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GESY or Private Medical Insurance? A guide for expatriates in Cyprus.


Welcome to Cyprus!

This guide is designed primarily for newcomers to this beautiful island, but even if you have been living in Cyprus for a while, you may still benefit from it. Our aim is to provide you with the necessary information to understand the healthcare system in Cyprus, empowering you to make well-informed choices regarding your health and wellness.


What is GHS/GESY and Who is it For?


GESY, also known as the General Healthcare System, is healthcare initiative in Cyprus designed to provide comprehensive healthcare services to all permanent residents and Cypriot citizens. This inclusive system also extends its benefits to foreigners, depending on their immigration status. To determine your eligibility, you can visit the GESY portal.


Enrollment Process


Enrolling in GESY is straightforward but requires adherence to specific criteria. To submit an enrollment request, you must:


  • Be registered in the Civil Registry or the Registry of the Migration Department and/or the Social Insurance Services.

  • Possess a valid residence permit (for non-Cypriot nationals).


Having a personal doctor can significantly simplify the enrollment process. Your doctor can complete the application on your behalf, ensuring all necessary details are accurately submitted. Alternatively, you can register online by creating an account and providing additional information such as your address and contact details. For those without Internet access, enrollment can be done by third parties with an account in the Beneficiary Portal, provided this is done with your consent.


Coverage and Payments


GESY is designed to make healthcare universally accessible, recognizing that healthcare is a fundamental necessity rather than a luxury. The funding consists of two main components:


  1. Contributions: Funding for GESY comes from contributions by employees, employers, self-employed individuals, pensioners, and the state. The contribution rates are as follows:

  • Employees: 2.65%

  • Employers: 2.9%

  • Self-employed individuals: 4%

  • Pensioners: 2.65%

  • State: 4.7%

These contributions are structured to ensure a sustainable and comprehensive  healthcare system.


2. Co-payments: For services that go beyond the basic entitlements, such as specific medications or specialist services, minimal co-payments are required. These co-payments are kept affordable to maintain the system's accessibility to necessary healthcare.


Let's explore this in detail:


  • A visit to a specialist doctor costs 6 EUR.


  • A visit to a specialist doctor without referral from PD costs 25 EUR.


  • A visit to a specialist doctor after 8pm or weekends could cost 25 EUR.


  • If a patient exceeds the number of visits allowed by GESY, the PD (Personal Doctor) or Pediatrician will charge 15 EUR per visit. Example: adults between 18-40 years old are allowed 4 free visits per year. If they exceed this number, they must pay 15 EUR per visit. Children between 11-18 years old are allowed 3 free visits per year. If they exceed this number, they must pay 15 EUR per visit.


  • Co-payments apply: Beneficiaries must pay co-payment of one euro (see table below) per medicine and per prescription. In addition to the Co-payment, beneficiaries may need to pay Contribution II. Contribution II is the cost difference between the cheapest alternative which is fully reimbursed by the GHS and the prescribed product. If the beneficiary prefers the more expensive product, he/she will be burdened by the cost difference between the cheapest medicine, within a given category, and the prescribed medicine (Contribution II).



Comparing Public And Private Insurance



Drawbacks of GESY


- Covers Treatments in Cyprus only: GESY covers treatments only in Cyprus. In special circumstances and serious cases, you may apply to the GESY committee to have your treatment abroad.


- You can visit only a specific Personal Doctor (PD): With GESY you must select one General Practitioner who is your focal point of contact. In case you must visit a specialist doctor, for example, orthopedic doctor, you must visit your PD to examine you and then issue a referral to visit a specialist doctor. There is a maximum number of referrals doctors can issue and GESY fines them if they exceed that number. Sometimes PD’s refuse to issue a referral if it’s not a serious medical matter.


- Waiting times: Experience shows that there is long waiting time to undergo treatment or operation in hospitals which belong to GESY.


- Family Members: Family members of Foreign Employees may find it difficult to register with GESY due to bureaucracy.


- Covers only specific Medicines: GESY provides a list with specific medicines that are covered. If a medicine is not included in the list, the patient will pay the full retail price.


- GESY covers generic medicines: Most medicines covered by GESY are generic medicines, not original medicines. Generics are considered as “copies” of registered, original medicinal products which are already placed on the market. 


- Over the counter medicines are not covered.


- GESY is still undergoing many reforms and changes: many locals choose to keep a private medical insurance to have the freedom of choice when in medical need.

 


Pros of having Private Medical Insurance:


- Avoid long waiting times: To avoid long waiting times that take place with GESY’s appointments to clinics and doctors.


- Freedom of Choice: To have the option of visiting any doctor/hospital in Cyprus, outside of GESY’s network.


- Quality of Treatment: Some of the top doctors and hospitals in Cyprus are not registered with GESY and are only accessible privately.


- Worldwide Medical Treatment: To have the option of having surgery abroad if needed.


- Choice of Original Medicines: Some medicines are not covered by GESY and patients are responsible for the full cost.


- Single Room in a hospital: Private insurance gives you the option of a single room in a hospital whereas GESY does not provide this option.


- Reimbursement of GESY fees: Even GESY charges certain fees and co-insurances. The private medical insurance can cover those fees.


- Certain treatments may not be covered by GESY but covered by private insurance e.g extraction of teeth, optical expenses, diagnostic tests and checkups without referral from doctor.

 


Conclusion


To sum up, Cyprus provides a range of options for public and private health insurance. Rest assured that security and health care are top priorities, when relocating to this gorgeous island!


For more detailed information and to verify your eligibility for GHS, visit the GESY portal.


If you are interested in private medical insurance options, feel free to get in touch with us for a complimentary consultation or fill in a form on our website: https://bitly.cx/SBWAx



Author: HJS Insurance

Tel. 70005507

Source: General Healthcare System of Cyprus


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