KELA informs: Healthcare fee for students in higher education decreased – it is recommended to pay the fee as soon as possible
The healthcare fee for students in higher education has been confirmed for 2026. The total fee is EUR 70.70, or EUR 35.35 for each term, which is slightly lower than last year. Last year, the rate of the student healthcare fee was EUR 35.60 per term.
Students can pay the fee in the OmaKela e-service as from the beginning of the year. Students can pay the fee for both the spring and the autumn at the same time. The due date for the spring term healthcare fee is 15 March for students who register as attending by 31 January.
The Finnish Student Health Service (FSHS) provides student healthcare services for higher education students in Finland. Higher education students can use the extensive services of the FSHS, and they need not pay any separate per-visit charges. Students must pay the healthcare fee even if they do not use the services of the FSHS or they use occupational health services.
Students enrolled in higher education who are studying towards a degree and who have registered as attending must pay a student healthcare fee to Kela. The healthcare fee is used to finance healthcare services for higher education students. The state finances 77 percent of the costs of the healthcare services offered to higher education students and the remaining 23 percent are financed through the healthcare fee.
Students do not have to pay the healthcare fee if they have social security coverage in another EU or EEA country, Switzerland, Great Britain, Northern Ireland or the EU.