Kela reimbursement for travel costs as of 1 January 2023

Kela usually pays reimbursements for travel costs to the nearest healthcare provider and to rehabilitation arranged by Kela. However, if a client seeks treatment using a payment voucher or a service voucher from a wellbeing services county, travel costs will be reimbursed to the place where the client has received treatment. If the client chooses a healthcare provider on the basis of the freedom of choice under the Health Care Act, reimbursement of travel costs is subject to limitations. As of the beginning of 2023, Kela will no longer send clients a separate card to show they have reached their annual out-of-pocket maximum.

Clients usually receive reimbursements for travel costs from their permanent home address to the healthcare provider within the wellbeing services county where they have been referred by the public healthcare services or where the care they need is centralised.

If a client has a payment voucher from their wellbeing services county, they will get a reimbursement for travel costs to the healthcare provider that treated them. As of 1 January 2023, travel will also be reimbursed for clients who use a service voucher for healthcare.

If the client chooses his or her healthcare provider on the basis of freedom of choice under the Health Care Act, reimbursement of travel costs is subject to the following conditions:

Travel for primary healthcare will be reimbursed at most according to the costs that would arise when the client travels from his or her permanent home address to the nearest facility that offers comprehensive primary healthcare.

Travel for specialised healthcare is reimbursed according to the cost of travel from the client’s permanent home address to the university hospital providing specialised healthcare for clients living in that area.

If the client has a payment voucher or service voucher, or chooses a healthcare provider based on the freedom of choice under the Health Care Act, the client must enclose a certificate from the healthcare provider with the claim for reimbursement (Todistus matkakorvausta varten SV 67). If the healthcare provider orders a taxi for the client, the taxi service must be notified of the service voucher or payment voucher when the taxi is ordered.

Reimbursement of travel to private healthcare as of 1 January 2023

Visits to a private healthcare provider are reimbursed only if the treatment or examination provided there is reimbursable under National Health Insurance. Parliament has approved a legislative amendment that will do away with most reimbursements for examinations and treatments ordered by doctors practising in the private sector as of 1 January 2023.

However, if a client seeks treatment using a payment voucher or service voucher from a wellbeing services county, they will get a reimbursement for travel costs to the healthcare provider who treated them. Travel costs will also be reimbursed to rehabilitation arranged by Kela.

Example:

A client visits a private service provider for physiotherapy. The treatment is not reimbursable under National Health Insurance as of 1 January 2023, and therefore the client will not receive reimbursement for travel costs either.  Even if the client is entitled to use a Kela taxi due to their health status, they cannot order a Kela taxi for this appointment.

Travel to a physiotherapy appointment is, however, reimbursable if the client has a payment voucher or service voucher issued by the wellbeing services county or if the rehabilitation is arranged by Kela. If the client travels by taxi, they must explain this when ordering the taxi.

Special cards for clients who have reached their annual out-of-pocket maximum to be discontinued

As of 1 January 2023, Kela will no longer send clients a separate card to show they have reached their annual out-of-pocket maximum (EUR 300).

A travel card is no longer required for travel by taxi, because the taxi dispatch centres automatically receive information from Kela about clients who need not pay a copayment. If, however, the client has paid the copayment despite having reached their annual out-of-pocket maximum, Kela will automatically return any copayment that the client was charged unnecessarily. Clients can check their cumulative annual out-of-pocket maximum for travel costs in OmaKela. Kela pays the reimbursement only if the taxi has been booked via the regional dispatch centre.

Unlike the rest of Finland, Åland has an authorisation procedure, according to which taxis are booked directly from a taxi company. Once the annual out-of-pocket maximum has been reached, the client will be notified of this in a decision on reimbursement for travel costs. The client can also print out information about the cumulative annual out-of-pocket maximum from OmaKela and show it to the taxi driver.

If the client has paid the copayment, despite having reached their annual out-of-pocket maximum, Kela will automatically return any copayment that the client was charged unnecessarily.