child night urgent clinic fee?

[dreamstep]

7-year-old Child had a fever in the evening and went to urgent clinic (päivystys) in Helsinki Pediatric Hospital (public hospital), waiting for the doctor to see until mid-night. Only a urine test was done. No prescription, etc. Then came home.
It came a bill of 32,70 euros (Päivystyspoliklinikka).
Is it normal fee, or a mistake of billing?

[Beep_Boop]

That sounds a bit right

[betelgeuse]

That sounds a bit right

Indeed: http://www.hel.fi/www/sote/fi/palvelut/ ... ystysmaksu

[dreamstep]

Some people nearby told me that they never go to "terveysasema", but only to private clinics, even though it's more expensive. Is it really better in private clinics and hospitals? What is the way to cover such costs, to buy insurance? What is the best insurance to buy?

[Rip]

Is it really better in private clinics and hospitals?

Mostly it's faster. Also you get to see (if necessary) specialist before going to see the general "gatekeeper".

What is the way to cover such costs, to buy insurance?

Those are popular. You should understand though that the insurance companies are not charitable institutions. On average they make money, not donate it to their customers. So if your kids is fairly healthy you'd spend less money paying even private fees from your own pocket. Also, if there are truly serious problems you're quickly back in the public system again (which luckily isn't that bad, especially with children with serious health problems).

We don't have an insurance, but my guess is that if you had had one you would have gotten the same level of care (I assume they did what was needed in public, like I hope they don't for example prescribe unnecessary antibiotics in the private clinics) with waiting time less than 15 minutes from the private sector. You would pay several hundred euros (as I said, we don't have one so I should check the price level) annually for that extra comfort.