A Little Help

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HeartofIron
Posts: 44
Joined: Thu Dec 29, 2016 5:32 am
Location: Oklahoma, USA

A Little Help

Post by HeartofIron » Sat Jun 09, 2018 6:35 am

I am writing something that involves me knowing something about the healthcare system in Finland. I have researched a little, but it seems that there are mixed messages depending on what you read. In the early 90's, would a child that had some sort of illness (like chronic bronchitis or something) be treated for free, or would the family have had to pay for it? The fictional family I am writing about was poor anyway, and the father gets fired. Then, there is the circumstance of one of their sons being sick. So...would they have been taken care of or would they have been in pretty dire straits? Any ideas would be appreciated. Thanks, guys. : )

J


Is all that we see or seem
But a dream within a dream?
-Poe

A Little Help

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wolf80
Posts: 474
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Location: Helsinki

Re: A Little Help

Post by wolf80 » Sun Jun 10, 2018 1:09 pm

HeartofIron wrote:
Sat Jun 09, 2018 6:35 am
I am writing something that involves me knowing something about the healthcare system in Finland. I have researched a little, but it seems that there are mixed messages depending on what you read. In the early 90's, would a child that had some sort of illness (like chronic bronchitis or something) be treated for free, or would the family have had to pay for it? The fictional family I am writing about was poor anyway, and the father gets fired. Then, there is the circumstance of one of their sons being sick. So...would they have been taken care of or would they have been in pretty dire straits? Any ideas would be appreciated. Thanks, guys. : )

J
So, you are still writing a book set in Finland, without ever having been in Finland?? You do know that anybody who actually knows the country will be laughing their asses off before reaching page 3. Write about what you know.

HeartofIron
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Location: Oklahoma, USA

Re: A Little Help

Post by HeartofIron » Mon Jun 11, 2018 6:07 am

Well...I mean, I can't jump on a plane and go to Finland. There's a specific reason it's set there. I know there are certain nuances that you get from being there, but I have learned in my writing education that if you research thoroughly enough, you won't get laughed at (unless you leave something totally obvious out or you describe something in a weird/awkward/inaccurate way)...

Man, was really hoping for some constructive advice. Thanks.
Is all that we see or seem
But a dream within a dream?
-Poe

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wolf80
Posts: 474
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Location: Helsinki

Re: A Little Help

Post by wolf80 » Mon Jun 11, 2018 6:52 am

HeartofIron wrote:
Mon Jun 11, 2018 6:07 am
Well...I mean, I can't jump on a plane and go to Finland. There's a specific reason it's set there. I know there are certain nuances that you get from being there, but I have learned in my writing education that if you research thoroughly enough, you won't get laughed at (unless you leave something totally obvious out or you describe something in a weird/awkward/inaccurate way)...

Man, was really hoping for some constructive advice. Thanks.
I've been in Finland for over 6 years and not a week goes by without me learning something new about Finnish culture and society.

Every author does research for their books. E.g. police procedures and medical procedures for crime novels. This is necessary, and you can get fairly close to the real thing with outside knowledge from specialists.

But you cannot get all the details of life in the country you have never seen yourself. The book is set in Finland only in your mind, but definitely not in the real Finland. It's like a virgin trying to write about sex. Also, it is borderline-fraudulent, as the reader thinks you know Finland well.

If you cannot afford to come to Finland, set the story of our book in your home country.

Upphew
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Re: A Little Help

Post by Upphew » Mon Jun 11, 2018 12:40 pm

HeartofIron wrote:
Sat Jun 09, 2018 6:35 am
I am writing something that involves me knowing something about the healthcare system in Finland. I have researched a little, but it seems that there are mixed messages depending on what you read. In the early 90's, would a child that had some sort of illness (like chronic bronchitis or something) be treated for free, or would the family have had to pay for it? The fictional family I am writing about was poor anyway, and the father gets fired. Then, there is the circumstance of one of their sons being sick. So...would they have been taken care of or would they have been in pretty dire straits? Any ideas would be appreciated. Thanks, guys. : )

J
Real fast googling suggest that out patient care was free from 1981 to 1993. If someone really wants to dig deeper in subject I suggest reading tampub.uta.fi/handle/10024/98006
http://google.com http://translate.google.com http://urbandictionary.com
Visa is for visiting, Residence Permit for residing.

FinnGuyHelsinki
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Joined: Sun Nov 08, 2009 8:52 pm

Re: A Little Help

Post by FinnGuyHelsinki » Mon Jun 11, 2018 8:59 pm

HeartofIron wrote:
Sat Jun 09, 2018 6:35 am
I am writing something that involves me knowing something about the healthcare system in Finland. I have researched a little, but it seems that there are mixed messages depending on what you read. In the early 90's, would a child that had some sort of illness (like chronic bronchitis or something) be treated for free, or would the family have had to pay for it? The fictional family I am writing about was poor anyway, and the father gets fired. Then, there is the circumstance of one of their sons being sick. So...would they have been taken care of or would they have been in pretty dire straits? Any ideas would be appreciated.
Well, it's fiction, and often there are more (important things) to any medical situation than whether or not one has had to pay something for the care. And, of course, people may have had different experiences. Then again, are such details even necessary to further the actual story, if you're not absolutely certain about something, I think it would be better to not try to describe it exactly.

HeartofIron
Posts: 44
Joined: Thu Dec 29, 2016 5:32 am
Location: Oklahoma, USA

Re: A Little Help

Post by HeartofIron » Tue Jun 12, 2018 3:12 am

wolf80 wrote:
Mon Jun 11, 2018 6:52 am
HeartofIron wrote:
Mon Jun 11, 2018 6:07 am
Well...I mean, I can't jump on a plane and go to Finland. There's a specific reason it's set there. I know there are certain nuances that you get from being there, but I have learned in my writing education that if you research thoroughly enough, you won't get laughed at (unless you leave something totally obvious out or you describe something in a weird/awkward/inaccurate way)...

Man, was really hoping for some constructive advice. Thanks.
I've been in Finland for over 6 years and not a week goes by without me learning something new about Finnish culture and society.

Every author does research for their books. E.g. police procedures and medical procedures for crime novels. This is necessary, and you can get fairly close to the real thing with outside knowledge from specialists.

But you cannot get all the details of life in the country you have never seen yourself. The book is set in Finland only in your mind, but definitely not in the real Finland. It's like a virgin trying to write about sex. Also, it is borderline-fraudulent, as the reader thinks you know Finland well.

If you cannot afford to come to Finland, set the story of our book in your home country.

I see what you're saying there. I'm sorry I replied rudely; I just got frustrated and acted childish. (I'd also like to add that I am a virgin and have written a pretty good sex scene or two lol...but that's not the point laughs). Anyway, I see what you mean by having to be there and get the full picture. I was watching a video last night of a drone flying over Helsinki, and I was thinking about how different it would be to really be there... Thank you for at least giving feedback. : )
Is all that we see or seem
But a dream within a dream?
-Poe

HeartofIron
Posts: 44
Joined: Thu Dec 29, 2016 5:32 am
Location: Oklahoma, USA

Re: A Little Help

Post by HeartofIron » Tue Jun 12, 2018 3:13 am

Upphew wrote:
Mon Jun 11, 2018 12:40 pm
HeartofIron wrote:
Sat Jun 09, 2018 6:35 am
I am writing something that involves me knowing something about the healthcare system in Finland. I have researched a little, but it seems that there are mixed messages depending on what you read. In the early 90's, would a child that had some sort of illness (like chronic bronchitis or something) be treated for free, or would the family have had to pay for it? The fictional family I am writing about was poor anyway, and the father gets fired. Then, there is the circumstance of one of their sons being sick. So...would they have been taken care of or would they have been in pretty dire straits? Any ideas would be appreciated. Thanks, guys. : )

J
Real fast googling suggest that out patient care was free from 1981 to 1993. If someone really wants to dig deeper in subject I suggest reading tampub.uta.fi/handle/10024/98006
Thank you so much. : )
Is all that we see or seem
But a dream within a dream?
-Poe

HeartofIron
Posts: 44
Joined: Thu Dec 29, 2016 5:32 am
Location: Oklahoma, USA

Re: A Little Help

Post by HeartofIron » Tue Jun 12, 2018 3:15 am

FinnGuyHelsinki wrote:
Mon Jun 11, 2018 8:59 pm
HeartofIron wrote:
Sat Jun 09, 2018 6:35 am
I am writing something that involves me knowing something about the healthcare system in Finland. I have researched a little, but it seems that there are mixed messages depending on what you read. In the early 90's, would a child that had some sort of illness (like chronic bronchitis or something) be treated for free, or would the family have had to pay for it? The fictional family I am writing about was poor anyway, and the father gets fired. Then, there is the circumstance of one of their sons being sick. So...would they have been taken care of or would they have been in pretty dire straits? Any ideas would be appreciated.
Well, it's fiction, and often there are more (important things) to any medical situation than whether or not one has had to pay something for the care. And, of course, people may have had different experiences. Then again, are such details even necessary to further the actual story, if you're not absolutely certain about something, I think it would be better to not try to describe it exactly.
That's true. Part of it was that I needed them to be sort of in a bad situation, and whether or not they had to face the cost of healthcare would be crucial, but I probably won't go into it in the story. Thank you for your feedback! : )
Is all that we see or seem
But a dream within a dream?
-Poe

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Kössi K
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Joined: Wed Jan 14, 2015 7:06 pm

Re: A Little Help

Post by Kössi K » Thu Aug 09, 2018 1:32 pm

Well, as an older Finn, I can tell you at least that if you'd compare an identical situation of a family who suddenly gets into financial difficulty (or already is poor, either way) and then faces a healthcare crisis for their kid, and a comparison of this same situation between the USA and in Finland, are like night and day.

In the US, I'd believe the family is pretty much screwed, the kid will get worse if doesn't get treatment or the parents need to miraculously get massive amounts of money somehow, to get even a few days at the hospital for the kid.
In Finland, (after 1993 or now), the kid would be admitted to the hospital and the costs would be minimal - compared to US hospital bills, at least.

Let's say, a day at the hospital (according to some general article online) is 2,000 dollars per day (or more in some places, I'm sure). The imaginary patient could be there for treatments for, say, bronchitis. In Finland, the hospital day for the patient will cost 38,80 euros. For the county/city, the hospital day per patient is calculated to cost approx. 500 eur). I'd imagine the daily costs were pretty similar back in the 90s too, not radically different anyway. And if under 18, they'd only charge for the first 7 days per year for the hospital stays.
Visiting a GP in the public healthcare costs currently 36.90 eur, and if patient is under 18, it is free.
There may be a few euros differences between some the public hospitals in different towns, but generally the rates are very similar across the field, with as little variation as possible.

So, for a story based in this family's situation in Finland, you can't really generate any major drama just based on a kid's illness and healthcare costs thereof.
Joha mie sanoi, vaikken mittää virkkant.

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Kössi K
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Re: A Little Help

Post by Kössi K » Fri Aug 10, 2018 7:19 am

Shameless double posting because the timing was so great. An article relevant to what was mentioned above about the cost of medical care and hospital stays.

Here's a link to a piece of news from yesterday (quite frankly though, this should be no news to Finns who have spent any time at the hospital or know someone who has) - but hey, this guy may have been lucky, not knowing the actual total costs before. I guess the article was written because this guy wanted to highlight the cost differences and share it with is American friends (and the world), too.
https://www.is.fi/kotimaa/art-2000005786092.html

edit, added:
And reading some of the commentary after that article just makes me eyeroll and sigh at my fellow countrymen. Some of the whiners whining about "I thought it was all completely free!" do not even realize how much worse it could be.
Sure, everything could always be even better and free (like in Canada, someone said?) and we'd all be !"#¤% rainbows.
/endrant
Joha mie sanoi, vaikken mittää virkkant.


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