**giving birth without KELA card please any idea**

[somon3]

Hello
My husband has worked in Tampere as a researcher for 6 months. Since he is a researcher, they give us B tipe visa. Also he is not a student and I am not working so they did not give me Kela card. First question, we are not student in here so is there any chance they give us A visa type? Second if I were pregnat what woul I do? Do ı have to pay all the labor fee and are there any person who has any idea how much it can be..thank

[Rip]

Do ı have to pay all the labor fee and are there any person who has any idea how much it can be..thank

In Helsinki couple of years ago they wanted € 3500 in advance. Final billing would have been based on costs (refund or additional charge depending on the case), about € 2000 for an easy case, 3500 for caesarean (without signifacnt additional problems).

[somon3]

Thank you..

[somon3]

are these costs for private hospitals?

[Rip]

are these costs for private hospitals?

There are no private hospitals here that take care of childbirth. Costs are (were) for Helsinki area public hospitals in the case the mother-to-be was not KELA insured.

- and except for the 3500 advance fee there were only estimates of typical costs.

[somon3]

If I have a A type visa can I get KELA card? With kela card how much money do I have to pay for the labor? My husband works here but they give B type visa am ı wrong is B type visa for the students? we are not students then

[Rip]

If I have a A type visa can I get KELA card?

The proper term is a "residence permit" (not visa) but, I at least think so, yes. If my reading of the law text is right, the actual condition for KELA insurance for employed person and a family member is "permanent" work contract, or a work contract with at least 2 year duration. (I really do not know how they woul treat successive shorter term contracts if the total duration goes over the two year limit)

With kela card how much money do I have to pay for the labor?

You could ask this directly from the hospital, but (assuming only mother stayed full time there - double the cost for "family room") couple of years ago the costs were € 26 multiplied by the number of days stayed at the hospital.

My husband works here but they give B type visa am ı wrong is B type visa for the students?

It is also for employed people whose employment is considered "temporary" in nature. It is possible that there is no exact connection between KELA insurance and 'A' permit (although it must be at least roughly so).

[Niblet]

I recently gave birth and a vaginal birth without complications on gas and air only and one night in hospital cost around 1600 euros. They ask for 3500 euros up front, but I went into labour before my hospital pre-birth visit, so didn't have to pay upfront.

I paid 60 euros per visit to attend a private midwife plus 60 euros to have my bloods done. The local neuvola wouldn't see me as I didn't have a social security number. They also wouldn't see the baby after the birth until she got her number. I did get to see a paediatrician a couple of days after her birth, so that may have also been included in the above cost.

If you don't have a Finnish social security number you will have to go private for your antenatal care and for your post birth care, but they will deliver your baby at a public hospital.

We couldn't get a KELA card as my partner only had a one year work contract. I was told if he got a year's extension we could apply for KELA.

HTH

[Rip]

but I went into labour before my hospital pre-birth visit, so didn't have to pay upfront

The charge for the pre-birth visit would have been about 200€, so the ~2000€ low estimate seems to be pretty well valid.

Unfortunately there is no upper limit for the costs without insurance, so if there is a chance to avoid that, I would recommend it...

[somon3]

''We couldn't get a KELA card as my partner only had a one year work contract. I was told if he got a year's extension we could apply for KELA. ''


Thanks for sharing this information. I have my Finnish security number. My husband's work contract extends one year one year. For example if my husband gets 1 year extension next year it means that we can apply for KELA. First we came (6 months ago) here my husband had 6 months contract and then now we have 1 year contract which will be valided until December 2011. So we have to wait until the other extension which will be between December 2011- December 2012. Am ı right?

[somon3]

'' one night in hospital cost around 1600 euros. They ask for 3500 euros up front, but I went into labour before my hospital pre-birth visit, so didn't have to pay upfront.

I paid 60 euros per visit to attend a private midwife plus 60 euros to have my bloods done. The local neuvola wouldn't see me as I didn't have a social security number.''

Did you mean that your total birth cost is 1600 euros or 3500 euros? '' I went into labour before my hospital pre-birth visit, so didn't have to pay upfront'' you mean that you went for ultrasound or blood test before you birth to the same hospital? In Tampere I searched and I think there are some small maternity clinics which are free of charge. But I think for the birth you have to go to hospital.

[Rip]

Did you mean that your total birth cost is 1600 euros or 3500 euros?

Consider the 3500 as an advance deposit. I she had had the time to pay it, she would have got a 1900 € refund as the actual cost to hospital turned out be less than the deposit. This is Helsinki area policy, the policy might be different in Tampere, but highly likely the final prices are not much different.

ultrasound or blood test before you birth to the same hospital?

At least in Helsinki they want you to see at the hospital where you intend the delivery to take place a few weeks in advance. There is an ultrasound examination (and perhaps other tests, I do not remember), basically for making preliminary evaluation of the situation for the actual labour.

In Tampere I searched and I think there are some small maternity clinics which are free of charge.

Good for you, if they really are free. Perhaps the Tampere region is bit more generous then... Deliveries will happen in hospitals there as well.

As far as I can tell, your interpretation of the situation regarding KELA insurance and work contract extensions is correct - so you would be eligible after the next work contract extension.

[somon3]

In Tampere I searched and I think there are some small maternity clinics which are free of charge.

I mean these clinics are not for delivering the baby. They are for just controling the pregnancy.

[Rip]

I mean these clinics are not for delivering the baby. They are for just controling the pregnancy.

I fully understood. I meant that you are somewhat lucky if even those are free.

[Niblet]

Thanks Rip, sorry I didn't respond been busy. But you translated all my mutterings perfectly, thanks.

I had my bloods and ultrasound done at the clinic I went to and had a pre-birth visit planned when I was told they wanted the whole 3500 euros up front, so glad I went into labour early.

I ended up only paying 65 euros as my government has an agreement with Finland to pay most of the costs for these kind of health issues if you organise it all up front. That form showed up 2 days before baby did, thank goodness.