Kela, OmaKanta and Keva
At the beginning of this module, I familiarized myself with national platforms that manage benefits, health records, and pension information. All of these were already familiar to me, but to be honest, I rarely use them. Recently, I’ve visited Kela’s website mainly to pay the healthcare fee for higher education students. At work, I do handle clients’ Kela-related matters, but professional rights in the “Kelmu” -service are quite limited. I’ve had a European Health Insurance Card for years, and the fact that a new card is sent to my home automatically without a separate request is a very convenient feature.
I’ve only accessed Omakanta occasionally, usually when I’ve needed to interact with healthcare services. I find it surprising how confusing the service can be overall and how difficult it sometimes is to locate the information I need. On Keva’s website, I recently checked my pension details and learned that my retirement age is currently 67 years and two months. If I managed to work until the age of 69, my pension would increase by over 200 €. However, working until nearly 70 years old would require excellent health, so it remains to be seen how many of us can achieve that!
Accessing all of the above-mentioned services requires strong authentication, which I believe makes them trustworthy. Strong authentication is the only viable method for platforms dealing with sensitive health and financial information.
DIGITAL SHOPS
I browsed through well-known online stores like Amazon, Temu, and Aliexpress, as well as a few travel and accommodation platforms. I’ve made some hotel bookings myself, for example, through Trivago, but I approach their pricing strategies with some skepticism. If they offer daily deals, what is the actual benefit?
For instance, I compared Instax Mini Polaroid cameras. On Amazon, one costs 81€, but surprisingly, during a Black Week offer, Clas Ohlson had it for 69€. Meanwhile, Verkkokauppa.com listed the same product for over 100€. Comparison shopping pays off, as long as you recognize which platforms are safe to buy from. Massive online stores offering goods at very low prices also raise questions about their reliability.
A few years ago, I had made some purchases on Amazon until one order arrived from China with quality reflecting that origin. Later, I tried ordering flip-flops, but the order never arrived, and my attempts to contact customer service through Amazon were ignored. I lost my money—and Amazon lost a customer.
I don’t trust online discount stores, and their operations often involve ethical concerns. For this reason, I prefer brick-and-mortar stores and domestic online shops that disclose the origin of their products. I also appreciate being able to communicate with the seller if needed. I still occasionally order LP records from abroad, but only through online stores directly marketed by the bands themselves.
SERVICES IN MY FIELD
There aren’t many online applications specifically for the social sector, as they are mostly part of public services that utilize tools like electronic forms. For this reason, I broadened my exploration to include social and healthcare services and, through that, therapy services. During the COVID-19 pandemic, therapists expanded their services to include online-sessions, and as a result, virtual meetings became an established option for therapy.
Terapiatalo Noste is a nationwide online service of Kela-approved therapists, offering appointments with very short waiting times, sometimes even on the same day. Therapists indicate on the site whether they have available slots or are able to take on new clients, and appointments can easily be booked online.
The downside of the service is that sessions lasting less than an hour can cost up to 100€. For those receiving Kela-supported therapy, however, the cost is comparable to a standard therapy session. If the price isn’t an issue, the service is very convenient and, thanks to remote options, provides access to help regardless of location.
I believe this kind of service could be particularly beneficial for individuals facing a sudden crisis in their lives. The mention on the homepage that Noste is an official service provider for Kela also builds trust.
THE DIGITAL GAP
What about those for whom virtual and digital services present challenges? Considering, for example, the previously mentioned Noste’s remote therapy sessions, successful participation requires installing an app that enables video calls, along with a functioning camera and microphone connection. In practice, the client must have a smartphone and the ability to navigate an online booking system. They also need to know how to use the internet and manage their finances to pay the invoice when it arrives.
Amid all this technological advancement, there are still many people who lack the appropriate device, money, or skills to access these services. In other blog posts, I’ve reflected on how, as digitalization progresses, it’s essential to ensure that services remain accessible to those who either cannot or do not want to use digital services.
DIGITAL COMPETENCE
The digital competence test didn’t bring any major surprises. However, it was fun to receive a detailed chart that reinforced my own perceptions. The low percentages in the production section were mostly amusing, though I fully believe they are accurate.
The chart confirmed that I am quite familiar with legal restrictions and security-related issues, as I need to consider them in my work. However, my knowledge and skills in digital solutions are abysmal. The chart reflects my strengths and weaknesses throughout this course and clearly highlights the areas where improvement is needed.
Self-Assessment
Reflecting on digital services more broadly than usual has been refreshing, and I particularly enjoyed taking the test. I haven’t considered myself a very digitally oriented person, but evidently, I use digital services quite a lot and, moreover, without any issues.
Blogs I Commented On:
- Satu-Riikka Hatikka’s Blog
- Karoliina’s Thoughts Blog
- Seija’s Site