Kiuru questions government’s Kela reimbursement model for elderly healthcare in Finland

The chair of the Social Affairs and Health Committee, Krista Kiuru, expressed skepticism regarding the government’s new Kela reimbursement model. “The government paints a lovely picture that may not necessarily materialize,” Kiuru stated during an appearance on A-studio on Tuesday.

According to her, the reform has been hastily prepared without proper impact assessments. She doubts that funding will be sufficient for a support trial designed for individuals over 65, allowing them to visit private general practitioners with government support. “There’s quite a bit of bluff in the air,” she added.

In defense of the Kela reimbursement model, Social Insurance Minister Sanni Grahn-Laasonen presented the government’s viewpoint on A-studio. The government has decided to abandon its earlier plan to increase the general Kela reimbursement. Moving forward, reimbursements will be targeted towards services that are less accessible in public healthcare.

The government and Kela are in the process of preparing a freedom of choice trial, which would enable those over 65 to access private healthcare at a cost equivalent to that of public services. The Kela reimbursement trial is set to commence at the beginning of September 2025.

For more details, the A-studio segment from Tuesday is available on Yle Areena.