Medicine in Greece: insurance, clinics and prices for foreigners

How the healthcare system works in Greece

Greece has a two-tier medical system. The public sector is ESI hospitals (ESY, Εθνικό Σύστημα Υγείας, National Health System) and PEDI clinics (ΠΕΔΥ). Private sector - clinics and doctors working independently.

Public hospitals are financed from the budget. Theoretically, assistance there is free for the insured. In practice, there are queues, outdated equipment in the regions and a lack of staff. Athens has better public hospitals than those on the islands or smaller towns.

Private clinics are on another level. Modern equipment, short wait, English-speaking staff. But you have to pay for everything out of pocket or through insurance.

State insurance EOPUU: who can receive

EOPUU (ΕΟΠΥΥ) is the main state insurer of Greece. It covers doctor's visits, tests, part of the cost of medications and hospitalization in public hospitals.

The following can receive an EOPUU: employees (contributions are paid by the employer), self-employed (they pay themselves), pensioners, unemployed Greeks with work experience. A foreigner with a work contract in a Greek company is automatically included in the system through the employer.

Foreigners with a residence permit without work - for example, on a Golden Visa or a financially independent person visa - are not included in the EOPUU. They need private health insurance. This is a mandatory requirement when applying for most types of residence permit.

The contribution for the self-employed is about €168 per month (minimum). At the same time, coverage remains basic: 25% co-payment for medicines, queues at government institutions.

Private insurance for foreigners: options and prices

Private health insurance is standard for most foreigners in Greece. It covers visits to private clinics, hospitalization, operations and sometimes dentistry.

Large insurers in Greece: Interamerican, Allianz Hellas, Groupama Φοίνιξ, Eurolife FFH. Many offer policies in English and a call center with Russian-language support.

When applying for a Golden Visa residence permit, a policy with coverage of at least €30,000 for hospitalization is required. We recommend taking out insurance with an unlimited or high amount of coverage - this will cost €1200-2000 per year for a person 40-50 years old.

The best private clinics in Greece

Athens is the country's medical center. The best private hospitals are concentrated here. Below are the main market players.

Hygeia Hospital - the largest private hospital in Greece. Located in Athens (Maroussi). International department for foreigners, work with foreign insurance. Specialization: oncology, cardiology, orthopedics.

Metropolitan Hospital - Piraeus, Athens. Multidisciplinary hospital. Strong emergency department, good reputation in surgery.

Ευρωκλινική (Euromedica) - a network of clinics throughout Greece, including Thessaloniki and Crete. A convenient option for those who live outside of Athens.

Iaso Hospital - specializes in obstetrics and gynecology. The best choice for pregnancy management in Athens.

Ahepa Hospital (Thessaloniki) is a large university hospital in northern Greece. State-owned, but at a high level.

Prices for medical services in Greece

Private medicine in Greece is cheaper than Western Europe - but more expensive than residents of Russia and the CIS countries are used to. Government services are formally free for the insured, but in reality they require time.

Ambulance (ΕΚΑΒ, number 166) is free for everyone without exception - both tourists and foreigners without insurance. According to the law, it is impossible to refuse emergency assistance.

Cost of insurance and medicine: full calculation

Let's estimate the real annual budget for medicine for one adult foreigner with a residence permit in Greece.

Total: €1400-2850 per year per adult. For a family of 4 people - multiply by 3-4 taking into account children's rates (insurance for children is cheaper).

For comparison: in Germany the same private insurance costs €3000-5000 per year. In Greece, medicine is more accessible.

Childbirth in Greece: how it works for foreigners

Greece is a popular country for “medical tourism” for childbirth. Good obstetricians, Mediterranean climate, clean clinics.

Childbirth in a public hospital for a foreigner with EDPUU is free or with a minimal additional payment. Without insurance in the state - about €1500-2500.

Childbirth in a private clinic (Iaso, Mitera, Metropolitan) - €3000-5000 for a standard birth. Caesarean section - €4000-6000. This includes 2-3 nights in the ward, anesthesia and care for the newborn.

A child born in Greece does not automatically receive citizenship. Greece does not practice jus soli (law of the soil). Citizenship is transmitted by blood - through a Greek parent.

A newborn of foreign parents receives a residence permit as a family member if the parents have a residence permit.

Dentistry in Greece for foreigners

Dentistry in Greece is one of the strengths of local medicine. Prices are significantly lower than in Germany, Great Britain or Scandinavia. Quality is at the European level.

Dentists in Athens and Thessaloniki often speak English. In tourist areas (Crete, Rhodes, Corfu) - even more so. Finding an English-speaking dentist is easy through the website Numbeo or Google Maps with reviews.

Pharmacies and medicines in Greece

Pharmacies in Greece are literally on every corner. The green cross on the sign is a standard sign. Pharmacies are usually open from 8:00 to 14:30 and from 17:30 to 21:00 on weekdays. On-duty pharmacies (εφημερεύον φαρμακείο) operate around the clock - the schedule is on the door of any closed pharmacy.

Most European drugs are available in Greek pharmacies. Prescription drugs require a prescription from a Greek doctor. Prescriptions from Russia or other CIS countries do not work in Greece - you need to get a prescription from a local specialist.

If there is an EOPUU, many medicines cost 25-75% less - the state compensates part of the cost. Without insurance, pay full price. Example: antihypertensive drug (losartan analogue) - €8-12 per month with insurance, €18-25 without.

Most pharmacists speak English. Medicine packaging is in Greek, but the INN (international nonproprietary name) is always indicated in Latin.

What to look for when choosing a clinic and doctor

Some practical advice for those moving to Greece.

Check the clinic's accreditation. Hygeia and Metropolitan private hospitals have international certificates. Small clinics - check with the Greek Ministry of Health (moh.gov.gr).

Look for a doctor with international experience. Many Greek specialists studied or trained in the USA, Great Britain, and Germany. Their diplomas are listed on the clinic’s website. English-speaking physician is a standard request that is understood at the reception of any private clinic.

Check your insurance coverage in advance. Before your visit, call the clinic and check whether your insurer is accepted. Large clinics work with Interamerican, Allianz, Groupama directly (direct billing) - you do not pay on the spot.

Keep documents in English. It is better to make translations of medical records from Russia in advance - in apostilled form. Greek doctors are used to working with foreign patients, but documentation in Russian can be difficult.

The state ambulance (ΕΚΑΒ, 166) works for everyone. If there is a real threat to life, call without hesitation. The invoice will be issued only for hospitalization, and then only for those who are not insured, and for those who are partially uninsured.

Medicine in different regions of Greece

The level of medicine in Greece greatly depends on where you live. This is important to consider when choosing a city to move to.

Athens (Attica) - the best choice for those who value medicine. All leading private clinics are here. State hospitals are overloaded, but the specialists are strong.

Thessaloniki (Thessaloniki) - the second medical center in the country. Ahep University Hospital, private Euromedica. For most tasks it is enough.

Crete (Heraklion, Chania) - There are public hospitals and small private clinics. For planned operations and serious illnesses, it is better to go to Athens.

Islands (Rhodes, Corfu, Mykonos) - basic medical care. Surgery and specialized treatment are available only on the mainland. Tourist season means queues even in private clinics.

Conclusion: if health is a priority, choose Athens or Thessaloniki. Islands and small towns are for those who are young and healthy or ready to travel to the capital.

Conditions for foreigners: what is needed to live with medical coverage

To legally reside in Greece, a foreigner needs a residence permit. Golden Visa is the most popular option for investors from the CIS. The condition for obtaining a residence permit is the availability of medical insurance.

Read more about the Golden Visa program in Greece on the page brgsglobal.com/residency/investment/greece/. There are also requirements for investments, documents and deadlines.

After receiving a residence permit, you have two paths in medicine:

Path 1 - private insurance. Suitable for most investors and their families. You pay €800-2000 per year and get coverage in the best private clinics. No queues and no dependence on the government system.

Path 2 - voluntary entry into the EOPUU. Possible for the self-employed or those starting a business in Greece. Contribution €168/month + government coverage. Plus - subsidized medicines. The downside is the queues and limited choice of doctors.

Most foreigners with a Golden Visa choose private insurance. It's simpler, faster and more predictable.

Comparison with other EU countries

How does Greece compare to other European countries for a foreign resident?

Greece is one of the most affordable EU countries in terms of the cost of medical care. At the same time, the level of private clinics corresponds to the European standard.

Taxes, contributions and registration of medical expenses

The costs of health insurance and treatment in Greece can be taken into account when filing taxes - if you have become a tax resident of the country.

A Greek tax resident declares income and has the right to deduct a portion of medical expenses from the tax base. The standard deduction is 20% of medical expenses, maximum €3,000 per year. To do this, you need checks and invoices from clinics in your name (with TIN - Greek AFMN).

For investors with a Golden Visa who do not live in Greece permanently (less than 183 days per year), tax residency does not arise. In this case, medical expenses are not deductible - but there are no declaration obligations.

Special “non-dom” regime in Greece: flat tax of €100,000 per year for wealthy migrants with foreign income. This regime does not affect health insurance - you must have insurance in any case.

AFMN (ΑΦΜ - analogue of TIN) is not difficult to obtain. It is needed for any official payments, including medical ones. Issued at the tax office (ΔΟΥ) if you have a residence permit or passport.

Practical advice for those moving to Greece

A few things to do before or immediately after moving.

1. Buy insurance before moving in. Many insurers sell international policies online - before obtaining a residence permit. This is mandatory for the visa package and provides coverage from day one.

2. Find “your” doctor (PHC). Greece has a system of family doctors through the EOPF. Even with private insurance, it is convenient to have one physician who takes your medical history.

3. Save medical documents from Russia. Particularly important: hospital extracts, data on chronic diseases, vaccination certificate. Translate into English - this will make it easier to work with Greek doctors.

4. Check your dental insurance coverage. Basic policies do not include dentistry. If you are planning treatment, choose an extended plan or pay separately (prices are reasonable).

5. Write down emergency numbers. Ambulance - 166. General EU emergency number - 112. Coast Guard (for islands) - 108.