Foreigners that had national health insurance in their own country of the European Community and would be eligible for it without having to work in their home country are usually eligible for national health insurance in Greece - if they decide to live here permanently. IKA would be the national insurer of Greece for these situations. Paperwork from the home country is presented here at the IKA office in Kalamata to prove that the home country guarantees that the person is eligible for benefits, along with two copies of your passport, one photograph, the paperwork from your home country's insurance (Form E 121), and two photocopies of the long verification of a tax number issued by the tax office. This is usually then renewed as per the home country's paperwork declaration of period of time the paperwork is valid. I believe it is also possible to buy this insurance instead of private insurance if desired.
This medical insurance gives you the right to have testing and physician visits at the IKA medical offices in Kalamata, and some small charges are added at the time of visit for certain services. They can also direct for other tests and procedures necessary. There is a hospital in Kalamata that at times of hospitalization will accept this health insurance, and it does cover some of the costs. Many people I am told have additional private health insurance to cover the extras that might be needed.
The local clinic at Ag. Nikolaos is basically for the farmers insurance, but will handle minor matters for IKA patients - minor treatment and emergencies, writing of prescriptions for a chronic medical problem after having been cleared by the IKA office in Kalamata. The local clinic is not for overnight stays, nor does it have full laboratories or equipment for major diagnostic testing.
For those with a chronic medication need, it is possible to see the physician in Kalamata on a routine basis, and medication prescriptions that are needed in the in the interim can be prescribed by the local clinic after obtaining the proper form from the office in Kalamata.
submitted by shelleymanolea@netscape.net
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