The national social insurance institution-Kela will launch a pilot scheme to grant a new type of credit for medicine costs, said Kela on Tuesday.
Low-income people will be eligible to apply for interest-free credit from Kela to pay high medicine costs during the three-year pilot scheme beginning on October 27.
People can get the medicine cost credit, if the income from salary, wages or benefits does not exceed EUR 1,800 per month (gross, before taxes) and have not the right to social assistance.
The income limits, however, will be EUR 1900 per month for applicant with one dependent child, EUR 2,000 for applicant with two dependent children, EUR 2,100 with three dependent children, EUR 2,200 with four dependent children and EUR 2,300 per month with five dependent children.
The aim to pilot the study is to ensure that people can get the prescription medication they need and they do not stop taking their medication due to financial constraints
The pilot study will produce data on what kind of resources the provision of this kind of credit will require in terms of Kela’s information systems and customer service.
During the pilot study, Kela will also conduct a separate study to assess how the pilot study affects the rates of prescription medicine use and the customer experience.
In 2025, the annual out-of-pocket maximum is EUR 633.17. Medicine cost credit is intended for low-income customers who do not qualify for social assistance and who reach the annual out-of-pocket maximum either with one purchase or within one calendar month.
The amount of credit Kela can grant is up to the amount of the full annual out-of-pocket maximum.
The recipients need to pay the medicine cost credit back to Kela over the span of 12 months.
- Kela
- Interest-free
- Medicine
- Loan
Source: www.dailyfinland.fi
