What occupational healthcare includes in Finland — prevention, medical care and limits
Editorial update 26.10.2026
Authors: Valtteri Järvenpää, physician and Jussi Kurikka, physician · StartHealth
Occupational healthcare (työterveyshuolto in Finnish) includes preventive activity based on the work's needs. General medical care is an optional addition purchased by the employer. The expression “occupational-health package” alone does not tell you whether it includes a physician, psychologist, physiotherapist or physical examinations.
Preventive occupational healthcare
A workplace assessment (työpaikkaselvitys) evaluates the health significance of work, working conditions and workload. Activity is planned on that basis: an action plan (toimintasuunnitelma), necessary health examinations, advice and guidance, and work-ability support. Examination needs do not arise automatically from each recruitment or a particular age.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration's organising guidance and workplace-assessment guidance describe the starting point.
Optional medical care
The agreement defines appointments, tests, referrals and boundaries. Not all specialist services, imaging or long-term treatment automatically belong to occupational healthcare or Kela reimbursement. Kela is Finland's Social Insurance Institution. Reimbursable employer medical care is purchased from the same provider as preventive care; specialist consultations are subject to conditions. See Kela's reimbursable-care guidance. The Finnish korvausluokka I/II terms refer to reimbursement category I for preventive care and category II for medical care, not a guarantee that any package is reimbursed in full.
StartHealth's packages in practice
| Package | Content | Main boundary |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum | Preventive occupational healthcare | No medical care |
| Basic | Minimum and remote physician appointments; remote psychologist appointments and physiotherapy guidance following physician assessment | A professional assesses remote-care suitability |
| Support | Basic plus referred physical appointments and agreed tests | Test and service limits are in the agreement |
| Basic + Omply | Basic and selected remote examination devices | Quote pricing, not a replacement for every physical examination |
Psychologist visit numbers and referral conditions, and physiotherapy scope, are confirmed in the offer. Basic's remote psychologist service and Support's physical access do not mean unlimited treatment or automatic specialist care.
Ask before signing
- Which preventive activities are planned on the basis of the work?
- Which appointments are remote and when is a physical appointment arranged?
- Which tests are excluded or charged separately in the agreement?
- Which visit limits, referral and assessment conditions apply to psychologists and physiotherapists?
- How are costs itemised for Kela applications?
Compare the detailed package description and gross pricing. Record unclear scope in the offer comparison worksheet as requiring confirmation, not as included.
Next step for service and budget
Compare services · View gross prices · Request an employer quote.
Sources and currency
- Kela — arranging occupational healthcare.
- Kela — reimbursable occupational healthcare, source updated 21 October 2026.
- Occupational Safety and Health Administration — arranging occupational healthcare.
- Occupational Safety and Health Administration — workplace assessment.
Official sources checked 26 October 2026. Service descriptions are based on StartHealth's confirmed package information; the offer confirms boundaries and costs. Editorially updated content awaits clinical review. This is a faithful English equivalent of the current Finnish scope guide, with Finnish terms explained once.