Social Security

Social Insurance Institute (IKA)

All employed in Greece are obliged to get a social insurance, beginning the first day of their employment. Every beneficiary is entitled to respective insurance scheme provided by IKA or any other organization such as OAED (State employment Services of Greece) and OGA (Organization of Agricultural Insurance).

IKA consists the major insurance organization in Greece.  Its income includes contribution from both the employers and employees which includes a portion of the gross income. At present IKA is covering health care benefits of more than 5.5 million workers and employees and pension benefits for about 0.83 million retirees. Those that are insured in IKA may continue their coverage for the pension scheme, medical care, or TEAM even after their termination from employment. However, certain conditions should be followed such as a) not currently employed and insured in IKA or another fund for employees, b) does not belong to a disability group, and/or c) have completed 500 days of insurance within the five years before their insurance with IKA ceased.

Benefits of IKA insurance include:

• Medical Care: Covers examination by GPs at IKA surgeries, family doctors and rural regional doctors and examinations at IKA laboratories. Additionally IKA covers a percentage of 85% should you be examined by a private practitioner providing the necessary documents within a deadline.
• Medication: Treatments administered by practitioners are either fully covered by your IKA insurance or contribute a 25% of the medicine price.
• Hospitalization: Full coverage of hospitalization is granted for all insured as well as every pensioner and their families. The insurance package includes IKA hospitals, state hospitals and affiliated clinics in addition to coverage abroad in the case treatment cannot be offered in Greece.
• Dental care which covers all sorts of dental treatment.
• Supplementary care for special health conditions i.e inhalers, eyeglasses, wheelchairs, disease treatments etc. that however requires the approval of an IKA Committee.
• Spa therapies.
• Transportation is covered by 80% by IKA for the patients.
• Maternity aid is the amount paid to women giving birth for a period of six moths after gestation.
• Pensions.