Planning for the Future: Choosing the Right Insurance
As a Greek citizen spending time abroad, the type of insurance you need will depend on your situation – whether you're relocating to a new country, traveling for an extended period, or just taking a short trip.
For example, you may require health insurance to cover medical expenses if you become sick or injured while living overseas, or travel insurance to protect against trip cancellations, lost luggage, or delays during a vacation. If you're planning for the future, you might also consider life insurance to provide financial security for your loved ones in the event of your passing.
Whatever your situation, choosing the right type of insurance will help you prepare for any circumstance while living or traveling abroad. To help you understand your options and stay fully protected, this article provides an overview of health, travel, and life insurance for Greek citizens living and traveling abroad.
As a Greek citizen spending time abroad, the type of insurance you need will depend on your situation – whether you're relocating to a new country, traveling for an extended period, or just taking a short trip.
For example, you may require health insurance to cover medical expenses if you become sick or injured while living overseas, or travel insurance to protect against trip cancellations, lost luggage, or delays during a vacation. If you're planning for the future, you might also consider life insurance to provide financial security for your loved ones in the event of your passing.
Whatever your situation, choosing the right type of insurance will help you prepare for any circumstance while living or traveling abroad. To help you understand your options and stay fully protected, this article provides an overview of health, travel, and life insurance for Greek citizens living and traveling abroad.
Health Insurance for Greek Expats
As of 2023, it is estimated that over 5 million people of Greek origin live in about 140 countries around the world. This large group, known as Omogenia or the Greek diaspora, illustrates how widely Greek communities have spread across the globe. For this diverse and dispersed population, having adequate coverage is essential.
Whether you are living abroad for work, retirement, or other reasons, knowing how to access healthcare should be a top priority. However, depending on the country you are in, access to free or national healthcare, including emergency services, may be limited or unavailable. In such cases, securing the right insurance will ensure that you and your family are covered for medical expenses. This will give you peace of mind no matter where you are.
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Which Countries Have a Reciprocal Healthcare Agreement with Greece?
Greece has reciprocal healthcare agreements with several countries, allowing Greek citizens to access healthcare services abroad under specific conditions. For instance, they can use their European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) to receive necessary public healthcare in EU member states. This also applies to Switzerland and European Economic Area (EEA) countries, including Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein.
However, the EHIC is only valid for temporary stays in the region. For longer stays, Greek citizens may need to complete an S1 form to continue accessing healthcare. Without this, they may need to purchase private health coverage or pay out-of-pocket, which can be costly.
It's important to note that the EHIC covers only 'medically necessary' emergency and public healthcare services. It does not include planned treatments, non-emergency care, or private healthcare services. Additionally, it does not cover rescue and repatriation costs. For example, if you are injured while participating in risky activities such as skiing, the EHIC will not cover rescue services or the costs of returning to Greece. You would need to pay these costs yourself or have separate insurance to cover them.
Post-Brexit, Greek citizens can still use their EHIC to access healthcare during temporary visits to the UK. However, this coverage might change, so it is advisable to have additional health insurance when visiting or residing in the UK. Greece also has a reciprocal healthcare agreement with Australia. This allows Greek citizens to access necessary medical treatment during temporary stays in the country.
The Best Health Insurance Plans for Greek Expats
If you have been living in Greece, you might have used your AMKA, Greek social security insurance, or private coverage to access healthcare in the country. However, when living abroad, you will need international coverage to ensure you have access to adequate healthcare services. There are several options depending on where you plan to live.
The Best Health Insurance Plans for the EU
As mentioned, reciprocal healthcare for Greek people in the EU is limited to “medically necessary” care only. Therefore, you will need to arrange global health insurance to get full coverage, including repatriation.
Cigna Global and IMG Global Prima offer EU-focused health plans with various levels of coverage to fit your needs and budget. These are excellent choices for Greek expats and families planning to live in European countries long-term, thanks to their specific European coverage options:
- Cigna Global: Provides affordable, comprehensive coverage in Europe. Cigna's product is completely customizable, so you can include only the necessary benefits and choose your deductible, helping reduce your monthly premium.
- IMG Global Prima Medical Insurance: Offers an exclusive European-coverage-only customizable plan, setting it apart from other options and making it appealing to European expats living on the continent.
The Best Health Insurance Plans for the U.S.
The U.S. healthcare system is notorious for being complicated and costly. A U.S.-based plan is the best way for Greek expats to navigate this system and avoid large out-of-pocket medical bills:
- GeoBlue Xplorer Premier: The plan provides full coverage for Greek citizens living in the U.S. with the industry's best benefits, coverage, and service levels through GeoBlue's U.S. Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO Network. However, this plan is unavailable in New York, Maryland, Washington, and North Dakota.
- Cigna Global: Offers a comprehensive, customizable worldwide plan with U.S. coverage that can be tailored to your specific health needs and preferences.
Greek expats needing worldwide coverage have a couple of options to choose from, as follows:
IMG Global Prima Medical Insurance Plan
- Five plan options and additional optional benefits to include
- Choice of the coverage area to reflect your geographical area of need
- Freedom to choose your health care provider wherever you are in the world
Cigna Global Insurance Plan
- The flexibility to tailor a plan to suit your individual needs
- Access to Cigna Global’s trusted network of hospitals and doctors
- The convenience and confidence of 24/7/365 customer service
Notably, if you want to save on insurance costs while still having coverage for both your home country and another destination, Cigna Close Care can be a more cost-effective choice than broader global plans. This is because it provides targeted coverage for these specific regions.
Travel Insurance for Greek Residents
Whether you're a frequent flyer or planning a single trip abroad, travel insurance can protect your health, travel expenses, belongings, travel plans, or all of the above. Depending on the plan you choose, it can help you recoup costs if your trip is canceled, replace lost luggage, provide top-quality medical care anywhere in the world. It can also cover risky activities like parasailing or scuba diving.
For Greek residents traveling abroad, selecting the right plan is crucial for ensuring financial protection and peace of mind throughout your journey.
Trip Cancellation Insurance
If you only need basic coverage for trip cancellation, you might want to consider World Nomads. It offers reimbursement for non-refundable expenses due to covered reasons like illness, injury, or death of you or a close family member. It also covers the costs of returning home early and rescheduling or rebooking if your trip is disrupted by covered events.
However, the ideal plan should cover unexpected medical expenses, including hospital stays, doctor visits, and emergency medical evacuation. It should also protect against trip interruptions, lost luggage, and other unforeseen incidents that can impact your travel experience.
Read More: Trip Cancellation Insurance
Travel Medical Insurance
Greek citizens traveling overseas can choose from several travel medical insurance plans, depending on where they are going.
Traveling Outside the US
- Atlas International: Offers worldwide medical coverage, excluding the United States. It includes features such as translation assistance while being treated, doctor and hospital referrals, and assistance in replacing lost prescriptions.
- Trawick Safe Travels International: Provides global coverage for Greek citizens traveling outside the United States, with comprehensive benefits and various levels to suit all budgets.
- IMG Patriot Platinum: Offers extensive coverage, including inpatient and outpatient services, emergency care, dental treatment, and lost luggage. The plan is available for as little as five days and you can renew it for up to three years, with flexible renewal options in monthly or daily increments.
Traveling to the US
- Trawick's Safe Travels USA: The best plan option for Greek citizens visiting the United States. It includes medical, evacuation, and repatriation coverage, with options for coverage ranging from five to 364 days, and extensions available.
- Atlas America Insurance: Offers similar benefits with flexible coverage durations and extension options.
- Patriot America Platinum: Provides comprehensive benefits, including medical coverage, emergency evacuation, and repatriation, tailored for travelers visiting the U.S., with flexible policy durations and high coverage limits.
Read More: Travel Health Insurance
Annual Travel Insurance
If you plan to travel overseas several times a year, you may want to consider buying annual travel insurance or multi-trip coverage. These plans cover a whole year of travel up to a certain maximum duration for each journey.
Patriot Multi-Trip is a great option for Greek citizens, families, and groups of five or more who travel frequently outside Greece throughout the year. You can renew it for up to 36 months and choose a maximum trip duration of 30, 60, or 90 days per trip.
Read More: Annual Travel Insurance
Life Insurance for Greek Citizens Overseas
Planning for the future is essential, especially for Greek citizens living or traveling abroad, and life insurance plays a key role in this. It ensures your family is financially supported if you pass away, covering expenses like funeral costs, debts, and ongoing living expenses.
This protection becomes even more crucial when you’re living or traveling internationally, where local insurance options might be limited or non-existent. If you have a domestic life insurance policy, review it before moving abroad to ensure it doesn’t exclude coverage for deaths overseas. If it does, consider switching to an international plan for complete protection.
An international plan guarantees that beneficiaries receive a death benefit even if the policyholder dies abroad, regardless of where they are. This can give you peace of mind, allowing you to focus on your work, travel, or adventures without worrying about your family’s financial future.
Term Life and Whole Life Plans
You can choose between two main types of international life insurance: term life and whole life. Term life plans are popular with expats and travelers because they come with affordable premiums and flexible coverage options.
These plans are cost-effective and adjustable to suit different needs. Whole life plans, on the other hand, offer lifetime coverage and a guaranteed death benefit, which is particularly appealing to those concerned about future health changes and securing insurance later. Each option has its benefits, allowing you to choose the plan that best meets your needs.
The Best Life Insurance Plans for Greek Citizens
Greek citizens can choose from reputable life insurers such as William Russell and Unisure, which both offer comprehensive and reliable coverage tailored for international lifestyles:
- William Russell: A leading provider of both international life and health insurance. They are an excellent choice for Greek expats, offering the convenience of combining both types of coverage into a single policy.
- Unisure: Provides a range of options including Term Life, Whole Life, and annually renewable plans. You can also add extra benefits, such as Accidental Death and Waiver of Premium riders.
Read More: International Life Insurance
Protecting Yourself and Your Family
Whether you're a Greek expat living abroad or a traveler visiting multiple countries, choosing the right insurance is essential for peace of mind. Health, travel, and life insurance provide the protection you need against the unexpected, ensuring your financial security and access to necessary services.
So before you embark on your journey, take the time to evaluate your situation, understand your needs, and select the insurance plan that best covers you and your loved ones, no matter where life takes you.
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Author: Emily Cotlier is a senior editor at International Citizens Insurance. She has made the move from the U.S.A. to New Zealand. For International Insurance, she clarifies international visa and immigration requirements, shares travel resources, and advises on relocation challenges. She’s traveled through five continents and Oceania, and she still loves to travel both in Aotearoa New Zealand and around the world.