Freedom of choice pilot for people over 65
Specialist in the article
Revised 8/12/2025
Freedom of choice pilot for those aged 65 and over briefly
- General practitioner. During the pilot, individuals aged 65 and over can visit a private general practitioner for €28.20.
- Doctor visits. In 2025, you can visit a doctor twice. In 2026 and 2027, you can visit a doctor three times per year.
- Kela reimbursement. You will receive the Kela reimbursement immediately during the doctor’s visit, so you don’t need to apply for it separately.
- Tests. The pilot also includes some laboratory and imaging tests prescribed by the doctor. You will pay half of the cost of the tests.
Services included in the freedom of choice pilot
General practitioner appointments: The pilot covers general practitioner appointments for individuals aged 65 and over. Only some of Mehiläinen’s doctors participate in the freedom of choice pilot. You can book appointments with other general practitioners, but these visits are not eligible for reimbursement under the pilot.
Laboratory and imaging tests: The pilot partially reimburses some tests prescribed by the doctor, such as blood tests, urine tests, electrocardiograms (ECG), and chest X-rays.
Driver’s license certificate: Driver’s license certificates are not included in the pilot.
Locations: The pilot will be implemented in specific locations, which will be announced closer to the start of the pilot.
Appointment booking: Appointment booking opens on September 1. Once booking opens, you can book an appointment with specific doctors via the website, the OmaMehiläinen app, or by calling customer service.
Sample Collection Fee 30 € per sample collection. Self-responsibility 15 € per sample collection.
Laboratory tests:
- Complete Blood Count and Platelets (B-PVK+T): Price 6 €. Self-responsibility 3 €.
- Sodium (S-Na): Price 4 €. Self-responsibility 2 €.
- Potassium (S-K): Price 4 €. Self-responsibility 2 €.
- Creatinine (fS-Krea): Price 4 €. Self-responsibility 2 €.
- C-Reactive Protein (S-CRP): Price 6 €. Self-responsibility 3 €.
- Alanine Aminotransferase (S-ALAT): Price 4 €. Self-responsibility 2 €.
- Alkaline Phosphatase (P-AFOS): Price 4 €. Self-responsibility 2 €.
- Bilirubin (S-Bil): Price 4 €. Self-responsibility 2 €.
- Glucose (fP-Gluk): Price 4 €. Self-responsibility 2 €.
- Hemoglobin A1c (B-HbA1c): Price 12 €. Self-responsibility 6 €.
- Chemical Screening (U-KemSeul): Price 8 €. Self-responsibility 4 €.
- Bacteria, Culture (U-BaktVi): Price 12 €. Self-responsibility 6 €.
- Cholesterol (fS-Kol): Price 4 €. Self-responsibility 2 €.
- Cholesterol (fS-Kol-HDL): Price 4 €. Self-responsibility 2 €.
- Cholesterol (fS-Kol-LDL): Price 4 €. Self-responsibility 2 €.
- Triglycerides (fS-Trigly): Price 4 €. Self-responsibility 2 €.
- Thyrotropin (S-TSH): Price 12 €. Self-responsibility 6 €.
- Free Thyroxine: Price 12 €. Self-responsibility 6 €.
- Prostate-Specific Antigen: Price 12 €. Self-responsibility 6 €.
- Albumin-to-Creatinine Ratio (U-AlbKre): Price 14 €. Self-responsibility 7 €.
Other services:
- ECG, 12 leads at rest: Price 47 €. Self-responsibility 23,5 €.
- Chest X-ray (Thorax): Price 97 €. Self-responsibility 48,5 €.
How to book a doctor’s appointment for the freedom of choice pilot for those aged 65 and over
Appointment booking opens on September 1.
Once booking opens, you can book an appointment with specific doctors via the website, the OmaMehiläinen app, or by calling customer service.
Book by phone (local network rate/mobile charge)
- Arrive 10 minutes before your scheduled appointment.
- Check in using the OmaMehiläinen app, by showing your ID (photo ID, passport, or driver’s license) at the self-service kiosk or service desk.
- If this is your first visit to Mehiläinen, check in at the service desk. At the service desk, you will receive a form regarding the shared use of the patient register, which you can fill out while waiting.
- If you have symptoms of a respiratory infection, check in primarily using the OmaMehiläinen app. In this case, it is also advisable to wear a face mask to prevent infections.
The general practitioner will discuss your symptoms and health status with you and perform necessary physical examinations, such as examining your throat or skin, measuring blood pressure, or listening to your lungs and heart.
After basic examinations, the doctor may refer you for further tests, such as imaging or laboratory tests, to refine the diagnosis and treatment. See the list of laboratory tests included in the freedom of choice pilot.
The doctor will make a diagnosis and create a treatment plan, which may include medication, lifestyle changes, further tests, or a referral to another healthcare professional.
Preparation for a general practitioner appointment in the freedom of choice pilot
The doctor cannot access your Kanta.fi data without your permission. Grant persmission in Kanta.fiExternal link if you want the doctor to see your previous records. Previous health records are often invaluable for treatment planning and ensuring patient safety.
You can also note down or recall the following information if it applies to you:
- Symptoms and conditions: Be prepared to discuss current symptoms, conditions, and any concerns.
- Medications: List your current medications and any drug allergies. If you are taking multiple medications, bring your medication list for the doctor to review.
- Test results: Previous test results and measurements, such as blood pressure, blood sugar, or PEF monitoring, which are usually available in OmaKanta if consent for data visibility has been granted.
- Hereditary risk factors: Hereditary risk factors, such as dementia, cancer, or blood clots in close relatives, or other family health conditions.
- Companion: You can bring a companion or family member to the appointment to help provide additional information.
Frequently asked questions about the freedom of choice pilot for those aged 65 and over
In the freedom of choice pilot, individuals aged 65 and over can visit a private general practitioner for a co-payment equivalent to the public healthcare client fee, which is €28.20. Customers can choose their doctor and healthcare provider from the participating service providers. Additionally, 50% of the cost of the most commonly needed and specifically defined laboratory tests is reimbursed.
During a calendar year, three general practitioner visits are reimbursed.
General practitioner visits:
- In 2025, two general practitioner visits will be reimbursed, as the pilot begins on September 1, 2025.
- In 2026, three general practitioner visits will be reimbursed.
- In 2027, three general practitioner visits will also be reimbursed.
Additionally, tests are reimbursed for up to three prescriptions, as only tests prescribed during a pilot-covered doctor’s visit are eligible for reimbursement.
No, you cannot. Only some of Mehiläinen’s doctors accept customers aged 65 and over under the freedom of choice pilot. You can book an appointment with other general practitioners, but these visits will not be eligible for reimbursement under the pilot.
Yes, you can. Please note that in 2025, a total of two general practitioner visits are reimbursed, and in 2026, a total of three general practitioner visits are reimbursed.
Yes. Previous health and examination records are usually available in OmaKanta, provided you have granted consent for the data to be visible. Additionally, information recorded during visits to Mehiläinen will also be updated in OmaKanta.
The aim of the freedom of choice pilot is to improve access to primary healthcare-level services for individuals aged 65 and over, strengthen customer choice, and enable more equitable access to private healthcare. This, in turn, may help reduce the burden on wellbeing services counties. The pilot also aims to develop Kela reimbursements (e.g., testing price caps) and enhance the effectiveness of reimbursements as part of the overall healthcare system.