If you do not have a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), a relevant valid document nor an insurance policy, you will be charged the full costs for the health services (the actual expenses of medical care). A proper international health insurance is highly recommended to all exchange students, including the EU/EEA/EFTA citizens as Finnish national medical insurance (which is available with the EHIC card) does not cover, for example, the costs of possible emergency medical evacuation. Tampere University is not responsible for any medical charges incurred by its students or by a possible pandemic outbreak. A proper health insurance protects you from unexpected, high medical costs in case you have a serious accident or sickness and gives you a fast access to a private doctor, if you need one.

For more details please see the information below.

Citizens of the EU, EEA (and some EFTA) countries are eligible to apply for a <a href="https://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=559&amp;langId=en" target="_blank" rel="noopener">European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)</a> which gives them access to medically necessary, state-provided healthcare under the same conditions as people insured in Finland. Cards are issued by one’s national health insurance provider. A person without any type of insurance card has to cover the costs of public health care services. Finnish public healthcare is organised by the <a href="https://stm.fi/en/wellbeing-services-counties" target="_blank" rel="noopener">wellbeing services counties</a>, is considered affordable, but is offered mainly in Finnish and Swedish (however, often you can also get along with English).<blockquote>The EHIC card does not give any direct access to see a doctor on your own request. The person making your appointment will evaluate whether you need to see a doctor or a nurse. In Finland, nurses can treat a number of illnesses. If necessary, the nurse will refer you to a doctor. Public health service doctors do not make home visits. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</blockquote>If you do not have a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) and a relevant valid document nor an insurance policy, you will be charged the full costs for the services (the actual expenses of medical care). A proper (private) health insurance is not a requirement, but highly recommended to EU/EEA/EFTA citizens as Finnish national medical insurance (which is available with the EHIC card) does not cover, for example, the costs of possible repatriation. Only a private health insurance protects you from unexpected, high medical costs in case you have a serious accident or sickness and gives you a fast access to a private doctor, if you need one.<ul><li><a href="https://www.tuni.fi/en/students-guide/handbook/uni/exchange-studies/information-exchange-students-university/exchange-students-health-services-well-being-and-safety" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Exchange student’s health services, well-being and safety</a></li></ul><h3>Where can I take out an additional proper/private health insurance beside the EHIC card?</h3>When you are outside Finland, you can take out insurance from an insurance company in your home country. Alternatively, you may ask for suitable insurance from an international insurance company. You can also look into insurance providers that offer international health insurance for students. For instance the following insurance companies offer students insurance contracts that are recommended by the Finnish Immigration Service:<ul><li><a href="https://www.acs-ami.com/en/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Assurances Courtages et Services (ACS)</a> - French-based company</li><li><a href="https://www.aonstudentinsurance.com/en/home/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Aon&nbsp;Student&nbsp;Insurance</a> - American-based company</li><li><a href="https://www.internationalstudentinsurance.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">International Student Insurance (ISI)</a> - American-based company</li><li><a href="https://swisscare.com/en/product/international-student-health-insurance-europe" target="_blank" rel="noopener">International student health insurance Europe (Swisscare)</a> - Swiss-based company</li><li><a href="https://www.sipinsurance.eu/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Student Insurance Program (SIP)</a> - Belgium-based company</li></ul>

Citizens of the EU/EEA/EFTA countries

If you are a non-EU/EEA/EFTA citizen, you are required to take out an insurance policy when you apply for a residence permit or Schengen visa (if you are studying less than 90 days). Further information on insurances is available on <a href="https://migri.fi/en/insurance" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Finnish Immigration Service - Students must have insurance</a>. Even if you arrive for a short exchange period (less than 90 days), you are still required to have a comprehensive insurance policy.Also students who are planning to submit a <a href="https://migri.fi/en/mobility-notification-to-finland" target="_blank" rel="noopener">mobility notification to Finland</a> are required to have an additional insurance as well.Your insurance policy should cover medical consultation in private clinics and in municipal health services.<ul><li><a href="https://www.tuni.fi/en/students-guide/handbook/uni/exchange-studies/pre-arrival-information-exchange-students/residence-permit-exchange-students" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Residence permit for exchange students</a></li><li><a href="https://www.tuni.fi/en/students-guide/handbook/uni/exchange-studies/information-exchange-students-university/exchange-students-health-services-well-being-and-safety" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Exchange student’s health services, well-being and safety</a></li></ul>

Non-EU/EEA/EFTA citizens

Finland has made a separate arrangements concerning social security with the Province of Québec in Canada, Nordic countries and Australia.

<h3>Nordic countries</h3>

Persons who move between the Nordic countries are, as a rule, covered by the provisions of the EC Regulation on social security. On the basis of the Nordic Convention on Social Security, the EC Regulation is also applied to persons who would otherwise not be covered by the Regulation. Such persons include, for instance, citizens of countries outside the EU who move between Denmark and the other Nordic countries.

<ul>
	<li>
	<a href="https://www.kela.fi/web/en/from-other-countries-to-finland-social-security-agreements" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Kela - Social security agreements</a>
	</li>
</ul>

<h3>The Province of Québec in Canada</h3>

The social security arrangement with the Province of Québec covers medical care and health insurance.&nbsp;You will also receive reimbursement from Kela for the <a href="https://www.kela.fi/web/en/medical-expenses" target="_blank">costs for private healthcare services</a>, <a href="https://www.kela.fi/web/en/medicine-expenses" target="_blank">medicine purchases</a> and <a href="https://www.kela.fi/web/en/travel-costs" target="_blank">travel costs in connection with medical care</a>. In order to get reimbursement, you must submit a certificate of attendance from Tampere University as well as a certificate (Q/SF4 granted by Québec), which must be registered with Kela. When the certificate has been registered, Kela will grant you a certificate with which you can prove that you have the right to medical care in the Finnish public healthcare system. The certificate is called Certificate of entitlement to medical care in Finland.

<ul>
	<li><a href="https://www.tuni.fi/en/students-guide/handbook/uni/exchange-studies/pre-arrival-information-exchange-students/residence-permit-exchange-students" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Residence permit for exchange students</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://www.kela.fi/web/en/from-other-countries-to-finland-medical-care" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Kela - Medical care in Finland</a></li>
</ul>

<h3>Australia</h3>

Students from Australia who come to Tampere and stay here temporarily are also entitled to medically necessary treatment in the public healthcare system. You can prove your entitlement to medical care by presenting an Australian passport or a passport of some other country, stating unlimited right of residence in Australia

<ul>
	<li><a href="https://www.tuni.fi/en/students-guide/handbook/uni/exchange-studies/pre-arrival-information-exchange-students/residence-permit-exchange-students" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Residence permit for exchange students</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://www.kela.fi/web/en/from-other-countries-to-finland-medical-care" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Kela - Medical care in Finland</a></li>
</ul>

Citizens of the Province of Québec in Canada, Nordic countries and Australia

Citizens of the UK are eligible to apply for a <a href="https://www.nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/healthcare-abroad/apply-for-a-free-uk-global-health-insurance-card-ghic/" target="_blank">UK Global Health Insurance Card (UK GHIC)</a> which gives them access to medically necessary, state-provided healthcare under the same conditions as people insured in Finland. Cards are issued by one’s national health insurance provider. A person without any type of insurance card has to cover the costs of public health care services. Finnish public healthcare is organised by the <a href="https://stm.fi/en/wellbeing-services-counties" target="_blank" rel="noopener">wellbeing services counties</a>, is considered affordable, but is offered mainly in Finnish and Swedish (however, often you can also get along with English).<blockquote>The UK GHIC card does not give any direct access to see a doctor on your own request. The person making your appointment will evaluate whether you need to see a doctor or a nurse. In Finland, nurses can treat a number of illnesses. If necessary, the nurse will refer you to a doctor. Public health service doctors do not make home visits. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</blockquote>If you do not have a UK GHIC card and a relevant valid document nor an insurance policy, you will be charged the full costs for the services (the actual expenses of medical care). A proper (private) health insurance is not a requirement, but highly recommended to non-EU citizens as Finnish national medical insurance (which is available with the UK GHIC card) does not cover, for example, the costs of possible repatriation. Only a private health insurance protects you from unexpected, high medical costs in case you have a serious accident or sickness and gives you a fast access to a private doctor, if you need one.<ul><li><a href="https://www.tuni.fi/en/students-guide/handbook/uni/exchange-studies/information-exchange-students-university/exchange-students-health-services-well-being-and-safety" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Exchange student’s health services, well-being and safety</a></li></ul><h3>Where can I take out an additional proper/private health insurance beside the UK GHIC card?</h3>When you are outside Finland, you can take out insurance from an insurance company in your home country. Alternatively, you may ask for suitable insurance from an international insurance company. You can also look into insurance providers that offer international health insurance for students. For instance the following insurance companies offer students insurance contracts that are recommended by the Finnish Immigration Service:<ul><li><a href="https://www.acs-ami.com/en/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Assurances Courtages et Services (ACS)</a> - French-based company</li><li><a href="https://www.aonstudentinsurance.com/en/home/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Aon&nbsp;Student&nbsp;Insurance</a> - American-based company</li><li><a href="https://www.internationalstudentinsurance.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">International Student Insurance (ISI)</a> - American-based company</li><li><a href="https://swisscare.com/en/product/international-student-health-insurance-europe" target="_blank" rel="noopener">International student health insurance Europe (Swisscare)</a> - Swiss-based company</li><li><a href="https://www.sipinsurance.eu/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Student Insurance Program (SIP)</a> - Belgium-based company</li></ul>

Student health insurance for exchange students

OpenCitizens of the EU/EEA/EFTA countries

OpenNon-EU/EEA/EFTA citizens

OpenCitizens of the Province of Québec in Canada, Nordic countries and Australia

OpenCitizens of the UK