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Persons insured in other countries

As a rule, work performed in Finland must be insured in Finland. The employee’s nationality does not affect the duty to take out insurance. An exception to this rule are posted workers from the EU or EEA Member States, Switzerland, or countries that have signed the European Convention on Social Security . A posted worker is issued the certificate A1 demonstrating that the worker’s insurance cover has been taken out in the country of origin and there is no need to insure him/her in Finland.

TVK can compensate medical benefits arising in Finland from an occupational accident or disease in the following cases:

  • a posted worker from an EU or EEA Member State, Switzerland or signatory country to the European Convention on Social Security is injured in an occupational accident or exposed to an agent causing occupational disease in Finland, and the posted worker has a valid A1 certificate from their country of origin at the time of the incident;
  • an employee is injured in an occupational accident or exposed to a factor causing an occupational disease while abroad in an EU or EEA Member State, Switzerland or a signatory country to the European Convention on Social Security, after which the employee moves or returns to Finland.

If a posted worker suffers an occupational accident or is diagnosed with an occupational disease, the employer must contact TVK. Cash benefits, such as compensation for loss of income, are paid by the country where the posted worker is insured.

EU Member states: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden.

EEA Member states: Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway.

Signatories to the European Convention on Social Security in matters of occupational accidents and diseases: Israel, Quebec.

Payment authorisation from a competent institution

The competent institution decides whether the occupational accident or occupational disease is covered. In the case of posted workers, the competent authority is the social security institution of the country of origin. If a person has been injured in an occupational accident or exposed to a factor causing an occupational disease abroad and has since then moved to Finland, the competent country to decide on compensability is the country where the person has been insured. Usually, this is the country of posting where the accident or occupational disease occurred.

TVK must always ask the competent country for a payment authorisation before it can pay compensation. If no payment authorisation is received, compensation cannot be paid for the expenses incurred in Finland.

In cases where a payment authorisation must be requested from the competent country, processing the claim may take up to several months.

What is compensated?

In Finland, TVK pays out compensation in accordance with the Workers’ Compensation Act. After obtaining a payment authorisation, TVK may pay compensation for medical benefits (in-kind benefits) for the occupational accident. These include:

  • medical expenses (examination and treatment of the injury or illness);
  • medication expenses and health care supplies;
  • travel and accommodation expenses;
  • expenses arising from medical rehabilitation provided as medical treatment; and
  • expenses arising from medical rehabilitation aids.

The injured employee can send invoices related to the matter to TVK even if they are uncertain whether they are covered.

After TVK has processed the claim application, the claim decision is sent to the injured employee. The employee may appeal the decision.

Information of the posted worker

In the event of an occupational accident or disease of a posted worker, the following information must be submitted to TVK:

  • the injured person’s personal details and address, both in the home country and the country of work;
  • the employer’s name and address; and
  • information about the posted worker’s certificate (A1 form) or a copy of the certificate

The health care provider usually sends the invoices payable for medical care and other documents to TVK. The employee or the employer can also send the invoices related to the accident, such as travel and medication expenses, to TVK.

If the injured person has been posted abroad from Finland, the accident or disease case will be processed by the employer’s insurer.

Occupational accident and occupational disease while working abroad

If the occupational accident or exposure to an occupational disease has occurred outside Finland in an EU or EEA Member State, Switzerland or a signatory country to the European Convention on Social Security and the injured or ill employee receives medical care after moving or returning to Finland, the following information must be reported to TVK:

  • personal information and address of the injured person
  • name and address of the employer at the time of the incident.

In addition, TVK requires the following documents:

  • medical reports
  • bills incurred in Finland due to the occupational accident (such as travel and medication costs)
  • any other documents related to the occupational accident.