Travel insurance for Greece: what to check
Why the EHIC does not cover Israelis, what to check in medical cover, what happens with strikes and flight cancellations, and how to handle the rental car excess. Checked on 4 October 2026.
- The EHIC is not for Israelis. You need travel insurance with medical cover and evacuation.
- A strike is usually covered only if you bought insurance before it was announced. Buy early.
- The rental car excess in Greece can reach up to €2,000–3,000. Check whether it is covered.
Flying to Greece? Make sure you have medical cover, buy your insurance early, and check the excess if you rent a car.
In short
- The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) is not for Israelis. It is only issued to people insured in the state social security system of an EU country, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland.
- So if you travel on an Israeli passport with Israeli health cover, you need travel insurance that covers medical treatment in Greece.
- Strikes: in most policies a strike is covered only if you bought the insurance before it was announced.
- Rental cars: the excess in Greece can reach thousands of euros. Check whether your insurance covers it.
- This guide does not recommend any insurer. It explains what to check in a policy before a trip to Greece.
The EHIC does not cover Israelis
According to the European Commission, to get a European Health Insurance Card you must be insured by the state social security system of an EU country, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland. Israelis covered only by an Israeli health fund are not eligible.
Even card holders need travel insurance: according to the Commission, the card will not pay to fly you home if you fall seriously ill or have a serious accident.
Do you also have an EU passport? The passport alone is not enough. Eligibility depends on social security cover in a European country, not citizenship.
What to check in medical cover
| What to check | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Medical expenses limit | Treatment and hospital stays abroad cost money, and in Greece you have no automatic public cover. |
| Evacuation and flight home to Israel | Medical repatriation is one of the biggest costs. Make sure it is included. |
| Pre-existing conditions | Israeli insurers ask for a health declaration, and sometimes an add-on is needed. If you don't declare, you may find you are not covered. |
| Island activities | Diving, water sports, ATVs and scooters. Check whether they are included or need an add-on. |
| Help in your language | Check for a 24/7 hotline that refers you to a doctor or hospital in Greece. |
In an emergency in Greece call 112, which answers in English. All emergency numbers and what to do if you need a doctor. More on healthcare: the healthcare system in Greece.
Flight cancellations, strikes and the security situation
Greece has frequent transport strikes: flights, ferries and metro. Things to know:
- A strike already announced is not covered. According to Allianz Travel, travel insurance does not cover foreseeable events: if the strike was announced before you bought the policy, you will not be compensated for it. Buy insurance early, close to booking your flight. Greece strike calendar.
- Trip cancellation is an add-on. In many Israeli policies cancellation is covered only for specific reasons, such as a medical problem or a call-up order, not because you simply decided not to fly. This is how Migdal's FAQ puts it, for example.
- A flight cancelled by the airline: according to Migdal, travel insurance does not cover an alternative flight or accommodation when the airline cancels. In that case the airline is responsible.
- Israel's Aviation Services Law applies to flights from Israel abroad and from abroad to Israel, and gives a right to assistance, a refund or compensation depending on the case.
- EU rules apply to every flight departing the EU, on any airline, and to EU airlines' flights arriving in the EU. That includes a flight home from Athens to Tel Aviv on an Israeli airline.
Rental cars: the excess
- The excess on rental car cover in Greece can be high. According to the companies' terms, with Avis Greece it is €900 to €2,000, and with Hertz Greece €650 to €3,000, depending on the car group.
- Even with full cover, some companies exclude damage to tyres, wheels and the underside of the car. Hertz Greece's terms say so, for example.
- Ferries: with Avis Greece, damage while the car is on a ship is not covered. Hertz Greece requires written permission and paid ferry cover.
- Some travel insurance policies and credit cards offer excess cover. Before declining cover at the desk, check exactly what is covered, up to what amount and how to claim. Car rental in Greece guide.
Checklist before you buy
- Is there medical cover and evacuation to Israel, and what is the limit?
- Have you declared every pre-existing condition?
- Is there trip cancellation cover, and in which cases?
- Are the activities you plan, such as diving or scooters, covered?
- Renting a car? Is the excess covered, including tyres and underside?
- Did you buy the insurance early, before any strikes on your dates were announced?
- Have you saved the insurer's emergency hotline on your phone?
FAQ
Is travel insurance required to enter Greece?
Israelis enter Greece without a visa, and we found no official requirement to show an insurance policy on entry. But without insurance, medical costs in Greece are on you.
Is the EHIC valid for Israelis?
No. According to the European Commission it is only issued to people insured by the state social security system of an EU country, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland.
I have an EU passport. Am I covered in Greece?
Not because of the passport. EHIC eligibility depends on social security cover in a European country, not citizenship.
Does travel insurance cover a strike in Greece?
Only if the strike was not foreseeable when you bought the policy. A strike that has already been announced is usually not covered, so buy insurance early.
What if my flight from Greece is cancelled?
Contact the airline. A flight from Athens to Tel Aviv falls under both EU rules and Israel's Aviation Services Law, which require assistance, a refund or compensation depending on the case.
Does travel insurance cover the rental car excess?
Only if the policy includes that add-on. Also check what is excluded, such as tyres, the underside of the car and damage during a ferry crossing.
Do I need to declare a pre-existing condition?
Yes. Israeli insurers ask for a health declaration, and sometimes an add-on is needed. If you don't declare, you may find you are not covered.
Information checked on 4 October 2026. Policy terms vary between insurers and change, so read your own policy before you travel. This is general information, not insurance advice.
