Expense compensation and allowances

The following medical expenses for the necessary treatment of an occupational injury or disease are eligible for compensation:

• Required medical treatment and examinations administered and prescribed by a physician in a private or public medical facility, such as medical fees, outpatient fees and hospital treatment costs
• Medications and medical supplies
• Medical rehabilitation

Mela also provides compensation for essential and reasonable travel and accommodation costs related to medical treatment. However, trips to the pharmacy and parking fees are not eligible for compensation.

The compensation for the use of your own car is half of the tax-exempt kilometre allowance confirmed annually by the Finnish Tax Administration.

For occupational injuries that occurred or were manifested before 1 January 2016, travel expenses are compensated in accordance with the Farmers’ Accident Insurance Act, in which case parking fees are also eligible for compensation. If the duration of the travel was over 6 hours, you are also eligible for a per diem allowance.

Claims must be submitted within one year of the date on which the expenses were incurred.

Medical rehabilitation is also eligible for compensation as part of medical treatment and includes the following:

• Rehabilitation counselling and guidance
• Evaluation of your functional abilities and work ability
• Evaluation of your need for rehabilitation, including rehabilitation examination
• Therapies required for improving and maintaining your functional abilities
• Adjustment training

In addition, compensation is also provided for rehabilitation equipment, for example:

• Crutches
• Wheelchairs
• Shower chairs
• Orthoses
• Prostheses
• Special cooking utensils
• Special eating utensils
• Guide dogs

Applying for compensation

Claims for the following expenses must be submitted within one year of the date on which the expenses were incurred:

• Medications and medical supplies
• Travel and accommodation expenses for treatment
• Travel and accommodation expenses for medical rehabilitation

The planning and organisation of your medical rehabilitation is the responsibility of the medical specialist or primary care unit that is treating you. Based on your medical rehabilitation plan, Mela will evaluate compensation for your medical rehabilitation. With the exception of travel and accommodation expenses, you do not need to apply separately for compensation for medical rehabilitation expenses.

Occupational rehabilitation may also include rehabilitation aimed at improving and maintaining your functional abilities.

These forms of rehabilitation include the following:

• Rehabilitation equipment needed for everyday functioning
• Essential home modifications
• Additional costs of service housing
• Interpreting services
• Participation of a family member in your adjustment training
• Travel and accommodation expenses for rehabilitation. Remember to submit claims for travel and accommodation expenses within one year of the date on which the expenses were incurred.

You may receive compensation for items that were broken in connection with your occupational accident if they were being used by you at the time of the accident.

The following items are eligible for compensation if broken:

• Eyeglasses
• Hearing aids
• Dental prosthesis
• Prosthetic limbs
• Orthoses
• Braces

Mela does not provide compensation for other items broken as a result of the accident. Compensation for other items may be available from your home insurance.

Mela does provide compensation for repairing clothes that have to be cut and rings that are broken while receiving treatment.

Applying for compensation

You can submit a claim for compensation for a broken item by submitting a copy of the repair receipt. If the item is beyond repair, submit a copy of the purchase receipt for a replacement.

Claims must be submitted within one year of the date on which the expenses were incurred.

You may receive compensation for essential home care expenses if you are unable to perform domestic work due to an occupational accident or disease and must pay for home care services.

Home care assistance is provided for cleaning, washing clothes, essential shopping, caring for children and other similar domestic work. When assessing the need for home care, Mela also evaluates the abilities of other family members to look after your home.

Compensation for essential home care expenses is available for a maximum period of one year after the accident.

Farmers’ stand-in expenses

The expenses of farmer’ stand-ins are not eligible for compensation as essential home care expenses. However, if the stand-in also performs domestic work for the farmer, these home care expenses may be compensated.

Applying for compensation

You can submit a claim for compensation for essential home care expenses by submitting copies of receipts or invoices that have paid for these expenses. Claims must be submitted within one year of the date on which the expenses were incurred.

You may receive compensation for loss of earnings for examination periods if your medical examinations require you to be absent from work without income.

Compensation for loss of earnings is available if:

• The medical examination was required to clarify the injury
• The work disability was caused by the medical examination
• The travel was required for the medical examination

Compensation may be paid even if the injury itself is not eligible for compensation.

Compensation for loss of earnings for examination periods is available only for occupational injuries that occurred or were manifested after 1 January 2016.

Payment of compensation

Compensation for loss of earnings is available for a maximum of 7 days. The 7-day period may comprise multiple examinations on different dates.

Compensation is paid only for days on which the daily duration of the medical examination and resulting work disability, including travel, is more than 6 hours.

Compensation for loss of earnings is available only for income from the work insured by Mela.

Applying for compensation

Claims must be submitted within one year of the date on which the expenses were incurred.

You may receive a care allowance if you require external care, assistance, supervision or guidance to function in your everyday life, for example for dressing, washing, eating and moving.

Care allowances are not paid for periods during which you receive care at a hospital or other treatment facility. These periods should be notified to Mela without delay.

Care allowances do not have to be applied for separately. Mela evaluates your eligibility for receiving a care allowance based on the medical reports we receive.

For occupational accidents and diseases that occurred or were manifested before 1 January 2016, care allowances are paid in accordance with the Farmers’ Accident Insurance Act as compensation for functional limitation.

You may receive a clothing allowance if the rehabilitation equipment you use as a result of an occupational accident or disease for at least three months without interruption causes severe wear on your clothing. This type of rehabilitation equipment includes, for example, a brace, orthosis or prosthesis.

Clothing allowances are not paid for periods during which you receive care at a hospital or other treatment facility. These periods should be notified to Mela without delay.

Clothing allowances do not have to be applied for separately. Mela evaluates your eligibility for receiving a clothing allowance based on the medical reports we receive.