While more and more people today may be married to their job, that’s what an entrepreneur really is. Entrepreneurs – take care of your own well-being too!
Work often becomes the central focus of an entrepreneur’s life. Often their own wellbeing is overshadowed by more “important” things. Also people often only become aware of health failure when the situation is already serious. Then it might threaten not only the health of the entrepreneur but also the business. However, entrepreneurs should remember that they are often the most important asset of their business and are not easily replaced.
Unfortunately, entrepreneurs often work when they are ill – you can’t afford to stay home sick. That is why preventing illness and providing occupational health care is also important for entrepreneurs. Even if there is no legal obligation to do so.
Voluntary and smart preparedness
Since the provision of occupational health care for self-employed workers is voluntary, this is often left unaddressed. The price of care might seem high, the service is not perceived to be useful or there is a general lack of information about occupational health. Many self-employed people think that they will see a doctor when the time comes.
But occupational health care is much more than treating illness. Above all, it is the prevention of illness and accidents at work. A long period of sick leave is likely to cost the entrepreneur more than any prevention.
Occupational health care for workers is a legal obligation, regardless of the number of employees.
How does a self-employed person organise their own occupational health care?
Entrepreneurs can organise their own occupational health care in different ways. It can be provided couple of different ways:
- As part of the occupational health care of other staff, in a municipal health centre
- In a private institution or provided by an occupational health professional
In principle, the occupational health care provided to self-employed workers is at general practitioner level. Specialist consultations deemed appropriate by the occupational physician are also covered by occupational health care.
Practical arrangements
As an entrepreneur, you should analyse your own working conditions and health before contacting the occupational health service. Once you know your situation, it will be easier for you to think about and plan. An occupational health professional will help you find the scope of occupational health care that best suits your needs.
Once the service provider has been selected, the entrepreneur and the occupational health service draw up an annually evaluated action plan. This plan also defines the content of the occupational health care.
Naturally, the service is also subject to a contract between the entrepreneur and the service provider. Please note that your visit to the occupational health service will be covered by an occupational health care contract.
Reimbursements for occupational health care for self-employed workers
The Social Insurance Institution (KELA) reimburses the necessary and reasonable costs of occupational health care for the entrepreneur in accordance with the provisions of the Health Insurance Act. However, the procedure for reimbursement varies depending on how you have organised your occupational health care services.
Municipal health centre
If your occupational health care is provided by a municipal health centre, the health centre will deduct the KELA reimbursement directly from your bill, so you do not need to apply for reimbursement separately.
Private institution
If your service provider is a private institution or health professional, the entrepreneur or the company they own will pay the entire bill to the service provider and claim reimbursement from KELA afterwards.
In this case, the compensation is actually paid to the entrepreneur, even if the service was paid for by the company they own. Alternatively, if you have employees, you can claim reimbursement for the costs of your own occupational health care in the same way as you claim reimbursement for occupational health care provided to employees.
Amount of occupational health care allowances
There are 2 categories of occupational health cover for self-employed persons:
- Class I includes the costs of preventive occupational health care
- Class II includes the costs of general medical care and other health care
Each year, Kela sets a maximum imputed cost per entrepreneur for each category of compensation, so that it reflects the general cost trend.
Preventive occupational health care is reimbursed at 60% and medical care at 50% of the approved necessary and reasonable costs, when the basic conditions for reimbursement are met and the service has been provided in accordance with good occupational health practice.
Conditions for compensation
Kela does not reimburse costs exceeding the maximum amount, which is fixed annually. You can check the maximum amounts for occupational health care on Kela’s website.
In addition, you can deduct the costs of occupational health care from your tax liability to the extent that they are covered by occupational health care paid by Kela. But only to the extent that Kela has not reimbursed it.
To qualify for the deduction, you must work for the company and the same services must be available to your employees. However, the deduction for the cost of occupational health care does not require that employees other than the entrepreneur had to work in the company.
Occupational health care for employees is covered in a separate article.
