Insurance

The statutory student accident insurance (Protector, insurance number 628341) is valid only when the student participates in practical training equivalent to the curriculum or the examination requirements, work-based learning period, internship, competence-based qualification, work-life introduction in lower secondary education at the educational institution, or in another location designated by the education or training provider or the institution.

The Student Accident Insurance Act does not require that the studies are leading to a profession or a degree.

According to the Student Accident Insurance Act, accidents that occur immediately when transitioning between the educational institution or residence and the work placement or practical learning site designated by the education or training provider, work-life introduction site, or examination location are also covered. Such a location can be either within or outside the premises of the educational institution.

On the other hand, regular daily commutes from the residence to the educational institution and back are not included in the scope of compensation, nor are deviations from the aforementioned transitional journey.

The coverage includes practical education or training both in Finland and abroad. This means that if a person studying in an educational institution covered by the law in Finland temporarily goes abroad for a work placement, any accidents that occur during the work placement according to the curriculum or degree requirements will be covered by the insurance of the Finnish educational institution. However, a student studying outside Finland who comes as an exchange student to Finland is not covered by the Student Accident Insurance Act because their curriculum is not linked to an educational institution in Finland.

The injured can receive medical care from the local hospital/doctor. The compensability of the initial visit requires that it is an occupational accident according to the Student Accident Insurance Act occurring in practical training equivalent to the curriculum or the examination requirements, during work-based learning period, during an internship or during a competence-based qualification.

1. If an accident occurs, visit a doctor. You may visit any clinic or hospital to receive first aid. Protector Insurance recommends private healthcare clinics such as Terveystalo. In the case of stinging injuries caused by teaching situations,  treatment is sought from FSHS (Finnish Student Health Service) or a public healthcare facility). Contact the student health service to obtain a referral for blood samples and more instructions on what to do.
   • The condition is that the accident occurred in circumstances characteristic of education while the student is participating in practical training equivalent to work in accordance with the curriculum or degree requirements, during a work-based learning period, internship, competence-based examination, or familiarization with working life in a school or other location designated by the education or training provider or the institution maintaining the school. Insurance coverage is also valid for direct travel between the residence or educational institution and the internship location. Generally, travel between the residence and educational institution, theoretical lessons, breaks, or time spent in the institution's facilities are not covered (with the exception of labor policy students, whose insurance coverage is broader.
      
2. If you can't move, call a taxi / an ambulance. You can claim compensation for the costs of a taxi trip from the insurance afterwards. However, travel expenses incurred in connection with treatment are in principle reimbursed based on public transport. Taxi transport is also reimbursed if the nature of the injury caused by a compensable accident, or the lack of public transport so requires. Reimbursement of travel expenses requires that the treatment visit must also be reimbursed.
    
3. Let the clinic know that it was an occupational accident, and the Insurance Company is Protector Vakuutus. The clinic sends the bill regarding the visit to the insurance company.
    
4. Notify the school contact person about the accident as soon as possible by email (opiskelijavakuutukset [at] metropolia.fi (opiskelijavakuutukset[at]metropolia[dot]fi)). The injured person must, according to the law, report the work-related accident to the school as soon as circumstances allow.
    
5. Fill in the work accident notification document sent to you (and attach the receipts for expenses) and send it back to opiskelijavakuutukset [at] metropolia.fi (opiskelijavakuutukset[at]metropolia[dot]fi) . Your school contact person will then sign the document and send it to Protector via Protector’s secured connection (Turvaposti). School contact person fills and prints also the insurance certificate for injured or sends it directly to the care center via email if needed.
    
6. After the accident, please fill in also a safety notice (via hd.metropolia.fi, requires logging in). Report also a near-miss situation via hd.metropolia.fi.
    

The first visit and other individual doctor visits and related minor treatment procedures (e.g. X-ray or ultrasound examination, surgical casting, dressing or suturing) will be reimbursed without commitment. The medical institution must request a commitment for non-urgent examinations and measures of over 360 euros. In practice, this means MRI, surgery and physiotherapy. When a commitment is requested, Protector can direct the injured person to the place of treatment of Protector’s choice.

The precondition for reimbursement is that the case of damage in question is compensable and the medical treatment provided is necessary because of the compensable injury. The compensability of individual doctor visits is always resolved afterwards. The compensability can be resolved once a claim report and the necessary additional information (the patient report of the visit in question and any additional information about the injured party) has been submitted to the company. The compensability of the first visit also requires according to the Workers’ Compensation Act, that it is an accident caused by a sudden external factor under the aforementioned compensable work-like circumstance, a muscle or tendon pain caused by a particularly strenuous work movement, or an occupational disease within the meaning of Workers’ Compensation Act or a suspicion thereof.

Insured: Metropolia UAS students (incl. exchange students)
Validity: Throughout the internship
Validity of area: Worldwide

The insurance covers personal and property damage caused by the student during work-based learning included in their studies or other comparable internships. The employer who has entered into the apprenticeship agreement with the student is always primarily responsible for the damage caused during the student's internship. The property and liability insurances of the employer who has entered into the work-based learning agreement take precedence.

 

Student's group accident insurance compensates accidents that have happened during other activities that are part of the curriculum (for example theory lessons, physical education hours, lunch breaks at school) and during normal school trips.

Insured are students applicable for the Social Insurance Institution of Finland's residential based social security (Bachelor and Master-students), Open University of Applied Sciences students, immigrants and in-service training students).

The accident must be reported to opiskelijavakuutukset [at] metropolia.fi (opiskelijavakuutukset[at]metropolia[dot]fi). The injured party must apply for compensation with expense receipts to vahingot [at] protectorvakuutus.fi (vahingot[at]protectorvakuutus[dot]fi).

The insurance is as follows:

• hospital care as a cause of the accident, 5.000 e
• permanent injuries caused by the accident, 10.000 e
• death followed by the accident, 5.000 e

If you belong to the Finnish social security system (KELA) at the municipality where you live (a prerequisite for the voluntary insurance) you can order the travel insurance policy certification from opiskelijavakuutukset [at] metropolia.fi (opiskelijavakuutukset[at]metropolia[dot]fi). Please note that the validity of travel insurance requires the valid Kela-card (you are entitled to Kela benefits). The insurance policy is valid 24/7 in student exchanges and internships (study-related) all around the globe.

More information:

• Coming to Finland

You can apply for reimbursement of medical expenses by submitting expense receipts to Protector afterwards. 

In case of emergencies, call Falck Global Assistance's 24/7 service on the following number: +358 20 1550835. You can seek treatment at one of Falck Global Assistance's healthcare facility partners. You can inquire about the nearest healthcare facility from the service number provided. In this case, billing will be handled through Falck Global Assistance. Present your insurance certificate from Protector at the healthcare facility.

Compensation also excludes illnesses, accidents and deaths occurring while engaging in the following sports or other similar high-risk activities:

• martial arts, grappling, contact or self-defence sports such as boxing, kick boxing, wrestling, freestyle wrestling, judo, karate, fencing, or similar sports
• strength sports, such as weight lifting and body building
• motor sports
• aviation sports, such as parachuting, paragliding, hot air ballooning, hang gliding or flying in  ultralights or recreational aircrafts
• kite and wind surfing
• bungee jumping
• BASE jumping
• climbing sports, such as mountain, rock, or ice climbing
• freestyle skiing, speed or downhill skiing or off-piste skiing
• scuba diving or free-diving
• ocean sailing
• Hiking and expeditions to mountains, jungles, deserts, the wilderness, or other uninhabited areas abroad.
• American or Australian football or rugby
• roller derby
• parkour

Metropolia's travel and accident insurance does not cover exchange students. Thus, it is important that you check your travel and health insurance before leaving your home country. The insurance is highly recommended for all students regardless of the period of stay.

Students from the EU / EEA countries

Students from the EU / EEA countries are entitled to necessary medical treatment in public health services in Finland, if they are covered by health insurance in their own country. A European Health Insurance Card is needed. The card ensures that you will get the same access to public sector health care as the local residents (e.g. a doctor, a pharmacy, a hospital or a health care centre), covering mainly emergency treatment in the event of an illness or injury, and other medically necessary treatment. Any costs you incur outside the system you will have to pay on your own.

Students from outside the EU / EEA

Students from outside the EU / EEA must have private insurance to cover the duration of the visa / residence permit and the Schengen area before they enter Finland.

See more details on the required insurance coverage:

• residence permit: Finnish Immigration Service
• Schengen visa: Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland.

Health insurance must be obtained prior to applying for a residence permit. The insurance must be valid for the whole duration of studies. It is a precondition for obtaining a residence permit that the student has a valid health insurance cover with a reliable and solvent company or institution for the whole stay in Finland. Insurance policies that meet these requirements are available in international insurance companies. 

Students from the UK should apply for health care cover abroad (GHIC)

Do make sure the insurance is valid in other countries as well if you are planning to travel outside of Finland during your exchange.

If you have further questions about exchange students' insurance matters, do not hesitate to contact International Relations Advisers.

Contact us by email: opiskelijavakuutukset [at] metropolia.fi (opiskelijavakuutukset[at]metropolia[dot]fi).

In urgent situations, you can call Student Services at +358 40 712 5100 or Saara Jokela at +358 40 522 2718 (Specialist, Development of Education).

For travel insurance matters while traveling, you can contact the Falck Global Assistance 24/7 emergency service at +358 20 1550835.

For non-urgent claims, please contact: vahingot [at] protectorvakuutus.fi (vahingot[at]protectorvakuutus[dot]fi).