So, if I am reading this correctly, the Well-Being amount totals 535 Euros and the Welfare amount totals 1,397.60 Euros.
Would these be the amounts owed by the patient for the time spent in the hospital after the routine procedure?
If so, that's a bargain. Not "free" of course, but still a bargain.
I had an appendectomy in 2010 and spent 2 nights post-op. Hospital bill with the ER visit was $30,000 (after they knocked money off under their "charity" program). Surgeon bill was another $3000. Asst. Surgeon was $1,500. Anesthesia bill was $2,800. I had been laid-off the year before so had lost my health coverage while trying to get back into a full-time position when this happened. No Medicaid either. Eventually put this and some hospital bills from my wife into a Chapter 7 a few years later and started fresh, but credit was in the toilet and had to rebuild.
I get the point. Libs worship the Scandinavian countries without really understanding what is going on, like it's some free Utopia, but to be fair, healthcare costs in the US are the highest in the developed world and for no "good" reason, while other developed countries, like in Europe, have some of the lowest costs. But to your point, it's rarely, if ever free.
Her lab results fluctuated wildly after thyroid surgery but she is now at home.
We have very high taxes here that should make the healthcare entirely free but it isn't free and people go bankrupt because of healthcare costs except we don't have personal bankruptcy by law, bankruptcy is only for organizations and companies. When a person goes "bankrupt" it means she/he is indebted until they pay their debts but in the mean time the bills collect late fees, interest and court fees. Court may take whatever money worthy you own to pay the debts but even that is not always enough.
They are all bills for her surgery and hospitalization and more than she makes in a month.
Bankruptcy is a protection of liberty, and an underrated feature of the U.S. economy. While nobody wants to be bankrupt, it's a legitimate check against predatory lenders. So important it is specifically mentioned in the constitution. Although the constitution doesn't give it context, a large % of colonists only became colonists as a way to escape debtor's prisons (that's not metaphor: they were literally in jail), and it was an important issue.
Yes, she is doing better now and was even allowed to leave the hospital, except now she is shocked at how much it all cost her. Even the medicines prescribed to her are not cheap.
Google translate messed the translations in the image. The well-being of North Savo and The Welfare of North Savo are supposed to the same thing.
She had a minor surgery and was supposed to be home the same day in December but instead spent a few weeks hospitalized due to complications from the surgery.
Invoices are generally given a payment period of 3 weeks.
Short-term inpatient care
2025: EUR 66.90
2026: EUR 71.50
Daily hospital fee after the payment cap has been exceeded
2025: EUR 25.10
2026: EUR 26.80
Ambulatory surgery fee
2025: EUR 218.70
2026: EUR 233.80
There is a payment cap on client fees for public health care. In 2026, the payment cap is EUR 815.
The following do not count towards the payment cap
A fee charged to a person who does not have a municipality of residence in Finland, except for a fee charged to a person who is entitled to health services under European Union law or an international agreement binding on Finland under the same conditions as a person residing in Finland or who is considered as equivalent to a resident of a municipality.
Very similar system here in Ireland, funded by the over 70% tax we pay (45% direct tax from earnings, 23% sales tax and hundreds of other “stealth” taxes).
Of course the healthcare systems in all EU countries forces the working citizens to subsidise the healthcare costs of all the foreign welfare parasites who have flooded the system.
Saying that healthcare is “free” is public service gaslighting.
It already is. Except person can't go bankruptcy by law. You're just indebted until you pay your debts but in the mean time it can collect late fees, interest and court fees. Court may even take whatever money worthy you have to pay the debts.
I hope your cousin is doing better.
Trying to understand this...
So, if I am reading this correctly, the Well-Being amount totals 535 Euros and the Welfare amount totals 1,397.60 Euros.
Would these be the amounts owed by the patient for the time spent in the hospital after the routine procedure?
If so, that's a bargain. Not "free" of course, but still a bargain.
I had an appendectomy in 2010 and spent 2 nights post-op. Hospital bill with the ER visit was $30,000 (after they knocked money off under their "charity" program). Surgeon bill was another $3000. Asst. Surgeon was $1,500. Anesthesia bill was $2,800. I had been laid-off the year before so had lost my health coverage while trying to get back into a full-time position when this happened. No Medicaid either. Eventually put this and some hospital bills from my wife into a Chapter 7 a few years later and started fresh, but credit was in the toilet and had to rebuild.
I get the point. Libs worship the Scandinavian countries without really understanding what is going on, like it's some free Utopia, but to be fair, healthcare costs in the US are the highest in the developed world and for no "good" reason, while other developed countries, like in Europe, have some of the lowest costs. But to your point, it's rarely, if ever free.
All the best to your cousin, fren.
Her lab results fluctuated wildly after thyroid surgery but she is now at home.
We have very high taxes here that should make the healthcare entirely free but it isn't free and people go bankrupt because of healthcare costs except we don't have personal bankruptcy by law, bankruptcy is only for organizations and companies. When a person goes "bankrupt" it means she/he is indebted until they pay their debts but in the mean time the bills collect late fees, interest and court fees. Court may take whatever money worthy you own to pay the debts but even that is not always enough.
They are all bills for her surgery and hospitalization and more than she makes in a month.
Thank you for the context. Definitely helps and now I get the point even more.
Hope she feels much better soon.
Bankruptcy is a protection of liberty, and an underrated feature of the U.S. economy. While nobody wants to be bankrupt, it's a legitimate check against predatory lenders. So important it is specifically mentioned in the constitution. Although the constitution doesn't give it context, a large % of colonists only became colonists as a way to escape debtor's prisons (that's not metaphor: they were literally in jail), and it was an important issue.
This. And their families went to the poor house.
Yes, she is doing better now and was even allowed to leave the hospital, except now she is shocked at how much it all cost her. Even the medicines prescribed to her are not cheap.
Google translate messed the translations in the image. The well-being of North Savo and The Welfare of North Savo are supposed to the same thing.
She had a minor surgery and was supposed to be home the same day in December but instead spent a few weeks hospitalized due to complications from the surgery.
So you posted an altered invoice of evidence.
Also, you may want to check the dates and the formatting, why 20? days to pay? Where is the payment cap?
Finland hospital costs
From this document;
Short-term inpatient care
2025: EUR 66.90 2026: EUR 71.50
Daily hospital fee after the payment cap has been exceeded
2025: EUR 25.10 2026: EUR 26.80
Ambulatory surgery fee
2025: EUR 218.70 2026: EUR 233.80
The following do not count towards the payment cap
You and your fictional “cousin” ARE NOT Finnish.
For all my American frens…
Very similar system here in Ireland, funded by the over 70% tax we pay (45% direct tax from earnings, 23% sales tax and hundreds of other “stealth” taxes).
Of course the healthcare systems in all EU countries forces the working citizens to subsidise the healthcare costs of all the foreign welfare parasites who have flooded the system.
Saying that healthcare is “free” is public service gaslighting.
The anti European troll is downvoting again.
Do you think it is related to your continual Finland bashing? Sympathies for your Cousin.
I felt this was an interesting shocking fact, especially when you often hear by Americans that healthcare in Finland is free.
This image alone debunks the claim of Finland’s so called free healthcare.
Let me know when it becomes the #1 cause of Personal Bankruptcies in Finland.
It already is. Except person can't go bankruptcy by law. You're just indebted until you pay your debts but in the mean time it can collect late fees, interest and court fees. Court may even take whatever money worthy you have to pay the debts.
Are Finnish now issuing invoices in English? That’s strange, my sister in law, who is a Finnish nurse says they are not.