IKA National Insurance & AMKA in Greece

Reciprocal IKA Insurance for Health Care for EU Citizens

Electronic Health Cards

The new electronic European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) has replaced form E111
for health insurance abroad for visitors and travellers within the EU. You can apply for
a card online at www.ehic.org.uk or at your local post office in the UK.
When you need to see a doctor or dentist in Greece just go along to your local IKA
office (The Social Insurance Foundation) with your EHIC card to make an
appointment. You can see an IKA registered GP or specialist free of charge, and IKA
prescriptions may be issued by them.
Officially the health card is only valid for short term visitors and travellers who are
normally resident in another EU country.

Pensioners

Pensioners who intend to take up residence in Greece and who are entitled to free
medical treatment in the United Kingdom or other EU country, also enjoy a similar
entitlement in Greece. They should produce to their local IKA office form S1
(previously E121) which is issued by their local Department of Health Office in the
United Kingdom, along with the required documents listed below, and they will be
issued with an IKA health book.

Unemployed

A person coming to look for work in Greece, who was unemployed in the UK or other
EU country, is entitled to free medical treatment in Greece if he/she produces to their
local IKA office form E119. In the UK this is also issued by the local Department of
Health Office. In both the above cases IKA will exchange the form for a medical
booklet. You will also need to take along the documents listed below.
Details on Umemployment Benefit for those who have worked and paid IKA
contributions in Greece here

Others..

Those moving permanently to live or work in Crete, who do not fit into any of the
above categories, can transfer from the UK health system to the Greek system (e.g.
for E106 / S1) BUT you usually have to pay into a state sickness insurance fund or a
private health care scheme to be covered for health care in most other EEA countries.
In Greece this means that when you transfer you will only be covered for the first year
to two years in Greece, depending on your previous contributions in the UK (or other
EU country).

Documents required for IKA health book under the reciprocal agreement for form
E121, E106 - now known as Form S1 and E119.

form S1 (E121 or E106) or E119
photocopy of passport
tax number for S1 / E121 and 119

Check at your local IKA office on arrival in Greece for updates.

Note:
Old E-form and replacement form (from NHS)

● E101 is now A1
● E102 is now A1
● E106 is now S1
● E109 is now S1
● E121 is now S1
● E112 is now S2

AMKA

AMKA (Αριθμος Μητρώου Κοινωνικής Ασφάλισης - Social Security Number) is
essentially the new Greek unified national insurance number for those living in Greece
- employers, employees, pensioners plus dependant members of their families are
required to obtain one.

AMKA replaces the registration number Αριθμό Μητρώου (ΑΜ) so far issued by
insurers to the insured persons and pensioners. The 13 different National Insurance
services of Greece (IKA, TEVE, TAXI, OGA etc) have until now all issued their own AM
numbers. AMKA will unify the National Insurance numbers.

IT IS COMPULSORY TO OBTAIN AN INDIVIDUAL AMKA NUMBER FOR ALL PERSONS
REGISTERED AS LIVING AND LEGALLY WORKING IN GREECE, INCLUDING AN
INDIVIDUAL AMKA NUMBER FOR ALL CHILDREN, OF ALL AGES.

Non-Greek PENSIONERS and their dependants, and others receiving health cover via
an S1 (E121 or E106) also each require an AMKA number.

According to information given by the AMKA Helpline, those Non-Greek citizens who
are not registered in Greece's social security system are NOT required to obtain AMKA
(e.g. those who live in Greece part time but are still primarily registered in their home
country, or those who do not work and pay contributions in Greece and who have
private medical insurance and do not yet qualify for a pension and health cover in
Greece.)

How to get an AMKA number
(But you may already have one!)

Firstly, if you are already insured, through IKA etc, check your 2009/2010 health book
sticker certification(Θεώρηση) for an AMKA number. It's possible you already have one.
If you are unsure whether or not you already have an AMKA number you can also try
checking online by filling in the form at www.amka.gr (although the form seems to
have a few glitches).
There is also an AMKA helpline on telephone number 11131

Don't forget that even if you have an AMKA number yourself, you will still have to
apply for a separate AMKA number for any children and other dependants.

Go to your local KEP office (Citizens Advice) to apply for any AMKA number with the
following documents for each family member:

1)Passport or Greek ID card.

2) Health book

3) "You may require a civil status document - 'πιστοποιητικό οικογενειακής κατάστασης'
officially translated into Greek, where the passport or documents do not contain the
required information for the inventory." This from the AMKA website. Basically the extra
information they need is your father and mother's names. Showing a tax return, for
example, with this information should suffice.

4)For dependent children - a copy of the πιστοποιητικού οικογενειακής κατάστασης or
birth certificate.

AMKA CARD

An AMKA card will be centrally issued and sent to your postal address once you have
obtained an AMKA number.

Working And Paying National Insurance Contributions

Employees

If you are employed in Greece your employer should be making National Insurance
contributions for you, usually IKA, although there are others such as 'TAXI' for hotel
employees - the information here is with regards to IKA as this is the most common.

IKA contributions are expensive (around 30% of your salary) and until fairly recently
many employers have tended to exploit workers by not paying their National
Insurance. However the authorities are keen to stamp out this practice and the
majority of employers nowadays go by the book as they are not prepared to risk
hefty fines.

Contributions should be made monthly by an employer. If you are employed full time
you will have around 25 days 'stamps' (contributions, days work) per month. IKA send
statements (via your employer, for you) with your number of days IKA paid per 3
month period.

Obtaining an IKA Health Book

A minimum of 50 days IKA payments are required to apply for an IKA health book,
which entitles you to free medical care and reduced price prescriptions.

Once you have acquired 50 days 'stamps' you can obtain your IKA health book
immediately by taking along your statements from IKA showing your contributions (or
a validation from your employer's accountant) together with 3 photos and your
passport to the IKA office and one should be issued to you on the spot. The health
book is valid yearly from March 1st to February 28th of the following year, and must
be renewed yearly in February. You must have a minimum of 50 days IKA
contributions in each year to renew the health book for the following year.

Don't fit in the categories above?

If you do not fit into any of the categories above, or if you are a non EU citizen and
not covered by the reciprocal agreement, you will need to pay for medical treatment in
Greece. It's advisable that you take out private medical insurance for health cover in
Greece.
Seasonal workers and others may wish to opt for extra cover such as medical
transportation home in the event of an illness or accident, or treatment in private
medical centres in Crete. There are policies available for short term medical insurance,
as well as yearly policies, with various companies.

Doctors Appointments

You can make an appointment for any specialist doctor under the IKA scheme by
phoning 184 the national appointments phone line . (If you are a non Greek speaker
you may have difficulties - try and have a translator handy!).
You will not be required to pay for treatment. Prescriptions given under the IKA
scheme may be taken to any chemist where you will be charged just 25% of the full
cost.