The government has planned to channel €500 million to Kela reimbursements in 2023–2027 to reimburse the use of private health services. The aim is to reduce the demand for public primary healthcare in well-being services counties and in that way strengthen primary healthcare. In 2024 the government increased the reimbursements for the use of private health services. The rates for general practitioner and specialist visits rose from €8 to €30 for consultations and €25 for video consultations. The fee for a basic dental examination rose from €15.50 to €30. The fees for psychiatrists’ consultations rose to between €30 and €40, depending on the length of the consultation. The fees for psychotherapies were also increased.
Currently the government is reintroducing Kela reimbursement for infertility treatment. There is also a bill currently in the parliament that would increase the reimbursement rates for certain specialist visits (gynaecology, psychiatry) and visits to the dentist as well as introduce the possibility to have reimbursement for visits to a physiotherapist and dental hygienist without a referral. The government has also decided that it will introduce a pilot for reimbursing private general practitioner visits for those 65 years old and older. This would mean that the 65-year-old and older people would be able to visit a private general practitioner three times a year with a same user fee as in the public health centres.
So far, the evidence suggests that the increase in the reimbursements has not increased the number of users of private services, but the prices of private services seem to have increased.