Jason P. Says:
I’m interested in retiring to Greece, but I’d like to know how healthcare there works for non-citizens.
IL Contributor Lynn Roulo Writes:
I’ve lived in Greece for eight years now, and I’ve had a wide range of experience, visiting both public and private medical facilities, and I’m happy to report you can get high-quality medical care in Greece.
Greece does offer socialized healthcare and the government operates a National Health System (ESY) that gives free or low-cost healthcare to all residents who qualify. However, if you’re from a non-EU country and are not paying into the Greek social security system (e.g. you’ve come from the United States to retire in Greece, or you’re a non-EU digital nomad living in Greece), you will either have to pay out of pocket, or invest in private health insurance.
For my first three years in Greece, I maintained an international healthcare plan through GeoBlue that would have allowed me to return to the United States for treatment should I have become seriously ill. During this time, I went to local Greek doctors for all of my needs and submitted claims when appropriate.
After three years, I felt much more confident in the quality of the Greek system, so I switched from the more expensive GeoBlue plan to Greek private health insurance at about half the cost.
There is a wide range of plans and coverage available in Greece, and you can work with a broker to determine the best plan for you. While there are many options, a typical plan offers coverage of 80% to 85% of your medical treatment and services within the private healthcare network. There are many brokers who speak fluent English who can help you find a plan suitable for your situation.
For all residents, regardless of visa or residency status, if you have an emergency and need to go to a hospital, a Greek public hospital will provide your medical care for free. The situation doesn’t need to be life-threatening, but it does need to be roughly the equivalent of what would require an emergency room visit in the United States.
For example, I developed an eye infection one summer that wasn’t life-threatening, but it did require a visit to a hospital. The hospital visit was free (a pleasant surprise), and the prescription for treatment cost €4.
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