Kela reimbursements for private doctor fees rose by a fifth

Reimbursements paid by Kela, Finland’s Social Insurance Institution, for private physicians’ fees rose by a fifth last year, Yle reported, citing the Finnish news agency STT and Kela’s health insurance statistics.

Kela paid out €107 million in reimbursements, compared with €89 million the previous year.

Reimbursements for private healthcare were expanded at the beginning of May last year. Physiotherapy, for example, became eligible again, increasing the total reimbursement amount by €3.6 million.

Kela paid a total of €4 million in reimbursements for a freedom-of-choice trial for people aged 65 and over between September and December.