Debts to e-ΕΦΚΑ: about 400 thousand Greeks risk being left without medical care

From March 1, thousands of freelance professionals, self-employed people and farmers risk being left without full health insurance due to debts to e-ΕΦΚΑ.

The deadline for paying off or restructuring insurance obligations expired on January 31, leaving those who failed to comply with the requirements to lose their insurability for the new insurance year.

According to market data and expert estimates, approx. 400,000 non-employees already have debts that, in some cases, have accumulated over years.

We are talking about professionals and farmers who cannot renew their insurance capacity and, as a result, are deprived of a full package of medical services.

Insured persons who have arrears only for 2025 may find themselves in a similar position – even if it concerns only one month.

IN e-ΕΦΚΑ warned in advance that on February 28, 2026, the insurance capacity for non-employed people will expire and it will be extended only to those who have repaid or settled debts for the period from January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2025.

To maintain full insurance, from March 1, citizens with debts had to pay their debts in full or arrange an installment plan until January 31, 2026.

It is important to note that only full payment of all debts – both to KEAO and for untransferred debts – ensures insurance capacity until February 28, 2027.

Partial payment without full repayment of the debt does not give the right to extend the insurance.

For debtors, the only way to maintain access to the system is to issue an installment plan. In this case, the insurance capacity is renewed monthly, subject to timely payment of premiums.

An exception is provided for those whose total debts to EFKA and KEAO do not exceed 100 euros. In this case, the insurance is valid until the end of the year without additional procedures.

At the same time, e-ΕΦΚΑ emphasizes that even with the loss of insurance capacity, citizens do not lose access to the public health care system.

All legal residents with valid AMKA retain the right to free treatment in public hospitals and medical centers.

However, the difference between the basic package for the uninsured and full coverage has a significant impact on everyday life.

Even for a regular prescription, a citizen without insurance coverage will have to go to a government agency, facing lines and delays.

If you have active insurance, the prescription is issued by EOPYY doctors at no additional cost.

Special attention is paid to technical glitches: payments are not always immediately reflected in the system, which is why some insured after March 1 may be incorrectly shown as uninsured.

In such cases, it is necessary to check the payment registration and, if necessary, contact the EFKA office to restore insurance capacity for the period from March 1, 2026 to February 28, 2027.

Salaried employees are less affected by these rules because their coverage capacity is automatically extended until February 2027 if they have at least 50 days of coverage in 2025 or in the last 12 months.

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