Healthcare in Greece for expats
How Greece’s system treats a foreign resident: whether you can use public care, how you enroll after you land, the standard of care, and what private cover costs.
Official sourceeu-healthcare.eopyy.gov.gr
Public + private mix
Good
Solid — best in the cities
$50–120/mo
Healthy adult aged 30–45. A starting band, not a quote.
Can a foreign resident use public healthcare in Greece?
Residents get an AMKA social-security number and, once contributing via EFKA (or holding an S1), register with EOPYY to use public healthcare on the same basis as Greek citizens.
Source: eu-healthcare.eopyy.gov.gr →How do you enroll in healthcare after moving to Greece?
Employees get an AMKA number and EFKA coverage through work; financially-independent and nomad residents must keep the full private insurance their permit requires — public access without contributions is minimal.
Fromthe Greece arrival checklist· checked July 2026
How much does private health insurance cost in Greece?
About $50–120 a month for a healthy adult aged 30 to 45 — a directional band for private cover, not a quote, and premiums climb with age and pre-existing conditions. A comprehensive international plan that follows you across borders is priced separately and often starts around $150 a month.
Compare international health insurance →What works well in Greece, and what to watch out for
What works well
Once you hold an AMKA and EOPYY cover, public care is inexpensive, and private clinics in Athens and Thessaloniki are good value with many English-speaking doctors.
Watch out for
Public hospitals can be under-resourced with waiting lists and informal gaps, so most expats carry private insurance; you must secure an AMKA and a contribution route first.
Care-standard labels are a general, directional summary of a system's reputation — not a judgment that any country is safe or suitable for your specific health needs. This is information, not medical or insurance advice: confirm your own eligibility with the official source and get a private quote for your situation.
Systems and eligibility change and vary by residency status, region, and age — this is directional information current as of 2026, not medical or insurance advice. Confirm your own public-access eligibility with the official source, and get a private quote for your situation, before relying on either.
Healthcare elsewhere in Europe
- PortugalUniversal public · Good careUniversal publicGood$40–90/mo
- SpainUniversal public · Strong careUniversal publicStrong$50–110/mo
- ItalyUniversal public · Strong careUniversal publicStrong$50–110/mo
- FranceUniversal public · World-class careUniversal publicWorld-class$40–100/mo
- CroatiaUniversal public · Good careUniversal publicGood$40–90/mo
- CyprusUniversal public · Good careUniversal publicGood$50–120/mo
- MaltaUniversal public · Strong careUniversal publicStrong$50–110/mo
- GermanyPublic + private mix · World-class carePublic + private mixWorld-class$110–250/mo
Greece, side by side
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Information only, not legal advice — we never file anything with any government. Requirements change; verify with the official source or a licensed immigration advisor before you apply.