Kela
The Social Insurance Institution of Finland – Kela is an agency that attends to social security coverage concerns of people living in Finland and Finnish people living abroad. I was recalling which benefits of Kela I have been using in the past. So far there were not that many, but during the time when I was earning my bachelor’s degree, I received study grant as well as general housing allowance. Nowadays, as I am attending a university of applied sciences, I am obliged to pay healthcare fee for students in higher education and hence, I am entitled to use Finnish Student Health Services (FSHS) with health concerns like mental health and oral health care. (Kela 2021.)
I have had a European health care card for around 10 years, I always carry it with me in my wallet as I travel a lot, but I have never used it. With this card I am entitled to receive essential medical treatment during my temporary stay within EU and ETA states, as well as, in Switzerland, Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The costs and practices should be the same as what local residents would pay, both in public service health sector and with designated private operators. (Kela 2022.) When the expiry date gets closer, I automatically receive a new card without having to apply for it separately, which is very handy. Out of curiosity, I tried to find more detailed information, such as, to whom I have given permission to utilize my health data or what kind of information health service professionals would have on me (if any) if I reached them when abroad, but unfortunately, I was not able to find that.
Omakanta
Omakanta is a medical report service where a person can explore own health information details, such as visits and referrals to doctors and nurses, diagnoses, laboratory tests and X-ray examinations, vaccination information; wellbeing data, details of medical prescriptions (validity, dosage instructions, when, where and who has prescribed the medication etc.), as well as medical certificates. In addition, one can request for a renewal of medical prescriptions, as well as express own wish regarding organ donation and living will. A person has a choice whether to agree with a process of storing, processing and sharing own patient data and medical prescriptions between different service providers, or not. All the information is gathered from interactions with public, private and occupational health care providers. A parent or a guardian can access all the above-mentioned information of their underage children. (Kanta 2020.)
I have not been using much Omakanta-service apart from the matters related to COVID-19; I have downloaded my vaccination certificates or checked the test results. I authenticated myself in Omakanta using my online banking credentials, which is one of the Suomi.fi recognition alternatives for verifying data at population information system. The Digital and Population Data Services Agency is liable for identification, and during the process of data transmission such details as name, social security number, e-mail and address are being forwarded. The service is a strong digital authentication method and it should ensure safety and security of processing personal data. (Suomi.fi 2022.)
Keva
Keva is a pension agency in Finland. I was unable to proceed with Keva-service further than an authentication phase, as I am not their customer since I am not working in the public sector. I was advised to access either pension insurance company’s online service (which is in my case Ilmarinen) or a website työeläke.fi. First, I tried logging in to the latter, but it still navigated me to Ilmarinen. According to the data I found, I could retire at the earliest when I will be 67 years and 9 months old, in 2060. I choose not to disclose the amount of my pension, as I consider it as quite sensitive information. Accumulation of my pension will cease when I turn 70 and those several years do not bring remarkable difference to the amount, as it will increase only about 300 euros.