Finnish Expats Insurance and Overseas Health
The number of Finnish citizens living abroad is estimated at around 300,000. Most Finnish expats live in Sweden, the United Kingdom, Germany, the United States, and Spain. With Finland's healthcare system being considered very good, especially on the primary healthcare level, and also very affordable, expats from Finland might have a hard time acclimatizing to other healthcare systems, especially to the US healthcare system. Healthcare systems in other countries might be differently structured and sometimes heavily reliant on private healthcare, unlike in Finland's healthcare system.
The number of Finnish citizens living abroad is estimated at around 300,000. Most Finnish expats live in Sweden, the United Kingdom, Germany, the United States, and Spain. With Finland's healthcare system being considered very good, especially on the primary healthcare level, and also very affordable, expats from Finland might have a hard time acclimatizing to other healthcare systems, especially to the US healthcare system. Healthcare systems in other countries might be differently structured and sometimes heavily reliant on private healthcare, unlike in Finland's healthcare system.
Buying Private Global Insurance While Living Abroad
EHIC and reciprocal healthcare agreements with other countries are not a substitution for travel health insurance or proper health insurance. Finland expats abroad should have international health insurance to protect themselves from the high medical costs they can encounter abroad.
Such a global health insurance plan covers all the necessities as you would be at home, and even more - depending on the coverage level you choose. And of course, if you select the international plan, that means you can also access healthcare in Finland when you are back there for a visit or simply for medical treatment.
While Finland can pride itself on an excellent public healthcare system, many countries can't. Finnish expats, therefore, prefer using the private healthcare sector in many countries, be it because of the higher chance of English-speaking doctors and nurses, ease and shorter time of booking an appointment, to better medical service than in a public facility.
Some people think that international health insurance must be expensive, but this is not always the case! Private international health insurance plans vary in the degree of coverage, and the final costs depend on many factors. One way to learn more about the costs of health insurance plans is to contact an insurance broker or compare the best insurance plans online.
Best Health Insurance for Finnish Citizens Living Abroad
When it comes to healthcare and health insurance, the more prominent and more significant the insurance company you will get your plan from, the better service, premium, and network of healthcare providers you can go to. The biggest international insurance companies such as Cigna and William Russell offer plans specially tailored for expatriates. These plans offer flexibility to choose the benefits and coverage and ensure that you pay for what you really need during your stay abroad.
Cigna Global Insurance Plan
- The flexibility to tailor a plan to suit your individual needs
- Access to Cigna Global’s trusted network of hospitals and doctors
- The convenience and confidence of 24/7/365 customer service
William Russell Health Insurance
- William Russell plans cover you internationally, both in the country you reside in and wherever you are traveling to (addons required for USA)
- Their network includes 40,000 hospitals around the world.
- Plans have comprehensive cancer coverage, including genome testing.
Insurance for Finnish Citizens in the US
Expats from Finland arriving in the US should be aware that the cost of healthcare here is one of the highest in the world. Used to highly subsidized healthcare costs back home, Finnish citizens in the US are strongly advised to obtain a health insurance policy while visiting, and especially when living in the US.
Even if you usually don't visit doctors much and are tempted to skip the outpatient benefit in the insurance plan, please know that the costs of a single GP can vary from $100 up to $250. That does not include any tests, which US doctors make for almost every ailment, which can quickly double. And if you need medicine or a follow-up visit, these costs can rise rapidly.
Finnish living in the US do not qualify for any of the federal health insurance programs, Medicaid or Medicaid, therefore, the only route to covering your medical expenses is through a private health insurance plan. Learn more about typical US healthcare costs here.
Best US Health Insurance Plan for Finnish Citizens
Xplorer Worldwide Medical Plan
- Premium Benefits, Coverage and Service
- Define your deductible and prescription benefits
- For Foreigners in the US or US citizens abroad
Public Versus Private Healthcare in Other Countries
Like many countries, there are as many different healthcare systems. In some countries, you can access primary care only through a hospital, whereas in others, you are being assigned to a family doctor without an option to choose your own.
Some countries, like Finland, offer highly subsidized healthcare, other countries provide certain, sometimes limited, medical services for free to their citizens, and the rest of the healthcare services must be either outsourced privately or paid in full if it doesn't fall within the public healthcare coverage. Then some countries have different charges for citizens, permanent citizens that are not citizens, and tourists. Navigating this world can be daunting and time-consuming.
Buying private health insurance for Finnish citizens living abroad is usually the best option. This will allow Finnish expats access to private healthcare all over the world. Rules surrounding private healthcare are almost identical across the globe, highly reducing stress associated with navigating local healthcare systems.
Will Your Finnish Health Insurance Cover You Abroad?
If you reside abroad for more than six months, you are considered no longer a permanent resident of Finland, and you will stop being covered under Finland's social security system.
You will not be entitled to the low costs for healthcare services incurred in Finland, nor for medicine purchases or any other services under the Finnish healthcare system.
Moreover, other than the EHIC card coverage in the European Union, you will not be covered abroad for medical expenses. It is wise to purchase an international health insurance policy to cover costs of healthcare abroad, which may be extremely high.
Reciprocal Healthcare Arrangement with Australia
Finland has only one reciprocal healthcare arrangement with Australia. The agreement, however, has its limitations. First of all, to be eligible for the Australian Medicare as a Finnish citizen living there, you need to prove that you have been living in Finland before coming to Australia. By enrolling in the agreement, you need to show your Finnish passport, evidence of your current visa, and you may also need to show at least two documents to prove you live in Finland. You also need to have valid Finnish health insurance to be eligible. The reciprocal agreement covers medically necessary care out of hospital, medically necessary care as a public patient in a public hospital, and some prescription medicines at the general rate.
Access to Finnish National Insurance in the European Union
Finnish expatriates moving to live in another European Union country can, at least for emergency medical care, use the EHIC card. The European Health Insurance Card allows Finnish expats to access public healthcare services of the country they reside in within the European Union at the same terms as other residents of that specific country. It is essential to check beforehand which public medical services are available within the particular country for their citizens for free and which are not, as it varies from country to country. Usually, EHIC services only cover emergency care, and EHIC should not be considered a comprehensive health insurance option. While residing in another EU country, it is still essential to have medical coverage for any non-emergency medical care.
Government Recommendations for Finnish Expats Abroad
Finland's government provides comprehensive online information about their embassies and consulates around the world; however, it lacks substantial resources for Finnish citizens moving abroad or returning back home.
Time Abroad and Planning to Return Home
If you are returning to Finland after living abroad you need to reapply for their healthcare insurance Kela card. YourTheir return does not mean that you will automatically be re-enrolled, and you have to reapply. If you moved back from outside of the European Union and wish to use your EHIC card, you must check its validity and reapply for it if needed.
