Health insurance and care
The Health Insurance Fund (Haigekassa) is provided only for those higher education students who are permanent residents of Estonia. This means that international students must have private health insurance policy or European health insurance card (EHIC).
Students are required to present a valid copy of the health insurance to the International Recruitment and Admissions Division. This should be done within 2 months from arrival or renewal of insurance contract.
Below you will find information about the insurance and overview of the healthcare system in Estonia for both EU and non-EU students.
If you are an EU citizen, you should apply for the European health insurance card (EHIC) from the social service authorities in your home country before arriving in Estonia. Please bring your EHIC card or its replacement certificate with you to prove your eligibility for Estonian health care.
NOTE! TalTech highly recommends to obtain an additional health insurance to EHIC. It only covers necessary health care, and it is not free of charge.
EHIC is not an alternative to travel insurance. It does not cover any private healthcare, dental care or costs such as a return flight to your home country or lost/stolen property.
Please find more detailed information from the European Commission website.
If you have any specific questions regarding insurance matters, feel free to contact KindlustusEst via e-mail at info@kindlustusest.ee.
A student who has been granted residence permit for study is not covered by the Estonian Health Insurance Fund (Haigekassa), unless they are employed in Estonia or have the right of permanent residence or a long-term residence permit.
This means that you are obliged to have an insurance contract guaranteeing that any costs related to your medical treatment as a result of illness or injury during your stay in Estonia will be met.
You are free to choose a suitable insurance provider, however, the requirements of the Estonian Police and Border Guard Board should be followed.
Health insurance contract must be valid in Estonia during the whole study period.
Please note that travel insurance and health insurance are not the same. Travel insurance is accepted for visa, however, health insurance is required for temporary residence permit.
If you have any specific questions regarding insurance matters, feel free to contact KindlustusEst via e-mail at info@kindlustusest.ee.
Need to see a doctor?
The primary health care in Estonia is usually accessible in Estonian. Therefore, it is recommended to ask for assistance from someone who is able and willing to translate. For privacy and correctness reasons, we also advise to hire a professional translator when visiting a doctor.
NOTE! Please remember to take your insurance with you.
Many international students fall ill at the beginning of semester. Catching a flu in autumn or winter is very common in Estonia and should usually not be worried about. Pharmacists can assist with simple medical problems and help you choose a right medicine to provide fast relief for your cold or flu symptoms. With more serious symptoms, please turn to a family physician.
There are also two pharmacies in Tallinn, which are open 24/7. They are located in Tõnismägi 5 (City Centre) and Vikerlase 19 (Lasnamägi).
All persons insured with health insurance in Estonia have the right for a family physician who is the first person to consult with in the case of illness.
The family practitioner gives advice concerning the prevention of diseases, takes preventive measures, gives referrals to medical specialists if needed, issues health certificates, certificates of incapacity for work and prescriptions. More information about family practitioner is available here.
Kindly be advised that you don't always need to sign up for a specific family physician to seek medical advice. You may also turn to private clinics, e.g. Valvekliinik (which provides range of family physicians, but also specialists, willing to help you immediately).
Valvekliinik
Address: Pärnu mnt 48a, Tallinn
Phone: (+372) 5911 0909
Email: info@valvekliinik.ee
More information on their website.
However, we recommend to sign up with a family physician as soon as possible as finding a suitable practice may take time. Information on how to choose/change family practitioner can be found here. Please be aware that to sign up with a family practitioner, an application form needs to be filled out and submitted in Estonian. There is an English version available to assist you with the application form.
A person needs a referral from the family physician to visit a medical specialist in Estonia.
No referral is needed to visit a psychiatrist, gynecologist, ophthalmologist, dentist, pulmonologist (for tuberculosis treatment), infection specialist (for HIV/AIDS treatment), surgeon or orthopedist (for traumatology).
Dental Care is expensive and it is not covered by the Health Insurance Fund in Estonia. You will have to pay for any services yourself.
The nearest dentist for TalTech students is:
Hambaravi “Hamma”
Address: Akadeemia tee 20, 3rd floor
Telephone for registration: (+372) 6561460 or (+372) 5536605.
The only dentistry, which is open every day in case of toothache is Tallinn Dental Clinic.
Address: Toompuiestee 4, Tallinn
Customer Service: +372 612 1200
Opening hours:
- Mo-Fr 8:00-20:00
- Sa 9:00-16:00 (first aid only)
- Su 9:00-15:00 (first aid only)
If you are not able to reach your family phycisian, but seek medical advice, you can also call the advisory line of the family physicians by calling 1220.
Please note that the advice is provided only in Estonian and Russian.
In the case of emergency treatment, a person may go to the emergency centre or call an ambulance. One can reach an ambulance by calling 112 from all over Estonia.
24/7 Emergency center - Please turn to the Emergency center only in case you can't get help from family doctor, in the evenings or at weekends in emergency situation.
The emergency center is not far from TalTech campus. Take trolley no 3 to Lepistiku stop and go directly through the park. Behind the block houses you will find a tall building. The Emergency Center is behind the tall building.
Address: J. Sütiste tee 19.
NOTE! Please remember to take your insurance with you.
Need further information on Estonian health care system?
You can read more about Estonian health care system here: