Special treatment situations abroad

This section provides information about special treatment situations abroad, including pregnancy and childbirth, treatment of chronic diseases, rehabilitation, assistive devices, and hospital transfers.


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Pregnancy and childbirth abroad

You can obtain treatment for pregnancy and childbirth with a European Health Insurance Card when you are temporarily staying abroad. You can also travel abroad for pregnancy-related care or to give birth.

Giving birth in an EU or EEA country, Switzerland or the United Kingdom

When you are staying abroad temporarily, for example on holiday

  • You can obtain treatment related to pregnancy and childbirth with a European Health Insurance Card in public healthcare.
  • You will pay the same client fee for the treatment as local residents.
  • If you pay for the treatment yourself, you can get reimbursement from Kela or the health insurance institution of the country that provided the treatment.
  • In the event of problems, you can contact Kela’s Centre for International Affairs.

When you travel abroad for pregnancy-related care or to give birth

  • Find a suitable place for treatment and agree with the treatment provider on the arrangements for the treatment or childbirth.
  • You will pay the costs of the treatment yourself and can claim reimbursement from Kela retrospectively.
  • You cannot use the European Health Insurance Card.
  • You can also apply for a prior authorisation for giving birth abroad.

What is a prior authorisation?

Read also: I want to go abroad for treatment

Is there something you are still wondering about? Ask us!

Giving birth in other countries

If you go into labour while temporarily residing in a country other than an EU and EEA country, Switzerland or the United Kingdom, you will be responsible for the childbirth costs. If you have travel insurance, contact your insurance company to find out about possible reimbursements.

If you travel abroad to give birth outside the EU countries, you will be responsible for all costs yourself and you will not be entitled to any reimbursements from Kela.

Treatment of chronic diseases abroad

In the EU and EEA countries, Switzerland and the United Kingdom, you can get medically necessary treatment for a chronic disease with a European Health Insurance Card and pay the same client fee for the treatment as local residents. If you have paid the costs of treatment by yourself, you can claim reimbursements from Kela.

A healthcare professional in the place of treatment will assess what kind of treatment you need. The treatment will always be determined by the practices of the country you are staying in and may differ from the practices in Finland.

You are also free to travel to another EU or EEA country, Switzerland or the United Kingdom for treatment. Kela will reimburse the costs up to what the treatment in a similar situation in Finland in your wellbeing services country would have cost.

Outside Europe, your right to treatment is determined by the legislation of the country of destination and you will usually pay the cost of your treatment yourself.

Agree on treatment beforehand if advance arrangements are required

If your illness requires regular treatment while you are temporarily staying abroad, agree with the treatment provider beforehand on the arrangement of treatment. These treatments include dialysis, oxygen therapy and chemotherapy.

You can also get more information from contact points in the EU and EEA countries.

Assistive devices abroad

If you fall ill abroad and receive urgent or other medically necessary care, you can obtain an assistive device from the treatment provider.

Countries may have very different practices regarding the procurement and provision of assistive devices. In some countries, an assistive device is part of treatment. For example, in the Nordic countries, the treatment provider usually provides patients with crutches directly. In some countries, you have to purchase or hire assistive devices. If assistive devices are part of the cost of your treatment, you can also receive reimbursement for them.

Costs of assistive devices abroad

In foreign countries, you are usually responsible for all costs related to the assistive device or its use. Different countries have different practices for the provision of assistive devices.

If your assistive device breaks while you are abroad, you will be responsible for its repair. The relevant Finnish authorities will not usually reimburse the costs of servicing or repairing assistive devices abroad. If you are entitled to an assistive device in Finland and you wish to receive a new assistive device from Finland to replace the broken one, you will be responsible for arranging the delivery of the assistive device and for the cost of its transportation.

If you move abroad, you can take your assistive devices with you

If you move to another EU or EEA country, the United Kingdom or to Switzerland

Usually, you can get the assistive device you need in your new country of residence. The health insurance institution or other authority responsible for healthcare in the destination country is usually best qualified to provide additional information about obtaining and procuring assistive devices.

If you have a municipality of residence in Finland or if Finland is responsible for your treatment costs after your move:

  • You can have your assistive devices serviced, repaired or replaced within the public healthcare system when residing in Finland.
  • If you require a new assistive device, you can apply for one either from your new country of residence or from the Finnish public healthcare system.
  • If you want to have a new assistive device from Finland or have it serviced in Finland, you will be responsible for its transportation costs.

If you do not have a municipality of residence in Finland or if Finland is not responsible for your treatment costs after your move:

  • You cannot, as a rule, have your assistive devices serviced, repaired or replaced in Finland.
  • However, you can take the assistive device with you abroad.
  • If you need a new assistive device after your move, you will need to sort it out with your country of residence by yourself.

If you have been assigned a significant assistive device or prosthesis before moving:

  • Finland may, subject to certain EU conditions, be responsible for the maintenance costs of the assistive device also after your move.
  • Significant assistive devices include assistive devices that have been tailor-made for you.
  • If you are not sure whether your assistive device can be classified as a significant assistive device, please contact Kela.
  • If you have been assigned a significant assistive device, but you have not yet received it at the time of moving, you will retain your right to an assistive device regardless of the move.
  • However, please note that maintenance of a significant assistive device does not include the repair of the assistive device but refers to other maintenance requirements the assistive device may have. These include, for example, fine-tuning of a hearing aid or additional training for a guide dog.
If you move to some other country

If you move outside of the EU or EEA countries, Switzerland or the United Kingdom, you can take your assistive devices with you.

If you have a municipality of residence in Finland:

  • You can have your assistive devices serviced, repaired or replaced within the public healthcare system when residing in Finland.
  • If you require a new assistive device, you can apply for one either from your new country of residence or from the Finnish public healthcare system.
  • If you want to have a new assistive device from Finland, you will be responsible for its transportation costs.

If you do not have a municipality of residence in Finland:

  • You cannot have your assistive devices serviced within the public healthcare system in Finland.
  • However, you can take the assistive device with you abroad.
  • If you need a new assistive device after your move, you will need to sort it out with your country of residence by yourself.

Rehabilitation abroad

You can freely seek and use rehabilitation services abroad. Establish your possibility to seek rehabilitation abroad either with your insurance company or Kela. Rehabilitation services abroad may differ from rehabilitation provided in Finland.

You can claim reimbursement from Kela for the costs of rehabilitation abroad if the treatment provider considers the rehabilitation to be medically necessary treatment. In some cases, you may also be entitled to rehabilitation with the European Health Insurance Card. In general, however, rehabilitation is not medically necessary treatment.

Hospital transfers from abroad to Finland and from Finland to abroad

Patients must always be treated to a condition that makes it safe for them to travel home. The implementation of hospital transfers is discretionary, and the arrangements are usually handled by the treatment provider. The costs of the hospital transfer are usually the responsibility of the treatment provider or the patient.

It is possible to get reimbursement from Kela for costs connected to hospital transfer from the border, airport or harbour to a hospital in Finland. Reimbursement can be paid when you have paid the transport costs yourself

Who pays the costs of hospital transfers between countries?
  • If you are in public hospital care in Finland and are transferred for further treatment to another country, the costs are usually paid by the Finnish treatment provider.
  • If you have received medical treatment abroad and require a hospital transfer to Finland for further treatment, the transport costs must be agreed upon in advance. The costs will be paid either by you, the receiving hospital in Finland or your insurance company. 
  • You will always pay the costs yourself if the transfer is made on your own initiative and without the decision of your treatment provider.
  • You will usually pay the costs of the transfer yourself if you receive treatment in private healthcare.
  • If you need a hospital transfer between Nordic countries, your treatment provider can arrange the transport from one hospital to another on your behalf. In that case, you do not need to pay the transport costs yourself. The transfer is the responsibility of the treatment provider. Read more about the Nordic Convention on Social Security (in Finnish).
Move of a person in long-term treatment to another Nordic country

If you are in long-term institutional treatment and move from one Nordic country to another, the arrangement of your treatment, its costs and the transfer of the responsibility for them is set out in the agreement regarding your move. The agreement is made by the authorities responsible for social services.

The liability for costs may be transferred on the day of the move, or a six-month transition period may be agreed. In addition to this, the agreement usually involves determining who will pay for your travel and how assistance will be provided for you during the trip.

Read more: Nordic Convention on Social Security (in Finnish)

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Medical treatment abroad (Kela)