Finns have the opportunity to receive medical care and surgery abroad, with the costs covered by the state.
Last year, Finnish benefits agency Kela approved some 4,000 applications for medical cost reimbursements from individuals who received treatment outside of Finland.
These types of reimbursement applications plummeted by several thousand during the coronavirus pandemic and have not returned to previous levels since.
The state is required to pay for healthcare expenses for individuals seeking treatment in EU and EEA countries, Switzerland and the United Kingdom — provided certain conditions are met.
In most cases, people in Finland seek treatment abroad for dental care.
According to Kela, reimbursement amounts depend on whether or not individuals had prior authorisation to seek foreign treatment. People covered under the Finnish national health insurance scheme as well as those registered as a residents of a Finnish municipality are eligible for reimbursement.