Cross Border Healthcare in the EU
Cross border healthcare in Greece is part of a broader European framework that allows citizens of the European Union (EU) to receive healthcare services in any EU/European Economic Area (EEA) member state. This mechanism, supported by Directive 2011/24/EU on patients’ rights in cross border healthcare and by the Social Security Regulations (EC) 883/2004 & 987/2009, sets the conditions under which citizens can receive medical care abroad, choose the country in which they receive it, and benefit from the corresponding financial coverage. An additional benefit available under Cross Border Healthcare is the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC).
European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)
Health Insurance Card (EHIC).
European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)
The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) provides access to medically necessary and urgent healthcare during temporary stays in any EU country, as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.
The EHIC is issued only to insured individuals with active insurance coverage, upon submitting an application via the e‑EFKA website or gov.gr using Taxisnet credentials. Applications may be submitted on behalf of directly or indirectly insured individuals, and the card is sent by mail after a temporary replacement certificate is issued. Applicants may also apply through Citizen Service Centers (KEP).
The EHIC does not replace travel insurance, does not cover private healthcare, and does not guarantee free services in all countries, since healthcare systems differ.
(Here you can find more information regarding the European Health Insurance Card.)
Directive 2011/24/EU
Patients who choose to receive healthcare services abroad have two main options for financial coverage:
- Through the Social Security Regulations (EC) 883/2004 & 987/2009, or
- Through Directive 2011/24/EU.
Directive 2011/24/EU serves as the legal framework for cross‑border healthcare and sets the procedures that patients must follow to receive care in another EU country. The Directive covers medical expenses as well as the prescription and dispensing of medicines and medical devices.
Under this framework, EU citizens have the right to travel to another member state to receive medical care and then request reimbursement from their national health insurance body.
The Directive also establishes a network of National Contact Points (NCPs) in all member states, which cooperate to provide patients with clear and reliable information about available healthcare options abroad. Additionally, it defines rules for the cross‑border recognition of prescriptions, ensuring that patients can obtain medicines prescribed in one EU country from providers in another.
National Contact Point (NCP)
In Greece, the National Contact Point (NCP) operates under the National Organization for the Provision of Health Services (EOPYY). It is responsible for providing information regarding cross‑border healthcare, offering support and guidance to citizens who wish to receive medical care in another EU country, and providing information about reimbursement procedures.
The NCP website serves as the main information source, offering easy access to contact details and instructions for application submission.
(Here you can find more information about the National Contact Point).
Social Security Regulations
Regulation 883/2004 deals with the coordination of social security systems among participating countries, while Regulation 987/2009 defines the procedures for implementing Regulation 883/2004.
Together, Social Security Regulations (EC) 883/2004 & 987/2009 allow citizens to receive healthcare abroad as if they were insured under the social security system of the country of treatment. Meanwhile, Directive 2011/24/EU allows reimbursement based on the price levels of the patient’s home country.
These regulations also cover special categories of patients such as posted workers, frontier workers, and pensioners living in another member state outside their country of insurance. In such cases, healthcare provision abroad may occur through permanent agreements between member states.
