Health care services
In Estonia, medical care is divided into three levels: primary or family medical care, specialized medical care and nursing care.
In other words, medical care is like a three-step staircase: in order to solve a health problem, you must first step on the first step of the staircase, i.e. go to a family doctor. At a family doctor, people are guaranteed quick counselling and the necessary examinations and treatment. If necessary, the family doctor will direct the person to the next steps of the staircase, i.e. to a medical specialist or nursing care.
If the health problem arises unexpectedly and is very serious - for example, acute illness, trauma or poisoning - the person must go to the emergency department of the hospital or call an ambulance.
Who pays for medical care?
The most important task of the Health Insurance Fund is to organise our joint health insurance in order to provide different benefits and equal quality of medical care to insured persons. In addition to other functions, the Health Insurance Fund shall enter into contracts with health care providers (family doctors, dentists, hospitals, etc.) and pay for family medical care, specialised medical care, nursing care and dental care of children for the money received from the health insurance premium. In addition, the Health Insurance Fund finances the purchase of medicinal products and medical devices and pays various financial benefits.
All persons with health insurance can view the medical invoices related to them on the Health Portal www.terviseportaal.ee, for which the Health Insurance Fund has paid the medical institutions.
Contact us
If you have any questions about health care and health insurance, please contact the Customer Service of the Health Insurance Fund. We will respond quickly and, if necessary, involve healthcare professionals to provide the best response to your query. You will receive an answer within an average of 5 working days, but no later than within 30 calendar days.
It is possible to use Estonian, English and Russian language while calling to the Health Insurance Fund. Written requests are answered in Estonian and English. Assistance in customer service office is provided in Estonian, English and Russian language.
We can disclose information containing your personal data only when we have verified your identity as a person requesting information or clarification. To verify your identity at information request you can choose between the following options:
- send an e-mail with a digitally signed application to info [at] tervisekassa.ee (info[at]tervisekassa[dot]ee)
- send a hand-signed application to by mail: Riia 142, Tartu 50411
- come to a Customer Service Office of the Health Insurance Fund and present your personal identification document
- call to the Health Insurance Fund infoline and identify yourself either with your mobile-ID or with smart-ID.