Government proposes changes to healthcare services for students in higher education

The Government is proposing changes to healthcare services for higher education students. The proposal would change the due dates for the student healthcare fee and amend the rules requiring degree students from other EU or EEA countries or from Switzerland, the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland to pay the fee.

The Government is proposing to amend the Act on Health Services for Students in Higher Education. The proposal would move forward the due dates for paying the student healthcare fee.

The new due date for the spring term would be 15 March, which would apply to students who register as attending for the spring term by 31 January. The due date for the autumn term would be 15 November, applicable to students who register as attending by 30 September.

The proposed amendment is designed to strengthen students’ due process protections. If the due dates are moved forward, Kela will be able to identify, in advance of each due date, the students who must pay the fee and inform them individually before the fee is due.

Degree students from other EU or EEA countries or from Switzerland, the United Kingdom or Northern Ireland would be exempted from paying the fee

The Government is also proposing to amend the Act on Health Services for Students in Higher Education to exempt higher education degree students from other EU or EEA countries or from Switzerland, the United Kingdom or Northern Ireland from having to pay the healthcare fee for students in higher education. This change is motivated by compliance with the EU Regulation on the coordination of social security systems.

However, there would be no change to current practice, given that Kela, in applying the Regulation, no longer (since autumn 2022) requires degree students from the above countries to pay the fee. The change would also not affect students’ right to access the Finnish Student Health Service (FSHS). Despite not paying the fee, they would have the right to use FSHS services.

The costs of providing student health services for these students would be billed, based on the Act on Cross-Border Healthcare, to the country responsible for covering the cost of healthcare for the student. Because this will impact the overall funding for healthcare services for higher education students, the funding rules are proposed to be changed and clarified.

The Government's proposal has to do with the interpretation of the EU Regulation and the amendments made in the Act on Cross-Border Healthcare, which came into effect on 1 May 2023.

The proposed changes are planned to become effective on 1 January 2024. Parliament is expected to approve the Government’s proposal before the end of this year. Kela will provide updates on the changes following their approval by Parliament.

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