Health insurance in Greece: Complete guide for expats (2026)
Sorting out health insurance in Greece can feel confusing. Public insurance, private coverage, or both? And if you need a visa to stay as an expat, health insurance in Greece isn’t just optional. It’s a legal requirement.
The good news? Greece has excellent healthcare. 6.6 doctors per 1,000 people (well above the OECD average of 3.9) and an above-average life expectancy of 81.8 years. The challenge is navigating which insurance you actually need.
This guide covers everything you need to know about health insurance in Greece for foreigners. We'll explore:
- Visa requirements related to health insurance and ensuring you meet them
- How the public healthcare system works, including exactly how to apply for it
- Choosing the best private health insurance in Greece for your situation
- Examples of healthcare costs to help you budget for medical spending
- Emergency contact numbers, language accessibility and pharmacies
- Common challenges expats face when dealing with Greek healthcare
- And much more...
Let's start with a big question we often hear:
Do I need health insurance in Greece?
Moving to Greece for more than three months? You'll need health insurance. Choosing the right type depends on your nationality, visa, and employment status.
Use the table below to see which of Greece's health insurance routes will be best for you. We'll go into more detail later and explain any acronyms (like EFKA, EHIC and GHIC).
| Your Situation | What You'll Need | Why | Coverage |
|---|---|---|---|
| EU citizen, short visit (<90 days) | EHIC | EU reciprocal healthcare agreement | Free emergency care, same as Greek residents |
| UK citizen, short visit (<90 days) | GHIC | Post-Brexit UK-EU agreement | Emergency care, same as Greek residents |
| Non-EU visitor (<90 days) | Travel insurance | Schengen visa requirement | Emergency care, repatriation (min €30,000) |
| Any nationality: Digital Nomad, Golden Visa, FIP visa holder | Private insurance | Visa requirement | €30,000 minimum + repatriation |
| UK citizen receiving state pension, long-term stay | Public (EFKA) and/or private | Public health insurance via S1 form registered with EFKA, private cover may be desired in addition | S1 provides same public coverage as Greek residents, private insurance coverage varies according to policy |
| Employed by Greek company | Public (EFKA) and/or private | Public insurance automatic through employment, private cover may be desired in addition | Same public coverage as Greek residents, private insurance coverage varies according to policy |
| International student (long-stay visa) | Private insurance | Student visa requirement | €30,000 minimum + repatriation |
| Self-employed in Greece | Public (EFKA) and/or private | Insurance required for residence permit, private cover may be desired | Same public coverage as Greek residents, private insurance coverage varies according to policy |
| EU citizen, permanent resident | Public (EFKA) and/or private | Access to public and/or private healthcare | Same public coverage as Greek residents, private insurance coverage varies according to policy |
| Waiting for AMKA (social security) activation | Private (bridge coverage) | Gap between public insurance registration and coverage | Temporary coverage until public (EFKA) insurance is active |
Do I need health insurance for my Greece visa?
Almost all long-stay visa or residence permit applications need proof of visa-compliant health insurance. It's part of the Health Insurance Declaration Form. Your policy must cover at least €30,000 in medical expenses. This is a requirement for the Schengen Area. It must also include medical repatriation. These points are non-negotiable. If your policy doesn't clearly state these details, your application might be delayed or rejected.
Feather’s visa compliant health insurance policies meet these requirements. They include bilingual English/Greek insurance certificates and clearly state coverage limits and repatriation in the format Greek embassies and migration authorities expect. This also includes student health insurance for international students who need approved coverage for enrolment and residence permits.
How much does healthcare cost in Greece?
When it comes to healthcare and health insurance in Greece, cost depends on several things. Public or private? What's the provider and location? We'll give you some examples now:
Without insurance:
- GP visit (private): €60 – €150
- Specialist visit: €80 – €200+
- Private ambulance (cities): €150 – €300
- Private ambulance (islands or rural areas): €300 – €800+
- Private hospital stay: €200 – €500+ per day
As you can see, these costs can add up fast.
Private health insurance:
- Basic coverage: €50 – €100 per month
- Mid-range plans: €125 – €250 per month
- Comprehensive or international plans: €250 – €500+ per month
Public health insurance (EFKA):
- Employees contribute around 13% – 16% of wages
- Employers contribute around 22% – 25% of wages
- Once enrolled, most public healthcare is free or very low-cost
What are the healthcare challenges for expats in Greece?
Healthcare quality in Greece is generally high, especially in major cities. But there are a few things worth knowing upfront:
You may need to bring someone to help you in hospital
Public hospitals may expect you to bring a friend or family member for basic daily care (due to staffing limits). This is more common on islands and in rural areas.
Island and rural healthcare can be limited
Athens, Thessaloniki, and major cities have excellent facilities. On islands, specialists are harder to find — and ambulances might be boats or motorcycles.
Cash payments are sometimes required
Some public facilities require cash payment upfront. This is common for uninsured patients or visitors in island and rural areas. It happens less in major city hospitals. Still, it's smart to carry cash when visiting any public facility.
English-speaking doctors are easier to find in cities
You'll find English-speaking staff in most private hospitals and city clinics. In public facilities outside major cities, language barriers are more common.
What are the types of health insurance in Greece?
Health insurance in Greece falls into a few main types: public, private, travel insurance, and EHIC/GHIC. Which one you need depends on your visa type, job status, and nationality.
Public and private health insurance are the most important if you're staying long-term. We'll cover the other types soon (and explain those acronyms). For now, here's how public and private compare:
| Public (EFKA/ESY) | Private Insurance | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free at point of use (after contributions) OR employee pays ~13% – 16% of wages, employer ~22% – 25% | From around €50 – €500+/month depending on age and coverage |
| Wait times | May be weeks to months for specialists; immediate for emergencies | Usually days to weeks; faster appointments |
| English support | Limited outside Athens/major cities | Widespread; most private hospitals have some English-speaking staff |
| Facilities | Variable; excellent in cities, basic in rural areas | Modern equipment, private rooms |
| Coverage | Comprehensive but co-pays 10% – 25% on prescriptions | Depends on plan; typically covers hospital stays, specialist visits, diagnostics |
Source: OECD – Greece: Taxing Wages 2025
Public health insurance (EFKA)
Greece's public healthcare is run by a network called ESY. It's funded through a national insurance body called EFKA, which replaced the older IKA system in 2017.
EFKA works with EOPYY. That’s the organisation actually buying healthcare services on your behalf from ESY’s network of public providers — hospitals, health centres (Κέντρο Υγείας / Kentro Ygeias), and rural clinics.
If you're insured via EFKA, healthcare provided through ESY is free at the point of use or very low-cost.
Public healthcare covers:
- Doctor visits
- Hospital stays
- Prescriptions
- Maternity care
- Mental health services.
Accessing care
You can book directly with specialists — no GP referral needed. Just know that popular specialists often have long waiting lists.
Pharmacies and prescriptions
Greek pharmacies are well-stocked and pharmacists are knowledgeable. They can help with minor ailments and recommend over-the-counter remedies. Prescription co-payments range from around 10% (€3 max for essential medications) to 25% for others.
Emergency telephone numbers
In emergencies, call 166 for ambulances or 112 for the European emergency line. English-speaking operators are available.
Am I eligible for public healthcare in Greece?
Who qualifies for Greek public health insurance:
- Greek citizens and permanent residents
- EU citizens who live and work in Greece
- British pensioners who submit an S1 form to EFKA
- Expats employed by a Greek company
- Self-employed individuals who contribute to EFKA
Who usually doesn't qualify:
- Golden Visa holders
- Digital Nomad Visa holders
- FIP (Financially Independent Person) visa holders
- Most non-EU expats who aren't employed locally
To use public healthcare, you need an AMKA (Αριθμός Μητρώου Κοινωνικής Ασφάλισης / Arithmos Mitroou Koinikis Asfalisis). It's your Greek social security number. It registers you in the system, but it's not insurance itself. This is a common mix-up. You get an AMKA through Greek employment or by paying into the system.
How to apply for your AMKA
Here's how to register for your Greek social security number:
What you'll need: passport, residence permit, AFM (Greek tax number), proof of address, and your employment contract (if you have one)
Where to go: KEP (Κέντρα Εξυπηρέτησης Πολιτών / Kentra Exipiretisis Politon) citizen service centre or social security office.
Timeline:
- Registration can take several weeks
- Activation may require follow-up visits
- Public healthcare entitlement begins after 50 days of contributions
Source: European Commission – Your social security rights in Greece
What to do while waiting: Get private health insurance to cover the gap between arrival and AMKA activation. Feather offers expat health insurance in Greece that is designed to handle this transition period, so you’re insured from day one.
Private health insurance in Greece
Private insurance gives you faster access to care and shorter wait times. Hospitals can be more modern, with more English-speaking doctors.
Some policies have a 3 – 6 months waiting period if you’ve got a pre-existing condition, or for things like maternity care. Remember this when you’re planning your move.
Not all policies offer the same protection. The cheapest health insurance in Greece might technically meet visa requirements, but it often comes with higher deductibles. It might also have limited hospital networks or strict exclusions. If you plan to stay long-term, look for plans with outpatient cover, specialist access, and treatment options outside Greece.
Travel insurance and EHIC/GHIC
Visiting Greece for under 90 days? Your insurance options are simpler but they’re also more limited.
EU citizens can use their European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). It gives you access to Greece's public healthcare on the same terms as residents — public hospitals, doctors, the works. You'll pay the same co-payments (like for prescriptions). But EHIC doesn't cover private healthcare or medical repatriation.
UK citizens can use the Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC), which replaced the EHIC after Brexit. It works the same way — state healthcare only. It doesn't cover private treatment, planned care, or medical evacuation. It's for temporary stays, not long-term moves.
UK pensioners with an S1 form can access Greek public healthcare more fully. The S1 (Healthcare Abroad form) must be registered with EFKA and gives access to public healthcare on the same basis as insured Greek residents.
Non-EU visitors need travel insurance. Schengen visa rules require at least €30,000 in medical coverage — typically €3 – €8 per day. It covers emergency treatment, hospital stays, and medical evacuation.
What commonly goes wrong with health insurance in Greece for foreigners?
Here's what trips people up:
- Confusion about the €30,000 minimum coverage requirement for long-stay visas
- Buying a policy that technically provides coverage but isn’t formatted correctly for Greek authorities
- Gaps between registering for public healthcare (AMKA) and actually being eligible to use it
For visas and residence permits, the issue is usually documentation. Greek embassies need certificates to be written in particular ways. The coverage limits and medical repatriation have to be shown clearly. If they aren’t, your application could get delayed or rejected.
Timing causes problems, too. AMKA activation doesn’t start right away, which can leave newcomers uninsured if they rely on public coverage alone. Some people only need short-term, visa‑compliant cover while they wait. Others need something more long-term once they’re settled. Feather divides these into short-term and long-term plans. This helps expats avoid early gaps and switch later if their situation changes.
Get the best private health insurance in Greece
Ready to get covered? We'll help you find the right plan for your situation.
Feather's expat health insurance meets all Greek visa rules. We make sure you have the cover you need from day one. So, if you're moving to Greece, health insurance doesn't need to be a headache.
