In this post, I write about my own experiences with Kela and OmaKanta services, check my pension accrual in the Keva service, reflect on the use of online stores, and present a digital service from my own field: Terveyskylä.
Kela
Kela is a Finnish government agency responsible for many social security benefits. I have used Kela’s services several times throughout my life. The first time I became familiar with Kela’s services was years ago when I applied for student financial aid and general housing allowance while studying to become a nurse. At that time, if I remember correctly, benefits were still applied for using paper forms.
In my current life situation, I have become familiar with Kela’s services in matters related to family benefits. Nowadays, I mainly use Kela’s digital services on my mobile phone. OmaKela is Kela’s online service platform where users can, for example, apply for benefits, send attachments, check decisions and payment dates, and report changes. I have also used it to pay the health care fee for higher education students. Communicating through electronic messages has made everyday life easier, and thanks to digitalization, the information is stored securely and is easily accessible.
European Health Insurance Card
I have had a European Health Insurance Card for several years, and earlier this year I also ordered one for my underage children when we were going on a trip. The ordering process was easy and quick: log in to OmaKela using Suomi.fi identification, a few clicks, and the card was ordered. The card arrived within two weeks. It is especially convenient that the card is automatically renewed and sent home every two years.
Getting the card is highly recommended as an unexpected illness or accident while traveling abroad could otherwise be expensive. However, it is important to remember that the European Health Insurance Card does not replace travel insurance, it complements it.
OmaKanta
OmaKanta is a nationwide online service that allows users to, for example, view their own health records, renew prescriptions, save their organ donation and advance care directives, and manage how their data is used in social- and healthcare services.
I have used the OmaKanta service several times, for instance to check prescriptions and lab results. Most recently I renewed my children’s prescriptions and checked the doctor’s notes and planned actions. The service can be accessed by logging in with Suomi.fi identification. From my perspective the service is useful, and it is easy and smooth to use.
Keva
Inspired by this assignment, I logged into the Keva service for the first time in a while and checked my pension accrual. Although retirement still feels far away it is interesting to see how much pension has accumulated so far and what my possible retirement age might be. According to the service, my earliest retirement age is 67 years and 4 months, and the latest retirement age is 70 years. The pension amount between ages 67 and 70 differs by less than a hundred euros per month.
Terveyskylä
There is a wealth of health and wellness information available online. Sometimes it can be difficult to assess and find reliable information. Terveyskylä is a Finnish nationwide digital health service that provides trustworthy, expert-produced information about diseases, their treatment and health promotion. The service is intended for both patients and healthcare professionals.
Terveyskylä includes over 30 virtual houses (e.g. Mental Health House and Weight Management House) which offer information on various diseases and health topics. It features e.g. self-care instructions, symptom questionnaires and tools for assessing the need for treatment.
The Omapolku service within Terveyskylä offers digitally guided care pathways requiring referrals, remote consultations and self-care programs open to everyone. Logging into Omapolku is done with bank credentials, mobile certificate or an electronic ID card.
TerveyskyläPRO delivers clinical information and helps healthcare workers enhance their digital skills, for example, via web-based courses. The service has been developed by Finland’s university hospitals. Access to TerveyskyläPRO requires logging in as a social or healthcare professional.
Digital shops vs local shops
When shopping, I prefer physical stores whenever possible, but from time to time I also shop online. The reason for online shopping usually includes convenience, pricing, a wide selection and easy price comparison. However, these factors do not always determine my purchasing decisions. For example, ultra-fast fashion is often available at low prices in online stores, but considerations such as ethics, environmental impact and safety guide my shopping behaviour more. When buying clothes, I nowadays mostly favour domestic brands, which I purchase from physical stores or second-hand from flea markets or at Tori.fi.
On the other hand, I almost always make travel-related bookings, such as accommodations, through online services. For this I have used services like Hotels.com, Booking.com, Airbnb and hotel websites. In this task, I compared booking hotels via Booking.com and directly through hotel websites. I searched for accommodation in the Helsinki area for one night in early July for two people. To narrow down the comparison, I filtered the search to the highest-rated hotels. Booking.com showed many options from private hosts, but I selected a few hotels from well-known hotel chains for the comparison. The price for a hotel night through Booking.com was about twenty euros more expensive than booking directly through the hotel’s own website.
Booking.com offers a wide range of accommodation options that can be filtered with various search criteria such as price, reviews and location. Search results can also be viewed on a map, which makes finding suitable accommodation easier. Booking.com provides consumers plenty of information, including photos, customer reviews and details about services. However, some details, such as room-specific extra charges and special conditions, are not always immediately visible, which requires careful reading and attention when making a booking. On the other hand, the information on hotel websites was presented more clearly and was easier to find, which improved the user experience.
Digitalization and digital gap
More and more services, such as banking, healthcare, government services and even social interaction are moving to online nowadays. This development brings many benefits: tasks can be completed faster, information is easily accessible, and services are available around the clock. But what happens to those who are left outside digital services?
Being excluded from digital services can cause significant everyday challenges. It can increase inequality, lead to exclusion from the digital society and increase social isolation. If people can’t use online services, they might have to wait longer or not get to use them at all, which can make them miss out on things like money benefits. Digital services often also offer savings in time and money, so exclusion from them can deepen economic inequality.
The internet is a key source of information today, and lacking it weakens the ability to stay updated on news, societal issues and opportunities related to work and education. In many work and learning environments digital skills are already a basic requirement, and lack of these skills can significantly limit participation opportunities.
Everyone should have an equal opportunity to participate in society, using digital services or traditional ways. Existing digital services should be clear, accessible and user-friendly even for those with limited technological skills. Support for using these services should be readily available, and everyone should have access to the necessary devices and a reliable internet connection.
Digitalization must not exclude anyone. Instead, it should make everyday life easier and increase inclusion. By ensuring that everyone stays involved, we build a more equitable and functional society.
Digital Competence Test
According to the Digital Competence Test, my strengths are:
Self-Service: Ability and willingness to seek out and benefit from self-service solutions online.
Search: Ability to search for and find digital information, navigate among many online resources, and sort through irrelevant information.
Critical Evaluation: Ability to process, understand, and critically evaluate digital information when sending and receiving it.
The test advises using these strengths as a stepping stone to explore and learn new skills.
The three competencies with the lowest scores were:
Automation: Ability to modify or create digital solutions that can fully or partially automate and perform a task.
Production and Sharing: Ability to create, assemble parts, and modify content in many different formats, such as images, text, video, or sound.
Storage: Ability to format, organize, and store digital material while keeping both safety and accessibility in mind.
The lowest score in automation did not surprise me, as I knew it was not very familiar to me. However, I thought I would have scored slightly higher in the production and sharing area, and especially in storage. The test provided useful tips to further develop skills in these areas.
Self-reflection
Through this assignment, I had the opportunity to take a closer look at public digital services and to observe aspects such as their usability and accessibility in a different way. This task encouraged me to think more broadly about the societal role and impact of digital services on individuals’ lives, as well as the importance of including all citizens in the development of digitalization.
Exploring the Keva service sparked thoughts about the future, hopes regarding my career, maintaining work ability and my personal financial planning. I wonder what everyday life in the social and health care sector will be like in 2054, when, according to current estimates, will be my earliest retirement age.
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