Changes in reimbursements for travel costs paid under the national health insurance scheme by wellbeing services county 

Pursuant to the Health Insurance Act, Kela reimburses customers for travel costs incurred for trips to a public healthcare provider, to a (partially) publicly funded private medical care provider, and e.g. to a facility that offers Kela rehabilitation. The aim of the project is to analyse how reimbursements for travel costs are paid and to identify any trends therein, especially from a perspective of comparing the situation in different wellbeing services counties. In addition, the project reviews the legal background of the travel cost reimbursement scheme and provides an overview of existing research on the subject.

Researchers

• Päivi Tillman, Principal Investigator

Duration of the project

1.10.2025–28.2.2026. The project has ended.

Project results

The project analysed reimbursements for travel costs and their development, in particular from a perspective of comparing the situation in different wellbeing services counties, provided an overview of the legal background to the reimbursement system, looked at previous research data on the subject, and assessed the development of reimbursements for travel costs in coming years by wellbeing services county.