Socioeconomic targeting of rehabilitation benefits and reimbursement for medical expenses
The purpose of the study is to investigate the allocation of Kela's reimbursements for medical expenses, the services which are reimbursed, and the rehabilitation services provided by Kela across socioeconomic groups defined by income, education, and occupational status. The project examines the extent to which different socioeconomic groups have received reimbursements for medical care, used services reimbursed by reimbursements for medical care, and participated in rehabilitation organised by Kela before the health and social services reform in 2018–2022 and in the first years after the health and social services reform in 2023–2024.
Of reimbursements for medical care, the focus is particularly on reimbursements for private medical care. The project also examines how recent changes in reimbursement levels have been linked to the use of private medical care services by different socioeconomic groups. The data for the project will be compiled from Kela's register data, which will be combined with data from the Incomes Register, annual income from taxation, and Statistics Finland's data on education, occupation and socioeconomic status. The data are analysed using statistical multivariate methods.
The results can be used to monitor and develop the function of the Finnish health service system and to inform the debate on health services reimbursed by health insurance.
Researchers
- Jenni Blomgren, Leading researcher
- Heta Moustgaard
Project Implementation Period
15.1.2024 -30.6.2026
Project results
- Yksityislääkärikäynnit eivät juuri lisääntyneet Kela-korvausten noston jälkeen – näin lisäeurot kohdentuivat eri tuloryhmille (Kelan tutkimusblogi 3.9.2024)
- Eläkeikäiset käyvät yleisimmin yksityisellä silmälääkärillä tai yleislääkärillä – Kela-korvauspilotti saattaa lisätä yleislääkärikäyntejä (Kelan tutkimusblogi 18.12.2024)
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