Health insurance for incoming international students
UEF requires that all incoming international students must have a valid personal (travel) insurance policy from an internationally recognized insurance agency for the whole duration of their stay in Finland. Insurance should cover all costs related to a treatment of sudden illness, accidents and accidental death. It is also important to check that your insurance also covers your travel to and from Finland.
EU citizens
All the citizens of the EU countries (opens in a new tab) and Iceland, Lichtenstein, Norway and Switzerland are entitled to use the basic public health services on the same basis as Finnish citizens, when they are covered by health insurance in their home country and when they have a European Health Insurance Card (opens in a new tab). This card gives access to medically necessary public health care during a temporary stay in Finland. Students should always carry it with them in case of a sudden illness or an accident. However, students from the Nordic countries do not need the European Health Insurance Card.
You should note that health care is not completely free of charge even for EU/EEA citizens. Please also note that the European Health Insurance Card is not valid during your journey to and from Finland or during trips to other countries.
Those who wish to use the services of a private doctor shall first pay the doctor for the treatment. Later, students with the European Health Insurance card or equivalent documents (citizens of the Nordic/EU/EEA countries, Switzerland or Québec) can apply compensation from Kela (the Social Insurance Institution of Finland) and they will be compensated for a part of the medical fee. Alternatively, they can claim for the compensation from their own health insurance offices later after returning to their home countries.
Please note, that addition to this card the student always needs a travel insurance.
Non-EU citizens
Students from non-EU/EEA countries must have a health insurance and a travel insurance.
Students coming from non-EU/non-EEA countries must be covered by a private health insurance from an internationally recognised, reliable and financially sound insurance agency. The insurance should be without deductible. Non-EU/non-EEA citizens must have an insurance to obtain the residence permit for Finland. Please check requirements for the insurance. The health insurance must be obtained prior to applying for a residence permit and it must be valid upon entry to Finland.
Students applying for an extension to their residence permit must also have appropriate health insurance. The insurance must be valid throughout the entire stay in Finland.
The insurance deductible may not be more that 300 €. If you study in Finland less that two years, the health insurance must cover both sickness and accident related medical treatment up to 120,000 €. If you study in Finland for at least two years, your insurance cover must be up to 40,000 € for medical expenses. If the studies last two years or longer, health insurance must cover medical expenses up to a minimum of EUR 40 000. This is because the students will usually have a place of residence in Finland and are therefore entitled to municipal health care services. Please remember to apply for a place of residence at the Local Registry Office in Finland as soon as you arrive to receive municipal health care.
You can choose from any reliable and solvent insurance company to obtain your health insurance. Check the insurance providers recommended by the Finnish Immigration Service. The Finnish Immigration requires an insurance from all non-EU students and they assess each insurance policy and its terms and conditions individually when they process the permit applications. Check what the insurance policy must include on Migri’s site. Please note that you, the student, are the policyholder and the University of Eastern has no right to discuss any issues with the insurer.
NOTE: Bachelor’s and Master’s students have the right to use Finnish Student Health Service (FSHS/YTHS), but this does not exclude a student from having to take out the health insurance.
University’s accident policy
Students completing a degree at the University of Eastern Finland are covered under the university’s accident insurance policy, which is compliant with the Act on Studies-related Accidents. The insurance covers accidents that have occurred in conditions typical of studying during a person’s participation in practical teaching that can be paralleled with work or in an unpaid internship which is compliant with the curriculum or the basics of the degree, either within the institution or at an external host organisation.
The statutory accident insurance policy does not cover accidents occurring during lectures, breaks or on the regular way to or from the university. As regards internships, the insurance policy only covers unpaid internships. If the student receives salary during the internship, the student will be covered under the accident insurance policy of the employer. Non-Finnish students are covered under the insurance policy in Finland irrespective of their nationality, provided that they have enrolled as degree-seeking students at a Finnish educational institution.
The insurance policy is in force everywhere in the world. The accident insurance policy is also in force during a degree-related practical training abroad, provided that the training abroad is included in the student’s curriculum at the University of Eastern Finland. However, it is important to notice that the insurance policy is an accident insurance policy which is only in force as regards practical work. When travelling abroad, it is always recommended to take out a travel insurance policy which complements the insurance coverage also as regards travel illness, discontinuation, cancellation, and transportation back home.
The third party liability insurance policy of the University of Eastern Finland covers university students and exchange students as regards work in which they can be paralleled with university staff (i.e. they work under the supervision and instruction of the university’s hired staff). The university’s third party liability insurance is not in force when the student’s internship takes place outside the university. Furthermore, university’s own students who have gone on exchange are not covered under the third party liability insurance.
Further information on matters relating to accidents of students:
- Joensuu Campus: Kari Reinikainen
- Kuopio Campus: Tarja Saastamoinen