Health Services for Foreign Students
Health Insurance
European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)
Student Health Services
Medical Care for Foreigners in Jyväskylä
Vaccinations
In Case of Emergency
Pharmacies
Crisis Services for Foreigners
Links
Health Insurance
Citizens of the EU and EEA countries are entitled to all health services if they are covered by health insurance in their own country. Further information is available at the social insurance office in your home country.
The citizens of non-EU and non-EEA countries are not covered by the Finnish national health insurance. It is therefore extremely important for them to have sufficient insurance coverage of their own before they arrive in Finland.
Students from third countries* arriving after 1.9.2007 must have health insurance
Citizens of third countries arriving in Finland for the purpose of study or student exchange after and including 1.9.2007 are required to have health insurance, if the study or student exchange lasts for more than three months.
* A third-country national means any person who is not a citizen of the European Union or a citizen of Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Switzerland.
Health insurance is a requirement for obtaining a residence permit for studies.
Foreign students must have a health insurance policy that covers the costs of medical care. If the duration of the studies is at least two years, it is sufficient that the insurance policy covers pharmaceutical costs. The health insurance must be in force upon entry into Finland. The insurance policy must be issued by a reliable and financially sound company or institution.
European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)
Since the beginning of June 2004, EU citizens have been able to use a new European Health Insurance Card when in Finland, enabling them quick access to treatment.
The card confirms that holders are covered by health insurance in one of the EU member states and that they have the right to immediate medical treatment while they are in any other member state.
Student Health Services
Specific Student Health Services by a public health nurse and doctor are available to students from Monday to Friday. Municipal actors are responsible for student health services in Jyväskylä, Saarijärvi and Jämsänkoski. In addition, the University of Applied Sciences offers the “Tsemppis” dyslexia group and study psychologist’s services.
In the evening and during the weekend, first aid is available in municipal health centres.
If you are on a medication, you should take along the prescription or other detailed information on the medicine.
Examples of Fees
EU citizens
Doctor's appointment and first aid:
-
Mon–Fri 8–20 the fee is 13.80 €/visit (first three times a calendar year, after that you can visit a doctor for free of charge)
-
Mon–Fri 20–8 and on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays the fee is 27.50 €/each visit
Non-EU citizens
-
Student Health Care 38.66 € / visit with a nurse or doctor at the Student Health Care (including possible tests)
-
Doctor's appointment at the Health Centre is 115.89 € / emergency visit (in other cases than emergency the student needs to go to the student health care)
-
Nurse's appointment at the Health Centre 58.94 € / visit
-
Care at the hospital according to real cost
Medical Care for Foreigners in Jyväskylä
Urgent and Necessary Medical Care during Temporary Residence
A person residing in Finland temporarily has the right to urgent medical care in Finland on the basis of the Act on Specialized Medical Care (1.12.1989/1062).
Fees
According to international agreements, patients whose permanent residence lies in an EU/EEA Country or Switzerland and who can present proof of their entitlement to the social security of their home country pay the same fees for their medical care as the permanent residents in Finland.
Persons who will not present proof for their entitlement to the social security of their home country can be charged a full compensation fee for medical care.
A full compensation fee will be charged also from persons who are permanent residents of countries that do not have a valid social security agreement with Finland. At the moment these comprise countries other than EU/EEA Countries and Switzerland.
Entitlement to the social security is proved with a European Health Care Card or the E111 Form. Permanent residents of the Nordic Countries (Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Iceland) and the UK are an exception: The Social Security Card or the E112 Form is not required from them. Instead, citizens of these countries can prove their entitlement to the social security of their home country by presenting their passport. However, persons from the Nordic Countries or the UK can also prove their entitlement to the social security system of their home country with the European Social Security Card or the E111 Form if they wish.
Note! Persons coming to Finland from countries other than EU/EEA Countries or Switzerland should always take insurance fully covering expenses due to medical care.
|
Patient's Home Country |
Document |
Customer Fee |
|---|
|
An EU/EEA Country, Switzerland, Quebec (patients other than students), Australia (patients other than students) |
A European Health Care Card / E111 Form / passport |
Same customer fee as Finnish citizens |
|
An EU/EEA Country, Switzerland, Quebec (patients other than students), Australia (patients other than students) |
No document |
Full compensation fee |
|
Quebec (when patients are students) |
Q/SF4 Form |
Same customer fee as Finnish citizens |
|
Quebec (when patients are students) |
No document |
Full compensation fee |
|
Countries other than the ones mentioned above i.e. countries that do not have a social security agreement with Finland, or Australia (when patients are students) | |
Full compensation fee |
Non-Urgent Medical Care – Seeking Medical Treatment
The Health Care District can, with certain prerequisites, give medical care to residents of other countries than Finland also in cases where the patient is not in need of urgent care. This is called seeking medical treatment.
Fees
If a person from EU/EEA Countries or from Switzerland seeks health care services in Finland, he/she can receive an E112 Form from the social security system of their home country. Based on this form, the home country commits to paying the expenses of the person’s medical care. When a person has received an E112 Form from his/her home country, he/she will pay the same fees for health care as a person residing in Finland permanently.
If a person seeking medical care does not have an E112 Form or if he/she comes outside the EU/EEA Countries or outside Switzerland, he/she will always be charged a full compensation fee for non-urgent medical care.
When a person from EU/EEA Countries or from Switzerland seeks non-urgent medical care in Finland, a passport or a European Health care Card are not sufficient documents to entitle him/her to lower fees. Instead, an E112 Form issued by the social security system of their home country is needed.
|
Patient’s Home Country |
Document |
Customer Fee |
|---|
|
An EU/EEA Country or Switzerland |
E112 Form |
Same customer fee as Finnish citizens |
|
An EU/EEA Country or Switzerland |
No E112 Form |
Full compensation fee |
|
Other than an EU/EEA Country or Switzerland | |
Full compensation fee |
Vaccinations
Make sure your basic vaccinations, polio, tetanus-diphtheria and MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) are up to date. Please bring the certificate of vaccination as well as possible regular medication with you.
In Case of Emergency
In case of emergency, call the general emergency number 112. By calling this number you can contact police, ambulance (ambulanssi), fire department (palokunta) and other emergency services. An emergency call can be made free of charge from any phone, also from call boxes.
Pharmacies
Pharmacies (apteekki) are part of the Finnish health care system, and a pharmacy licence from the National Agency for Medicines is always needed to operate a retail pharmacy. Many medicines can be bought only on doctor’s prescription. In addition to prescribed medicines, pharmacies sell items needed in the use of medicines, bandaging materials, as well as self-care medicines without prescription, e.g. painkillers, basic creams, and vitamins. Self-care medicines for pets, nature care products, and cosmetics are among the products sold at pharmacies as well. Plasters and bandage materials can also be bought at grocery shops in Finland, but not e.g. painkillers.
The opening hours of Finnish pharmacies are among the longest in Europe, but vary from one pharmacy to another. In Jyväskylä, the pharmacy called Yliopiston apteekki at Kauppakatu 39 is open daily from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. In addition to the pharmacies located in the centre of Jyväskylä, there is a pharmacy also within some superstores, e.g. Citymarket and Prisma. The pharmacy of Saarijärvi is located at Kauppakatu 5.
Crisis Services for Foreigners
The SOS Center help all foreigners living in Finland as well as their families to cope with psychological and social problems. You can discuss your life situation and problems anonymously in your native tongue or other language you have in common with the staff members. The services are free of charge. It is not necessary to have a referral to the center, but it is important to make an appointment beforehand.
Crisis service for foreigners / For appointments call
(09) 4135 0501
open on weekdays 9.00-15.00
Finnish Association for Mental Health
SOS Crisis Centre, services for foreigners
Maistraatinportti 4 A, 00240 Helsinki (4th floor)
firstname.lastname@mielenterveysseura.fi
Links
Students’ Health Insurance for Non-EU citizens (Finnish Immigration Service)
European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) (European Commission's website)
Student Health Services in Jyväskylä
Student Health Services in Saarijärvi
Finnish Association for Mental Health