2023-08-10 15:33:31
Illustrative photo. Canva
Many people living in Estonia work abroad. However, if workers need medical care in their own country, they often have a question, how should they proceed?
The Health Insurance Fund and the Social Insurance Board help people who live or work in another member state of the European Union (EU), Great Britain, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Switzerland to organize their paperwork in the right way – so that their medical expenses are covered both in Estonia and abroad. abroad. Let’s take a closer look at exactly what you need to do in advance to ensure your health care costs are covered.
If a person lives in Estonia but works in another EU member state, then social tax is paid from his salary to the country where he actually works. In this case, the country to which the tax on his salary is paid is responsible for the person’s social insurance. In other words, the country to which the financial contribution is made from a person’s salary must also provide him with health insurance and cover his medical expenses both locally and in Estonia.
In order to receive free medical care in Estonia, a person must take with them an S1 certificate issued by the health insurance institution of the country where they work and submit this certificate to the Estonian Health Insurance Fund. Thanks to the registered S1 certificate, a person will be able, if necessary, to see a doctor in Estonia, and his or her medical expenses will be covered by the Health Insurance Fund.
Example. Mikhail works in Finland but returns to his family in Estonia at the end of the working week. The social tax paid from Mikhail’s salary goes to the Finnish budget, i.е. Mikhail has health insurance in Finland. Since Mihail’s place of residence is in Estonia and he may need medical assistance here as well, he has the right to request an S1 certificate from the Finnish state insurance company Kela. The certificate must be submitted to the Health Insurance Fund, where it will be registered. After registering the certificate with the Health Insurance Fund, Mikhail will automatically cover medical expenses when visiting a doctor in Estonia. The Health Insurance Fund itself settles accounts with the Kela insurance organization in Finland, and Mikhail will be able to receive free medical care in Estonia.
When spending your retirement years in Estonia, apply for an S1 certificate
Estonian residents who work abroad also often return to their home country after retirement to be closer to their relatives and friends. If the pension is paid by another Member State of the European Union, in order to receive health insurance in Estonia, a person must apply for an S1 certificate from the insurance company of that foreign country and submit it to the Health Insurance Fund. In addition, a person must make sure that their place of residence in the population register is Estonia.
Example. Maria from Estonia receives a pension in Finland but has decided to return to Estonia. Maria found a place of residence in Estonia and entered his data into the Estonian population register. Since Maria also wanted to receive medical care in Estonia, she applied to the Finnish insurance company Kela for an S1 certificate. Maria submitted the certificate from Kela to the Health Insurance Fund, where she was registered. Now Maria has the right to receive medical services in Estonia in the same way as an ordinary Estonian pensioner. The Health Insurance Fund itself pays Kela, and now Maria can use medical care in Estonia.
According to the Health Fund
The post Who covers medical expenses in Estonia if you work abroad? first appeared on gazeta.ee.
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