Uninsured person's booklet
Note: The booklet for uninsured persons is the same as the Welfare booklet or the Poverty (economic hardship) booklet
Αliens who can be issued an uninsured person's booklet
The following can be issued an uninsured person's booklet (card):
- recognized political refugees and their family members (spouse and minor or dependent children) (presidential decree 266/1999) are eligible for free medical and hospital health care upon presentation of their refugee identity card;
- aliens who have filed an application for recognition of refugee status and such application is under consideration by the Ministry of Public Order, and their family members (spouse and minor or dependent children) (presidential decree No. 266/1999) are entitled to prompt and free medical and hospital health care by National Health System services, for the duration of the protection and assistance measures in place, upon presentation to the National Health System services of the relevant certificate issued by the competent Police Division expressly indicating the time period during which protection and assistance is afforded.
- uninsured aliens who are victims of the crimes set out in articles 323, 323 Α, 349, 351 and 351 Α of the Penal Code (pursuant to presidential decree 233/2003), are entitled to prompt and free medical and hospital care by National Health System services, for the duration of the protection and assistance measures in place, upon presentation to the National Health System services of the relevant certificate issued by the competent Police Division expressly indicating the time period during which protection and assistance is afforded.
- A new 2014 draft ministerial decision makes provision for more categories of eligible persons, whether uninsured or insured with any insurance fund who have outstanding debts to social security organizations and face health problems:
- aliens coming under the provisions of Law 3875/2010 «Ratification and implementation of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime...» and for the duration of the protection and assistance measures;
- alien doctors on a scholarship by the Greek State appointed to a post for specialty training, and their family members (spouse and children) for the duration of their training;
- aliens infected by HIV or other serious infectious diseases, and pursuant to para. E of article 11 of Law 2955/2001 (published in Government Gazette issue 256 A);
- persons who are registered with social security funds, and their family members (spouse and minor or dependent children) but are not entitled to healthcare benefits due to debts to such funds, are considered to be uninsured and are eligible for coming under this specific program subject to all pertinent conditions, provided they have filed a notice of cessation of trading with the competent Tax Office or a notice of inactive business status with the competent Tax Office, for the duration of such notice;
- Those persons whose health condition necessitates hospitalization or who are in need of constant medical treatment or rehabilitation as a result of refractory or chronic or rare diseases-illnesses (as evidenced by medical reports or reports by competent health committees) from which they suffer.
Social protection certificate
Aliens eligible for the social protection certificate
- Aliens holding a residence card for humanitarian (health) reasons and their family members, in the case of a proven health problem (presidential decree 266/1999 and Ministerial Decision 139491/2006) are eligible for free medical and hospital care upon presenting to National Health System services the special residence card for humanitarian reasons issued to such aliens. They are issued a social protection certificate for as long as the specific need for medical and hospital care services subsists and after this need has been certified by a state hospital certifying also the anticipated time of hospitalization and treatment of the disease (Ministerial Decision Υ4α/48566/2005 published in Government Gazette issue Β'/668/18.5.2005);
- Nationals of the States parties of the European Social Charter as well as the foreign spouses of Greek nationals or of persons of Greek origin or nationals of State Members of the European Union as well as their children (spouse and minor or dependent children) (Ministerial Decision No. 139491/2006)
Relevant legislation
Pursuant to Joint Ministerial Decision No. 139491/2006- November 2006 (Government Gazette issue No. Β/1747) the uninsured who have a low income may obtain an uninsured person’s booklet (card) in order to register with the Register of Uninsured and Financially Weak citizens kept at the competent Health or Welfare department of each Prefecture. This registration shall render them eligible for free of charge medical consultations, medicines, for hospitalization or transportation (as patients) at no cost. The uninsured person’s booklet is issued for a term of one year, on the basis of income criteria, to Greek nationals, nationals of European Union Member States, to persons of Greek origin and to nationals of the countries that have ratified the European Convention on Social and Medical Assistance, provided that they lawfully and permanently reside in Greece. More specifically, the following are eligible for obtaining the said uninsured person’s booklet: «Greek nationals or persons of Greek ethnic origin (holders of the special Ethnic Greek Identity Card) or stateless persons or nationals of European Union Member States, who are not insured and their annual family income does not exceed the amount of 6,000 Euros, increased by 20% for the spouse and for each minor or dependent child, on the condition that this income is not gained from a professional activity that would entitle such person to health insurance coverage.
- The above defined income is increased by 50% in the cases of persons with disability of 67% and higher.
- Income is understood as the taxable actual or imputed income and the income that is tax-exempt or is taxed under special provisions».
Circular Υ4α/οικ. 85777/16-9-2013 (ΑΔΑ: ΒΛ90Θ-ΟΘΣ) amends circular Υ4α/οικ. 70456/25-7-2013 (ΑΔΑ: ΒΛ4ΜΘ-2ΟΛ), concerning: «Clarifications with respect to the approval procedure for free hospital and medical care services to holders of an ‘economic hardship card’ and to uninsured and financially weak Aliens within the Hellenic Territory», as to the following: «When the prescribed procedure has been completed by the hospital, and upon the final approval by the Hospital Manager or his deputy, the interventional procedure shall be performed, the devices-medical aids as well as disposable medical supplies for chronic diseases shall be provided, without the need of any further forwarding and approval by the Ministry of Health». Only specifically defined cases shall still be submitted to the approval of the Ministry of Health, pursuant to the procedure specified in the amended circular, as referred to in the following website
