Young people who have turned 19 are covered by health insurance while studying and for three months after graduation. During this time, you must take the following steps to ensure your health insurance coverage does not lapse.
To maintain health insurance, you must continue your studies, start working, or enlist in military service no later than three months after graduation. You can also maintain health insurance while looking for work if you register as unemployed or enter into a voluntary health insurance contract with the Health Insurance Fund.
Continuing Studies at a Vocational School or University
If you are studying at a vocational school or university, you are covered by health insurance for the entire standard duration of the study program and for an additional three months after graduation. When enrolling in a vocational school or university, you do not need to submit separate documents to the Health Insurance Fund to continue your health insurance. The Ministry of Education and Research submits the data of students studying in Estonia to the Health Insurance Fund. Health insurance becomes effective from the start of the academic year.
If you do not graduate within the standard duration of the program or are expelled, your health insurance will end one month after your studies are interrupted.
If you decide to take a leave of absence, keep in mind that your health insurance will be suspended for that period. However, your health insurance will not be suspended if the reason for the leave of absence is illness or injury.
Continuing Studies Abroad
While studying abroad, you can continue your health insurance coverage by submitting an application and proof of enrollment at a foreign educational institution to the Health Insurance Fund each academic year. You can find the application form and instructions on the Health Insurance Fund’s website.
If you have health insurance in Estonia, you can receive necessary medical care with the European Health Insurance Card within the European Union, as well as in the United Kingdom, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Switzerland. You can find more detailed information about the European Health Insurance Card on the Health Insurance Fund’s website.
The European Health Insurance Card is not valid in third countries, i.e., outside the European Union, the European Economic Area, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. You must take out health insurance with a private insurer.
Enlisting in Military Service
During military service, health insurance is provided by the state. The Defense Forces or the Defense Resources Agency will submit your information to the Health Insurance Fund.
Health insurance remains valid for one month after the end of military service. If you do not obtain insurance through another provider during this period, the coverage is extended for an additional two months.
Starting a Job
If you start working under an employment contract after graduating from school, you are entitled to health insurance through your employer. The Tax and Customs Board submits the data required for health insurance to the Health Insurance Fund from the employment register. Health insurance is valid for the entire duration of employment and ends two months after the employment relationship ends.
In the case of a contract under the Law of Obligations (such as a commission or service contract), health insurance coverage only applies if your employer(s) has paid social tax for you at least at the minimum rate. It may take up to two months for coverage to take effect, as it is linked to the payment of social tax on wages. If the minimum social tax rate is not met, health insurance coverage does not take effect. In the case of irregular income, coverage may be interrupted.
If you decide to become a self-employed person (FIE), health insurance coverage begins upon registration in the commercial register. You can find information about the obligations of a self-employed person on the Tax and Customs Board’s website www.emta.ee.
Registering as Unemployed
If you are not continuing your studies or entering military service but are still looking for work, you can register as unemployed with the Estonian Unemployment Insurance Fund. You can read more about the options for registering as unemployed on the Estonian Unemployment Insurance Fund’s website. If you become eligible for health insurance, the Estonian Unemployment Insurance Fund will submit the necessary information to the Health Insurance Fund.
Voluntary health insurance
If you do not belong to any group covered by health insurance, you can enter into a voluntary health insurance contract with the Health Insurance Fund. In this case, you pay the insurance premiums yourself.
The contract term is one year. To pay for health insurance, you can choose to make payments monthly, quarterly, or pay for the entire year at once. When signing a voluntary health insurance contract, keep in mind that you are taking on a financial obligation for the entire contract period, i.e., one year.
If you sign the contract while you already have valid health insurance, your coverage will continue without interruption. If your insurance has already expired, health insurance coverage begins one month after signing the contract.
Voluntary health insurance entitles you to use the Health Insurance Fund’s services on the same terms as other insured individuals.
Read more about all options for obtaining health insurance.