tests, and referrals

How to register

1. After receiving your personal identity code and Kela coverage, contact your local health station
2. You can find your health station through your wellbeing services county's website
3. Registration is usually automatic based on your registered address
4. You can choose to use any health station within your county

Fees for public healthcare (2026)

These are national maximums; the actual fee varies by wellbeing services county and some counties charge less. See the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health and your county's price list.

Children under 18 receive most public healthcare services free of charge.

Annual payment ceiling (maksukatto)

There is a cap on how much you pay for public healthcare each year:

• 2026 ceiling: Approximately 815 EUR per calendar year
• Once you reach the ceiling, most public healthcare services are free for the rest of the year
• Tracking: You must track your expenses yourself and present receipts to the service provider
• Covers: health station visits, hospital outpatient and inpatient care, some rehabilitation
• Does not cover: dental technician costs, ambulance transport, or private healthcare

Occupational healthcare (työterveyshuolto)

If you are employed in Finland, your employer is legally required to provide occupational healthcare. This is often the fastest and most convenient way to access medical care.

What is covered

Mandatory (preventive) services:

• Workplace health risk assessments
• Health check-ups related to your work
• Guidance on workplace ergonomics and safety
• Vaccination programs related to occupational risks

Voluntary (curative) services (most employers provide these):

• General practitioner consultations
• Specialist referrals
• Lab tests and imaging
• Physiotherapy
• Mental health support
• Some employers also include dental care

How it works

• Your employer selects the occupational healthcare provider (common providers: Mehiläinen, Terveystalo, Pihlajalinna)
• You receive information about how to book appointments when you start your job
• Appointments are generally free for employees
• No Kela card needed
• your employer covers the costs
• Often shorter wait times than public healthcare

Key benefit for immigrants

Occupational healthcare is typically the first healthcare you can access after starting work in Finland, even before your Kela card arrives. Ask your employer about your occupational healthcare on your first day.

Private healthcare (yksityinen terveydenhoito)

Private healthcare offers shorter wait times and more flexibility, but at higher cost.

When to use private healthcare

• You need to see a specialist quickly
• Your occupational healthcare does not cover the service you need
• You want a specific doctor or service provider
• Public healthcare wait times are too long for your condition

Major private providers

• Mehiläinen: Largest private provider, nationwide
• Terveystalo: Extensive network, many employer contracts
• Pihlajalinna: Growing network
• Aava: Helsinki metropolitan area

Costs

• GP visit: 80-150 EUR
• Specialist visit: 120-300 EUR
• Kela reimburses only a small fixed amount of private doctor fees: 8 euros per appointment since 1 January 2026 (gynaecologist and psychiatrist visits are unchanged)
• Many Finns have private health insurance through their employer or purchased independently
• Some services (e.g., cosmetic surgery) are not reimbursed by Kela

Prescription medicines (reseptilääkkeet)

How prescriptions work

• Doctors issue electronic prescriptions stored in the national Prescription Centre (Reseptikeskus)
• Pick up medicines at any pharmacy (apteekki) in Finland
• Pharmacies check your Kela entitlement electronically; show an official ID or driving licence
• Pharmacies check your prescriptions electronically
• no paper prescription needed

Medicine reimbursement levels (2026)

Annual medicine ceiling

• 2026 ceiling: Approximately 636 EUR per calendar year
• After reaching the ceiling, you pay only 2.50 EUR per purchase for reimbursable medicines
• Track your expenses through the pharmacy or OmaKela

Without Kela coverage

If you do not yet have Kela coverage, you must pay the full price for medicines. Keep receipts - you may be able to claim retroactive reimbursement once your Kela coverage is confirmed.

Dental care (hammashoito)

Public dental care

• Available through your local dental clinic (operated by the wellbeing services county)
• Fees are lower than private dentists
• Wait times can be long (weeks to months for non-urgent care)
• Check-ups, fillings, extractions, and preventive care are available
• Children and young people under 18 receive free dental care

Private dental care

• Shorter wait times
• Higher costs: basic check-up 60-120 EUR, fillings 100-250 EUR
• Kela provides a small reimbursement for private dental visits
• Many employers include dental care in occupational healthcare or offer dental insurance

Tips

• Book your dental check-up early
• wait times in public care can be several months
• Ask your employer if dental care is included in your occupational healthcare
• Private dental insurance is available and may be worthwhile if you need regular treatment

Mental health services

Accessing mental health support

Mental health services are available through multiple channels:

Through occupational healthcare:

• Many employers provide short-term therapy or counseling (typically 5-10 sessions)
• Ask your occupational healthcare provider about mental health services
• Often the fastest route to professional support

Through public healthcare:

• Contact your health station and describe your symptoms
• A GP can assess your situation and refer you to specialized mental health services
• Public mental health services are affordable but may have long wait times
• Crisis services are available without referral

Through Kela:

• Kela-supported rehabilitative psychotherapy is available for working-age adults
• Requires a psychiatrist's referral and a treatment plan
• Kela reimburses EUR 57.60 per individual session (2026) and you pay the difference
• Eligibility: aged 16-67, at least 3 months of prior treatment, and a psychiatrist's statement
• Duration: up to 3 years
• Apply through OmaKela after receiving the referral

Private therapy:

• Psychotherapy sessions: 80-150 EUR per session
• Kela reimburses a small portion
• Online therapy platforms are increasingly available
• Therapy in English is available in major cities (Helsinki, Tampere, Turku, Oulu)

Crisis support

• Crisis helpline: 09 2525 0111 (Finnish, 24/7; English support by appointment at mieli.fi)
• Suicide prevention hotline: 09 2525 0111
• Youth crisis line: 116 111
• MIELI Mental Health Finland: mieli.fi

Emergency services (112)

When to call 112

Call 112 for life-threatening emergencies:

• Heart attack, stroke, severe chest pain
• Severe difficulty breathing
• Severe bleeding or injuries
• Loss of consciousness
• Severe allergic reactions
• Poisoning

Emergency rooms (päivystys)

• Open 24/7 at major hospitals
• No appointment needed
• Go directly for urgent conditions that cannot wait for a health station appointment
• Fees: vary by wellbeing services county (emergency outpatient care is free for people under 18)
• Bring your ID and Kela card if available

Non-emergency medical advice

• Päivystysapu 116 117: National health advice line for non-emergency situations
• Available evenings, nights, and weekends
• Nurses assess your symptoms and advise whether you need emergency care
• Service available in Finnish, Swedish, and English

Pharmacies for minor issues

• Finnish pharmacists can advise on minor health issues
• Over-the-counter medicines available without prescription
• Some pharmacies have extended hours
• Look for the green cross sign (Apteekki)

Healthcare for children

Child health clinics (neuvola)

Finland's neuvola system provides free healthcare for children from birth to school age:

• Regular health check-ups and developmental monitoring
• Vaccinations according to the national schedule
• Guidance on nutrition, sleep, and child development
• Support for parents
• Assigned automatically after the child's birth is registered

School healthcare

• Free healthcare services at schools
• Regular health check-ups
• Dental check-ups
• Mental health support
• Available for all children attending Finnish schools

Official resources

• Kela - Healthcare
• Reimbursements and coverage
• InfoFinland - Health
• Healthcare information for immigrants
• 112.fi: Emergency services information
• Päivystysapu 116 117: Non-emergency health advice

Related guides

• Social security - Kela registration and benefits overview
• Employee rights - Occupational healthcare obligations
• Work permits - How your permit affects healthcare access
• First week in Finland - Essential setup after arrival

Last updated: October 2026. Healthcare fees and payment ceilings are adjusted annually. Verify current fees with your healthcare provider or at kela.fi.