Finnish citizens seek medical treatment abroad as reimbursement applications drop

Finnish citizens can seek medical treatment or surgeries abroad at the state’s expense. Last year, the Finnish Social Insurance Institution (Kela) approved approximately 4,000 applications for reimbursement of medical costs for those who sought treatment outside the country. However, the number of reimbursement applications drastically declined by several thousand due to the COVID-19 pandemic and has not returned to pre-pandemic levels.

The government has an obligation to cover medical expenses incurred while seeking treatment in EU and EEA countries, as well as in Switzerland and the United Kingdom, under certain conditions. Most commonly, Finns travel abroad for dental care.