THE NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE
In 1983, a national health-service (IKA) was introduced in common with many other countries of southern Europe. Medical training is of a high standard and the standards of hygiene are high and hospital viruses
are almost non-existent.
Not surprisingly, health care costs per head in Greece are the lowest in the European Union and the
country spends a relatively small percentage of its GDP on health. Public and private medicine operate alongside each other in Greece and complement one another, although public health facilities are limited
in some areas, particularly on the islands. Transfers from provincial and island hospitals to hospitals in
Athens or other major hospitals (e.g. the University Hospital at Ionnina) are common.
The government is currently improving the health system and a substantial investment (much of which
comes from EU funding) is being made on upgrading the country’s existing hospitals, building new
facilities, developing mobile medical units, installing high-tech equipment, and improving accident
and emergency facilities.
Greece’s public health system (IKA) provides free or low cost health care for those who contribute to
Greek social security, plus their families and retirees (including those from other EU countries). Members
are charged 25 per cent of the actual cost of prescriptions, although there are higher charges for
non-essential medicines plus substantial contributions for many services, including spectacles, dentures
and other treatment. Essential dental treatment is largely free.
If you don’t qualify for health care under the public health system, it’s essential to have private
health insurance.
Visitors to Greece should have holiday health insurance if they aren’t covered by a reciprocal arrangement. Note that the EU Health Card (old Form E-111) covers basic medical care only and it’s advisable to have
extra holiday insurance to cover eventualities such as repatriation.
Greeks are among the world’s healthiest people and have one of the highest life expectancies in the EU.
The incidence of heart disease is among the lowest in the world, which is attributed in large part to their
diet (which includes lots of garlic, olive oil and red wine), as is that of cancers. However, the country has a
high rate of smoking-related health problems and the proportion of smokers is one of the highest in the EU.
DOCTORS, HOSPITALS & CHEMISTS
Doctors
You aren’t required to register with a doctor in Greece and may choose a doctor, dentist or specialist from
the approved IKA list. If you need to see a specialist you don’t need a referral from your doctor. Specialists generally have waiting lists, but if it’s urgent you can usually pay to see a private specialist and claim up
to 85 per cent of the cost from IKA afterwards.
Hospitals
Emergency treatment is free to all nationalities in public hospitals and there are outpatient clinics
(yatr’a) attached to hospitals in rural areas. They’re typically open from 8am to noon and treat minor health problems and it’s often easier to obtain prompt emergency treatment here than at a public hospital.
There are 24-hour emergency hospitals in major towns and on the large islands, and private hospitals and clinics in major towns and resort areas. English-speaking Greek doctors and foreign doctors practise in
resort areas and major cities, and advertise in the local expatriate press. In a medical emergency you
should phone 166 for an ambulance.
Chemists
Pharmacists are highly qualified in Greece and you can obtain treatment for minor ailments at chemists (farmak’o) as well as medical advice. In larger towns and resort areas, pharmacists often speak English.
Pharmacies aren’t usually open in the afternoon or at weekends, but a duty roster is posted in pharmacy windows and published in the local press indicating the nearest pharmacy that's open outside normal
business hours.
Homeopathic remedies are widespread and there are homeopathic pharmacies in most large towns.
HEALTH INSURANCE
If you’re visiting, living or working in Greece, it’s extremely risky not to have health insurance for your
family, because if you’re uninsured or under-insured you could be faced with some very high medical bills.
When deciding on the type and extent of health insurance, make sure that it covers all your family’s
present and future health requirements before you receive a large bill. A health insurance policy should
cover you for all essential health care whatever the reason, including accidents, e.g. sports accidents, and injuries, whether they occur in your home, at your place of work or when travelling. Don’t take anything
for granted, but check in advance.
If you’re planning to take up residence in Greece and will be contributing to Greek social security, you
and your family will be entitled to subsidised or (in certain cases) free medical and dental treatment. The
Greek national health system is operated by the Idrima Kinonikon Asfalisseon (IKA).
When you start work or retire to Greece you must obtain a medical booklet (iatrico vivliario) from your local
IKA office, which must be presented each time you visit a doctor or hospital. Doctor and hospital treatment within the Greek system is free, but you will be charged 25 per cent of the cost of prescriptions
(pensioners pay 10 per cent).
Most foreign residents also subscribe to a complementary health insurance fund that pays the portion
of medical bills that isn’t paid by social security. Residents who don’t contribute to social security should
have private health insurance, which is mandatory for non-EU residents when applying for a visa or
residence permit. Note that some foreign insurance companies don’t provide sufficient cover to satisfy
Greek regulations, therefore you should check the minimum cover necessary with a Greek consulate in
your country of residence.
If you live in a remote area of Greece that isn’t covered by a local IKA office, you’ll have to pay the cost
of any medical treatment in advance and re-claim it from the nearest IKA office. However, the refund will
be only a proportion of the cost (up to around 85 per cent) and you will be responsible for the balance.
If you receive treatment under these circumstances, it’s necessary to obtain receipts and documentation
in order to make a claim.
VISITORS HEALTH INSURANCE
Visitors spending short periods in Greece, e.g. up to a month, should have a travel health insurance
policy, particularly if they aren’t covered by an international health policy.
If you plan to spend up to six months in Greece you should either take out a travel policy, a special
long-stay policy or an international health policy, which should cover you in your home country and when travelling in other countries. Note that premiums vary considerably and it’s important to shop around.
Most international health policies include repatriation or evacuation (these may be optional), which may
also include shipment (by air) of the body of a person who has died abroad to his home country for burial.
Note that an international policy also allows you to choose to have non-urgent medical treatment in the
country of your choice.
Most international insurance companies offer health policies for different areas, e.g. Europe, world-wide excluding North America, and world-wide including North America.
Most companies offer different levels of cover, for example, basic, standard, comprehensive and prestige
levels of cover. There’s always an annual limit on the total annual medical costs, which should be at least €300,000 (although many provide cover of up to €1.2 million), and some companies also limit the fees for specific treatment or care, such as specialists’ fees, operations and hospital accommodation. A medical examination isn’t usually required for international health policies, although pre-existing health problems
are excluded for a period, e.g. one or two years.
Claims are usually settled in major currencies and large claims are usually settled directly by insurance companies (although your choice of hospitals may be limited). Always check whether an insurance
company will settle large medical bills directly, because if you’re required to pay bills and claim
reimbursement from an insurance company, it can take several months before you receive your money
(some companies are slow to pay). It isn’t usually necessary to translate bills into English or another language, although you should check a company’s policy. Most international health insurance companies provide emergency telephone assistance.
The cost of international health insurance varies considerably depending on your age and the extent of
cover. Note that with most international insurance policies, you must enrol before you reach a certain age,
e.g. between 60 and 80, to be guaranteed continuous cover in your old age.
Premiums can sometimes be paid monthly, quarterly or annually, although some companies insist on payment annually in advance. When comparing policies, carefully check the extent of cover and exactly
what is included and excluded from a policy (often this is indicated only in the very small print), in addition
to premiums and excess charges.
In some countries, premium increases are limited by law, although this may apply only to residents of the country where a company is registered, and not to overseas policyholders. Although there may be
significant differences in premiums, generally you get what you pay for and can tailor premiums to your requirements.
The most important questions to ask yourself are: does the policy provide the cover required and is it
good value for money? If you’re in good health and are able to pay for your own out-patient treatment, such
as visits to your family doctor and prescriptions, then the best value may be a policy covering only
specialist and hospital treatment.
