Ok, how does this work ?

bullacc · Post by **bullacc** » Tue Mar 24, 2009 1:01 am

I need to go to a dentist for a complicated procedure (fixing a cracked molar with some special circumstances), that will cost quite a lot of money.
I'm going at Mehiläinen, as it doesn't take long to get scheduled there (going tomorrow actually) - i don't want to wait for weeks/months and lose the molar in the meantime.

Anyway, the price will be somewhere in the range of 1.000 euro.
Steep, but i can handle it.

However, a colleague from work let me know that Kela might cover a part of the cost - which is cool.
What he didn't know, was how do i get that ?
Does Mehiläinen automatically substract what Kela covers from the bill, or do i get a refund on my taxes some months/years later, or do i have to fill forms / go to Kela offices for this ?

**Sponsor:**

mrjimsfc · Post by **mrjimsfc** » Tue Mar 24, 2009 6:07 am

If and what KELA will cover depends a lot on things you haven't told us. Be prepared to fill out lots of forms (probably in Finnish). If possible, take someone with you who speaks Finnish fluently.

blaugrau · Post by **blaugrau** » Tue Mar 24, 2009 7:31 am

I don't know about Mehiläinen -- but I'm also with a private dentist, and they automatically substract the part that Kela covers -- so on the bill it reads all the costs minus Kela's part. So there's no forms to fill out and no waiting for reimbursments. Best is to ask Mehiläinen directly how they handle the Kela-part, but I would assume they substract it automatically as they're a big company etc etc. but that's just speculation on my part.

Travmies · Post by **Travmies** » Tue Mar 24, 2009 7:40 am

They pay about 60%, but check the Kela site first, it's in english...

bullacc · Post by **bullacc** » Tue Mar 24, 2009 8:50 am

Yeah - so apparently they will substract the sum automatically.
Even if not, there is only one form to be filled, and i have 6 months to do it in after the procedure, so no rush.

Except the costliest part of the procedure isn't covered by Kela (the dental crown), only the steps leading up to it.
Pffft... Ah well, thought i'd finally see some return on almost 2 years of taxes.
Maybe some other time

aguinness · Post by **aguinness** » Tue Mar 24, 2009 8:55 am

Last time I was at a dentist (Oral, last summer) The Kela part was automatically deducted from my bill, but I was told this only happens if you pay in full at the end of your final visit.. In other words If they send you the bill you will pay the full amount and claim back the kela part.

Pursuivant · Post by **Pursuivant** » Tue Mar 24, 2009 10:01 am

bullacc wrote:Anyway, the price will be somewhere in the range of 1.000 euro.

Sheesh...

I'd go to Estonia and get metal teeth for that quote.

Travmies wrote:They pay about 60%,

They pay 60% of the rate, which rate list of what things cost was last set sometime around Kekkoslovakian times. So in reality of the real prices its about 30-40%.

bullacc · Post by **bullacc** » Tue Mar 24, 2009 10:44 am

Pursuivant wrote:They pay 60% of the rate, which rate list of what things cost was last set sometime around Kekkoslovakian times. So in reality of the real prices its about 30-40%.

Yeah, that's what i understood also.

Anyway, the point is moot, seeing as Kela doesn't cover the specific procedure (bastards).

Timbeh · Post by **Timbeh** » Tue Mar 24, 2009 12:11 pm

I don't really understand why KELA should cover private healthcare at all.

EP · Post by EP » Tue Mar 24, 2009 1:01 pm

I don't really understand why KELA should cover private healthcare at all.

Because public health care cannot cope solo. You are younger, so you perhaps don´t know that older people have got part of their dental care costs from KELA for less than 10 years. I have payed most of my life 100% and private. And it is also less than ten years when older people (except pensionaries) have been able to get appointments from public dental care, that was all reserved for under 18 and over 65, so going private was the only option. And in reality still is.

bullacc · Post by **bullacc** » Tue Mar 24, 2009 1:01 pm

Timbeh wrote:I don't really understand why KELA should cover private healthcare at all.

"sickness allowances on account of loss of earnings"
It's about standard in countries with socialized healthcare.
It's just annoying that it doesn't cover more complicated procedures, especially when you don't have a choice and really have to do them at a private practice, seeing as the waiting lists for the public practices are enormous.

Ah well, i've seen worse anyway, and i guess there's a reason behind it - also, it's not like the cost is prohibitive or something.
Let's just hope that at 1.000 euro the crown doesn't fall off after a little while, or i might invite the good doctor out for a cocktail.

Molotov.

raamv · Post by **raamv** » Wed Mar 25, 2009 11:21 pm

Pursuivant wrote:
bullacc wrote:Anyway, the price will be somewhere in the range of 1.000 euro.
Sheesh... I'd go to Estonia and get metal teeth for that quote.

Travmies wrote:They pay about 60%,
They pay 60% of the rate, which rate list of what things cost was last set sometime around Kekkoslovakian times. So in reality of the real prices its about 30-40%.

BTW, if you go to Estonia and get done, do you still get KELA coverage ??

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