Benefit Fund’s Spring update

Employee Benefit Fund for Staff members

The fund’s communication is being renewed! This year, we are starting regular newsletters that will share current information with the insured members of the insurance fund, as well as useful tips, such as instructions for reimbursement claims.

Benefits

  • The eyeglass benefit can also be used for leasing agreements. Please note that payments must be claimed in the same year that the eyeglass purchase right is valid.
  • Additional benefits: Applying for additional benefits is easy through the e-service Iris. Instructions for the service can be found on the fund’s website. Remember to select the correct link; there is a specific link for the staff members of the employees’ fund that directs you to the correct service. Our website also provides instructions and examples for applying for various benefits through Iris. Here is the link to the page where you can access Iris: Iris e-services – Vakuutuskassa.
  • Changes to Kela reimbursements: Starting from May 1, 2025, there will be changes to Kela’s reimbursement practices concerning physiotherapy and dental care provided by dental hygienists.
    • Kela reimbursement for physiotherapy will be available for 4 sessions without a doctor’s referral.
    • Dental care and examinations provided by dental hygienists will be available without a doctor’s referral twice a calendar year. Reimbursement for oral and dental health check-ups will be available every other year. With a dentist’s referral, dental hygienist treatments can be reimbursed up to 15 times over 2 years.
    • Additionally, there will be increases in reimbursements for gynecological treatments. Detailed information about the changes to Kela reimbursements can be found on Kela’s website via this link: https://www.kela.fi/news/kela-reimbursement-to-be-introduced-for-physiotherapy-reimbursements-for-dental-care-and-gynaecologists-fees-to-be-increased

April Fund Meeting 

The April fund meeting of the Insurance Fund for Kone Employees was held on Tuesday, April 29, 2025. We were pleased to note that the meeting attracted the interest of our members, with over 50 members in attendance. The meeting had good discussions about our fund’s rules, and decisions were made on the proposed changes. The meeting proposed rule changes to balance the financial situation and other changes to the rules. Most of the other changes were related to the wording of the rules and supplementary changes. The decisions made at the fund meeting will be submitted to the Financial Supervisory Authority for approval. Once the Financial Supervisory Authority approves the rules, they will come into effect. We will inform you once the rules are confirmed.

  • Here are a few important changes:
    • To balance the finances, the board’s primary proposal was selected, which was to increase the insurance fee by 2 euros (to 31 euros) and to add a 25% co-payment for public sector fees.
    • Physiotherapy was separated into its own quota. Physiotherapy will be reimbursed 20 times a year, and the reimbursement rate remains the same (75%). The annual reimbursement limit for naprapathy, osteopathy, chiropractic, and massage remains 20 times, with a reimbursement rate of 50%. The referral practice remains the same as before, meaning no referral is needed for massage, but a referral is required for naprapathy, osteopathy, and chiropractic treatments.
  • The rule changes will come into effect once the Financial Supervisory Authority approves them, and we will inform the insured members later.

  • The board also shared its thoughts on developing the fund’s operations.
    • We want to improve the satisfaction and service experience of the insured members. In the fall, we will conduct a survey to assess the satisfaction of the insured members with the fund’s operations and gather suggestions for improvement.
    • Based on the survey, we can consider the fund’s strategy and also explore the possibility and ideas for changing the fund’s name to better reflect a fund for all insured members.
    • Additionally, we will start drafting a quality manual for the fund’s operations. This manual will include guidelines for fund meetings and voting practices, especially in personal elections.
    • The fund aims to improve services for non-Finnish speakers. Examples include translating the fund’s rules into English, providing English-language content on the website, and enabling simultaneous interpretation during annual meetings on the Teams platform, which allows real-time interpretation at fund meetings.

We wish all our insured members a sunny and refreshing spring! Enjoy the awakening of nature and the increasing daylight.