Modern healthcare in Greece is built on the National Health System (ESY), founded in 1983 by Law 1397/1983 to make healthcare a universal right rather than a privilege linked to one’s profession. Before the reform, care was fragmented and largely charity-based. ESY replaced this with a centralised, tax-funded public service. Today the system combines its public foundations with digital modernisation and public–private partnerships, while still feeling the effects of years of budget cuts.
How the System Is Organised
- ESY (National Health System): the network of public hospitals, health centres and rural clinics that provides care.
- e-EFKA (National Social Security Fund): collects contributions from employees, employers and the self-employed and manages insurance records linked to AMKA.
- EOPYY (National Organisation for Health Care Services): the purchaser of care. It contracts public hospitals, private doctors, labs and pharmacies so that insured people receive subsidised care.
- Other authorities: EOF regulates medicines and EODY manages public health and infectious diseases.
The Key to the System: AMKA
Almost everything runs through AMKA, the 11-digit social security number whose first six digits are your date of birth. Without it, you can usually only receive emergency care. Employees get it through their employer and the self-employed register directly. Foreign nationals can obtain AMKA with a valid residence permit; it cannot be obtained on a tourist visa. Having an AMKA does not by itself give you public health cover; contributions must be paid to e-EFKA. AMKA also powers e-prescriptions and the national electronic health record (MyHealth app).
Hospitals in Athens and Thessaloniki
Greek hospitals work on an on-duty rota (εφημερεύον). In an emergency you go to the public hospital on duty that day.
Athens
- Public hospitals: Evangelismos (the country’s largest, about 1,100 beds), Laiko, Georgios Gennimatas, Attikon University Hospital and KAT (trauma and orthopaedics).
- Specialist hospitals: Agios Savvas and Metaxa (oncology), Onassis Cardiac Surgery Centre, Agia Sofia (paediatrics), Dafni (psychiatry) and Elpis, the oldest hospital, serving since 1842.
- Private hospitals: Hygeia, Iaso, Metropolitan, Henry Dunant and Mitera. Some services are contracted with EOPYY, but private insurance is usually needed.
Thessaloniki
- Public hospitals: AHEPA University Hospital (about 680 beds), Papageorgiou General Hospital (about 800 beds), Ippokrateio and Theagenio Cancer Hospital.
- Private hospitals: Interbalkan Medical Center, Saint Luke’s (Agios Loukas) and Euromedica.
How the System Works for Foreign Residents
- Employed foreigners: non-EU nationals working legally in Greece are insured through e-EFKA and have the same public health rights as Greek citizens.
- Investors (Golden Visa / FIP): holders of a Greece Golden Visa or FIP permit who do not pay social security contributions must have comprehensive private health insurance to keep their residence status.
- EU citizens: can use their European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) for medically necessary public care; those who settle permanently need an AMKA.
- Asylum seekers and refugees: asylum seekers receive a PAAYPA number instead of AMKA; recognised refugees receive AMKA and the same access as Greek citizens.
- Undocumented migrants: everyone has access to emergency care, and volunteer-run solidarity clinics provide free care.
The private health insurance required for Greece Golden Visa and other residence permit applications is set by Greek immigration rules and joint ministerial decisions. The minimum limits that consulates and migration offices look for are:
Related guides: Greece FIP Visa (Passive Income): Requirements and Costs
Legal Minimum Cover Limits
| Type of cover | Minimum annual limit | Maximum co-payment |
|---|---|---|
| Inpatient / hospital care (full care in case of illness or accident) |
€10,000 | %20 |
| Outpatient / medical expenses (illness and accident) |
€1,500 | %20 |
| Permanent disability or death from accident | €15,000 | %20 |
Conditions Your Policy Must Meet
- Co-payment limit: the insurer must cover at least 80% of the bill, so your co-payment or deductible cannot exceed 20%. Some international premium policies with high deductibles do not meet this rule.
- Territory: the policy or insurance certificate must state that cover is valid “in the EU and specifically in Greece”.
- Duration: the policy should cover one year and be active when you apply.
Important: short-term travel health insurance with €30,000 cover, used for Schengen visas, is not accepted for a residence permit application. You need a long-term private health insurance policy.
Which Insurance Do Investors Choose?
- Minimum immigration insurance: basic packages from local Greek insurers, costing on average €100 to €250 a year depending on age. They are fully sufficient for the permit but offer little real cover in private hospitals.
- Real private health insurance: for investors who will actually live in Greece and want private hospital standards (such as Hygeia in Athens or Interbalkan in Thessaloniki). Annual limits start from €500,000, with higher premiums.
Cover Depending on Your Work Status
“I am not working.” Losing your job does not end your cover immediately:
- Transition period: depending on your accumulated contribution days (ένσημα), EOPYY cover can continue for a few months up to a year.
- Unemployment benefit: while you receive benefit from DYPA (formerly OAED), your health contributions are paid by the agency.
- Uninsured: under Law 4368/2016, people on low incomes keep free access to public hospitals and health centres, but cannot use EOPYY-contracted private doctors.
“I have a company / I am self-employed.” Business owners and the self-employed pay their own contributions:
- Registration: together with your tax registration (AFM) you register with e-EFKA as self-employed. Contributions depend on one of six income categories you choose; check the current amount of the lowest category with e-EFKA or your accountant.
- Employer duties: if you employ staff, you must also deduct and pay their e-EFKA/EOPYY contributions. Missed payments can put your AMKA and insurance status at risk.
Covering Your Family
An insured person can add a non-working spouse and children (usually up to 18, or 24 if studying) as indirectly insured family members (έμμεσα ασφαλισμένα μέλη) at no extra monthly cost.
- Registration: dependants are added through EFKA, in person at an office, via the 14900 helpline or through EFKA e-services once you have Taxisnet credentials.
- Rights: dependants have the same access as the insured person: EOPYY-subsidised medicines, contracted doctors and public hospital care.
- If your spouse also works: each working adult is insured separately, and children can be registered as dependants of either parent.
- Non-EU family members: with valid residence permits and AMKA numbers, they can be registered as dependants in the same way. Applying for permits and AMKA together helps avoid gaps in children’s cover.
- Supplementary private insurance: many families combine public EOPYY rights with a private policy for faster diagnostics, planned surgery and private rooms. Premiums vary widely by insurer, age and pre-existing conditions, so compare several providers.
Private Health Insurance Options
Many locals and expats add private insurance to ESY cover to avoid long waiting times for non-urgent surgery and specialist appointments.
| Plan type | Average monthly premium (age 28) | Annual cover limit | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local (Greece only) | €60 – €100 | €500,000 – €1,000,000 | Long-term residents who will be treated only in Greece. |
| Regional (international) | €100 – €200 | €1,000,000 – €2,400,000 | People who also want treatment elsewhere in Europe. |
| Global Premium | €300 – €500+ | €2,500,000 – €3,750,000+ | People who want worldwide cover and extras such as maternity and IVF. |
What to Know About Private Insurance
- Pre-existing conditions: private insurers usually exclude chronic conditions (specific exclusion) or cover them after a symptom-free period (moratorium). In rare cases they are accepted with an extra premium (loading).
- Waiting periods: typically 3–6 months for planned surgery and 10–18 months for maternity.
- Deductible: adding, for example, a €1,000 deductible can lower your premiums by up to 20%.
- Important: even if a private insurer excludes a chronic condition, the public system (ESY) covers it from the day you are registered.
Quick Reference Guide
| Need | Where to go |
|---|---|
| Medical emergency / ambulance | 166 (EKAV) or 112 (European emergency number) |
| Public hospital appointment | Call 14900 or use the e-EFKA / gov.gr portal |
| AMKA registration / activation | KEP (Citizen Service Centre) or an e-EFKA office |
| Hospital on duty today (Athens/Thessaloniki) | Call 166 or 1434, or check moh.gov.gr |
| Business owner / self-employed registration | e-EFKA, when registering your business (AFM) |
| EU cross-border healthcare questions | EOPYY contact point: [email protected] |
Sources:
- Greek Ministry of Health: National Health System (ESY) and on-duty hospitals (moh.gov.gr)
- e-EFKA: contributions for employees and the self-employed, indirect insurance (efka.gov.gr)
- EOPYY: contracted providers and co-payment rules
- Greek Government Gazette: Law 1397/1983 establishing ESY and Law 4368/2016 on healthcare for the uninsured
- Joint ministerial decisions on minimum health insurance for residence permit holders and Golden Visa investors
- OECD health statistics for Greece
Frequently Asked Questions
Are public hospitals free in Greece?
For legal residents with an AMKA whose contributions are paid, treatment in public (ESY) hospitals is largely free or heavily subsidised. Small co-payments may apply with contracted private doctors.
What is an AMKA number and who can get one?
AMKA is Greece’s 11-digit social security number and is needed to access healthcare. Employees, the self-employed and foreigners with a valid residence permit can obtain it at a KEP or an e-EFKA office.
Can tourists get an AMKA?
No. Tourist visas and short stays are not enough; you need a residence permit.
Is private health insurance mandatory for Golden Visa investors?
Yes. Golden Visa and FIP holders who do not pay contributions to e-EFKA must have comprehensive private health insurance to keep their residence permit.
What are the minimum limits for Golden Visa health insurance?
At least €10,000 for inpatient care, €1,500 for outpatient care and €15,000 for accidental death or permanent disability. The co-payment cannot exceed 20%.
Will I lose my cover if I become unemployed in Greece?
Not immediately. A transition period based on your contribution days applies, and while you receive unemployment benefit (DYPA) your health contributions are paid by the state.
What is PAAYPA and how is it different from AMKA?
PAAYPA is a temporary insurance and health number given to asylum seekers until their application is decided. If refugee status is granted, it is converted into a permanent AMKA.
Can I add my spouse and children to my Greek health cover?
Yes. Insured people can add their spouse and children up to 18 (24 if studying) as indirectly insured family members through e-EFKA at no extra cost.
Who pays my insurance if I start a company or work for myself?
Business owners and the self-employed register with e-EFKA themselves and pay monthly contributions according to the income category they choose.
Which number should I call in a medical emergency in Greece?
Call 166 for an ambulance, or the European emergency number 112.
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