Slight decrease in healthcare fees for higher education students in 2026
The Government has issued a decree which determines the amount of the healthcare fee, the late payment fee and the fee for an unattended appointment charged from higher education students in 2026.
Next year, the student-specific healthcare fee charged from higher education students for using student healthcare services will be EUR 70.70 per academic year, or EUR 35.35 per term, which is slightly less than in 2025.
The healthcare fee would be the same for all students liable to pay such a fee. Degree students in higher education institutions coming from EU and EEA countries, Switzerland, or from the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland are exempted from paying healthcare fees for student healthcare. The costs of their care are covered by compensations collected from the state responsible for the student's care.
The late payment fee of EUR 5 for the health care fee will remain unchanged next year. The fee for an unattended appointment, EUR 56.70, will also remain the same in 2026.
The Decree will be applicable from 1 January 2026 to 31 December 2026.
Under the Student Healthcare Act, provisions on the amount of the healthcare fee must be issued annually by government decree by the end of November so that both the Social Insurance Institution of Finland (Kela) and students will know the amount of the fee as soon as the following calendar year starts.
The aim is to cover 77 per cent of the funding for student healthcare from central government funds and 23 per cent by healthcare fees to be collected from students.
Inquiries:
Jutta Kastinen, lawyer, tel. +358 295 163 119, [email protected]