Understanding healthcare and health insurance in Finland

Moving to Finland is an exciting step that opens up many new opportunities. The Finnish healthcare system is one of the best in the world – it is universal, tax‑financed and accessible to all legal residents. Unlike the German dual system of statutory and private health insurance based on joint contributions, Finland has a centrally managed, tax‑financed single‑payer insurance. Healthcare is financed through taxes and employer contributions, while patients pay low co‑payments when using services. Those moving to Finland should familiarise themselves with the system – this guide explains the main structures, access routes and costs. All comparisons refer to the situation in Germany.

Finland offers a purely state‑organised healthcare system guaranteed by the constitution. Financing is almost entirely through taxes and employer contributions – there are no monthly health insurance premiums for employees, unlike in Germany, where employees pay about 14.6 percent plus a supplementary contribution of their gross salary. The organisation of the system is structured at three levels:

 

– Primary care (perusterveydenhuolto) is provided by municipal health centres (terveysasemat), which are the first point of contact for GP visits, preventive care, vaccinations and chronic conditions. Every municipality operates at least one such centre. Unlike in Germany, where you can usually choose your practice freely, you are tied to your local health centre; the affiliation lasts for at least one year. Doctors of various specialities work there and refer patients to specialised facilities when necessary.

 

– Secondary care (erikoissairaanhoito) is provided by district hospitals (sairaalat). They cover surgical and cardiological treatments as well as other specialities.

 

– Tertiary (highly specialised) care is concentrated in the five university hospitals of Helsinki, Turku, Tampere, Kuopio and Oulu. They are also centres for medical research and teaching, treating complex conditions.

 

Since 2023, responsibility for health and social services has been transferred to 21 wellbeing services counties (hyvinvointialueet) and the city of Helsinki. This changed the administration, but not the practical care of patients. Waiting times for secondary care in Finland can be up to six months; a planned operation may not legally exceed this limit. In Germany, waiting times for specialist appointments are also a problem, but not as strictly regulated by law.

Access to public healthcare does not begin upon arrival, but with the Finnish identification number (henkilötunnus). Unlike in Germany, where the tax ID and social security number hardly play a role in everyday life, the henkilötunnus in Finland is the key to all official procedures, banking and health services. It is issued by the Digital and Population Data Services Agency (DVV) once you intend to stay in Finland for more than one year. Persons staying shorter receive an interim number for tax and work purposes.

After registering with the DVV, you are assigned a wellbeing services county as your municipality of residence (kotikunta). Once this has been done, you have full access to public health services on the same terms as Finnish citizens. At the same time, the Social Insurance Institution Kelachecks whether you are admitted to the Finnish social security system. Admission is either via residence (for permanent stays) or via employment. After a positive decision, you will receive the Kela card. The Kela card is needed for about 1.5 million foreigners in Finland.

For the first three months after your arrival, EU citizens can use the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) to receive necessary medical treatment. However, this card does not entitle you to permanent registration in the public system. Unlike in Germany, where registration with a statutory health insurance fund often involves choosing between different funds, allocation in Finland occurs automatically via the population register.

Kela is the heart of the Finnish social and healthcare system. It issues the Kela card, which not only provides proof of access to healthcare but is also used for the reimbursement of costs for private healthcare services, medication and ambulance transport. The card is blue‑green and is automatically sent to all persons permanently insured in Finland.

Kela's benefits include, among others: partial or full reimbursement of prescription medication, sickness allowance for incapacity for work, reimbursements for private doctor visits, and benefits for rehabilitation, family and maternity. Reimbursements for prescription medication are at three levels: 35 percent, 65 percent or 100 percent of the price. The annual co‑payment for medication is capped; once a patient reaches the limit, further costs are reduced to a minimal level.

The Finnish system charges client fees that are low by European comparison and capped annually. The following guide values apply to persons resident in Finland (as of 2026):

 

– Doctor visit at a health centre: maximum €30.20 per visit, maximum three visits per calendar year. Alternatively, an annual fee of €60.30 may be charged.

– Outpatient hospital visit (specialist): €71.30 per visit.

– Inpatient stay: €71.50 per day.

– Day surgery: 233,80 €.

 

Children, young people under 18, pregnant women in maternity care and certain groups with serious illnesses are exempt from the co‑payments. Emergency treatments, health check‑ups, consultations by nursing staff, laboratory and X‑ray examinations are also free of charge. Compared to Germany, where co‑payments for doctor visits are €10 per quarter and the co‑payment for hospital stays is €10 per day (max. 28 days per year), the Finnish costs are lower and more transparently regulated. Unlike in Germany, however, there is no general annual cap for all health expenditure – the cap only applies to certain benefit areas.

Dental care is not fully integrated into the public healthcare system in Finland – a significant difference from Germany, where statutory health insurance covers at least part of the cost of dental treatment. Children and young people under 18 receive free dental care.

Adults must pay for dental treatment. Fees in the public system are moderate: a dentist examination costs a maximum of €19.10 plus fees for the treatment itself, which can range from €10 to over €200 depending on the effort. Professional teeth cleaning by a prophylactic assistant is not reimbursable from public funds. Unlike in Germany, where certain dental treatments (e.g., fillings, root canal treatments) are partially covered by the insurance, the patient in Finland must bear the full cost of the treatment. Kela, however, reimburses part of the cost of private dental treatment if it is medically necessary. Private dental clinics are free to set their prices; a simple teeth cleaning can quickly cost €80‑130. Given the high costs in the private sector, many emigrants therefore opt for treatment in the public system.

Private health insurance in Finland is not a full‑fledged alternative to public coverage as in Germany (where about 5 percent of the population is fully privately insured). Rather, it is optional supplementary cover, primarily offering faster appointments and access to private clinics. Nevertheless, many Finns and expats opt for additional private insurance, as it offers shorter waiting times, choice of doctors and access to specialists not available in the public system. Over 70 percent of expats in Finland prefer international health insurance over public cover alone.