Health, Work Ability, and Functioning of Kela’s Customers
In order to improve Kela’s benefit and allowance system, versatile data on the wellbeing and health of Kela’s customers in needed. Such information cannot be collected from register data. This project is carried out in collaboration with the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), and it examines the perceived and measured health, work ability, functioning, wellbeing, and service needs of Kela’s vulnerable customer groups, such as health insurance benefit recipients and rehabilitation clients.
Data in the national Healthy Finland survey are collected through surveys, interviews, and health examinations. National register data on Kela’s benefits are combined with the Healthy Finland data. Kela’s research unit participates in the planning of data collection and the use of the compiled data. The research population consists of those who participate in the national survey (N = 61,000) and those invited to the health examination (N = 10,000). In accordance with Kela’s strategy, the data can be used to benefit the customer by, for example, developing the health insurance benefits and rehabilitation. The large data can also be used for generating regional information on Kela’s customers’ health, wellbeing, work ability, and functioning by wellbeing services county.
Researcher
- Riitta Luoto, Leading Researcher
Project Implementation Period
1.2.2022–31.12.2025
