Health insurance in Greece for expats

Greece has two healthcare systems, public and private, that run in parallel. Many hospitals and healthcare facilities in Greece have separate wings and sections for private and public patients.

The public healthcare system offers a comprehensive range of emergency and non-emergency care services, which are either free at the point of use or heavily subsidised. The costs are largely covered by social insurance contributions from employers and employees.

On the other hand, private healthcare in Greece provides higher-quality, more dedicated care for those able to pay, either out-of-pocket or through private insurance cover. Private facilities are regularly used for faster access to specialists, and for elective procedures.¹

The quality of healthcare in Greece is generally good. Numbeo’s Health Care Index ranks it 25^th among European countries, and at a similar level to other countries in the region, such as Romania and Bulgaria.²

The Greek healthcare system has faced some pressures in recent years, a reflection of some of the economic difficulties the country has faced as a whole.³ Public spending on healthcare has been cut, which has led to longer waiting times, especially for non-emergency treatments.

There are also some geographical differences to take into consideration. The availability of medical facilities and the range of services offered is far greater in major cities such as Athens and Thessaloniki than it is in more remote areas, or in many of the smaller Greek islands.⁴ If you’re likely to need advanced and/or regular treatment, you may need the use of evacuation or transport services.

The private healthcare system, on the other hand, generally offers shorter waiting times, more comfortable facilities and better equipment.¹ You’ll also be more likely to encounter English-speaking staff, who may be better-prepared for supporting expats.

It’s also important to note that while there are plenty of pharmacies around Greece, many of them close during the afternoons to avoid the hottest part of the day. This means they’re generally open from 8am to 2:30pm, and again from 5:30pm to 8:30pm.⁵

If your stay in Greece is a relatively short one, and you’re from another EU country, then you may be covered by the provisions of your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), or your Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) if you’re a UK citizen.

In the case of an emergency, the Greek healthcare system doesn’t differentiate between residents, expats and tourists, or according to your ability to pay.³ But you may be liable for payments for follow-up care or non-emergency treatment required, which is where the protections of public healthcare payments or international insurance cover kick in.

What kind of documentation do I need to access healthcare in Greece? 

To apply for public healthcare in Greece, you’ll need a substantial amount of documentation. This includes your passport or European ID card; proof of legal Greek residence; your birth certificate, which you may need to get translated into Greek; and a copy of your employment contract, also in Greek.⁶

If you’re employed in Greece, then both you and your employer are required to make social security contributions to the government to pay for access to the public healthcare system. These contributions are 4.3% of your salary from your employer, and 2.15% of salary from you.⁷

Retirees who are in receipt of a pension from their own country, and who have the legal right to settle in Greece, can receive state health benefits as they would in their country of origin.⁴

Most public healthcare facilities are then free at the point of use, although there are some small co-payments required in some cases. For example, you’ll normally have to cover 25% of the cost of prescriptions yourself, although this fee can be waived in cases of chronic illness.⁸

In terms of private healthcare in Greece, the cost varies substantially and will depend on your age, pre-existing health conditions and your level of coverage. However, paying for private healthcare in Greece out-of-pocket can result in expensive bills, which can make private insurance cover the better-value option.

Private health insurance is not mandatory in Greece; access to public healthcare depends on social security contributions, and private coverage is optional, though advisable for non-residents or for those who want access to private facilities.

What are the benefits of private health insurance in Greece?

Having private medical insurance in place in Greece means you can benefit from:

• Shorter waiting times: It can be much faster to get appointments and treatments in the private system in Greece, especially for non-emergency treatments.
• High-quality care: Rivate facilities tend to be more comfortable, with better equipment and with more English-speaking staff.
• Dental cover: If you need advanced dental care, private cover can make sure your treatment bills don’t become unaffordable.
• Prescription cover: Prescriptions in Greece are partly subsidised, but good private cover can help you tackle the costs – a real saving if you need medication regularly.
• Wide range of treatments: Private cover can extend many of the medical services you might need, including elective treatments.
• Peace of mind: Knowing you’re fully covered whatever the future might hold, can take the stress and worry out of medical treatment.

Would I need dental insurance in Greece?

If you’re making social insurance payments in Greece, then you can access dentist services in much the same way as you’d access other elements of public healthcare.⁹ There may be some small co-payment fees involved, depending on the type of treatment you need.

If this isn’t the case, then you have the choice of paying for dentistry out-of-pocket, or by taking out private healthcare cover that includes dental care. The latter option represents better value for money if you need regular dental treatment and may also reimburse you for the cost of private dental surgery.

Greece has different numbers for different emergency services. You should call 166 if you need an ambulance, 199 for the fire brigade, 100 for the police and 171 for the tourist police. As Greece is part of the European Union, you can also use the EU free emergency number, which is 112.