Travel Health Insurance for Greece (Digital Nomads): Genki vs SafetyWing (2026)

If you’re looking for digital nomad health insurance for Greece (or travel health insurance for Greece) while living in Athens, Thessaloniki, Crete, or moving between islands, two plans that often come up are Genki Traveler and SafetyWing Essential.

This guide compares what each plan says it covers, how the basics differ, and what to check in the policy wording before you buy.

Important: I’m a travel blogger, not an insurance broker. This content is for general information only. Always read the provider’s official policy wording and confirm any visa requirements with official sources.

Genki Traveler vs SafetyWing Essential: comparison overview table

Disclaimer: This comparison is a high-level overview based on each provider's published benefits. Always review the full policy wording before purchasing any plan.

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Genki Traveler in Greece

Genki Traveler: what it covers (high-level)

Genki Traveler is a medical-only travel health plan. It includes cover for new illnesses and injuries up to €1,000,000 per insurance year.

Core medical benefits

• Outpatient doctor visits
• Hospitalization in public and private hospitals
• Prescribed diagnostic exams (examples listed: CT, MRI, X-ray, ECG/EKG, PET)
• Prescribed surgery (minor to major) + prescribed medication
• Prescribed materials/devices (examples listed: bandages, casts, crutches, rental walkers/wheelchairs)
• Telemedicine consultations
• Emergency dental care after an accident (up to €1,000 per case)
• Physiotherapy (up to 6 sessions per case)

Deductible

• You pay the first €50 per insurance case; the insurer pays the remainder.

Emergency support, transport, and repatriation

• Ambulance emergency transport is included (road, air, water, and rail).
• 24/7 emergency assistance with direct billing for inpatient care.
• Medically necessary repatriation to your home country is included (transport may use any suitable vehicle, including specialized worldwide air ambulance).
• Family member hospital visit in life-threatening emergencies (travel + accommodation) up to €5,000 per insurance case.
• If the insurer repatriates you, coverage ends immediately upon arrival in your home country.

Sports and activities

Genki lists cover for most common sports and activities (examples include hiking, cycling, diving, surfing, skiing/snowboarding, and more). Conditions apply for specific high-risk activities.

Home-country and USA/Canada rules

• Home-country cover: emergency medical treatment only, up to 6 weeks per stay.
• USA/Canada: included by default as 7 days per stay (emergency-only), with an option to upgrade to full USA/Canada coverage.

What it does not include

Genki Traveler does not include travel protection like trip cancellation/delay/interruption, lost luggage, theft/burglary, or personal liability.

Exclusions (summary)

High-level exclusions include pre-existing conditions, preventive care, maternity care, mental health care, non-accident dental treatment, search & rescue, trekking/climbing above 4,000m, professional sports, and certain dangerous/extreme activities.

Pricing

Starting from €52.50/month for monthly subscriptions (1–12 months). Prices vary based on age, region and add-ons.

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SafetyWing Essential in Greece

SafetyWing Essential: what it covers (high-level)

SafetyWing Essential combines travel medical coverage with travel-related benefits. It includes medical treatment and hospitalization up to a US$250,000 maximum limit (per policy period), with no deductible.

Core medical benefits

• Outpatient care (when medically necessary)
• Hospitalization and surgery (when medically necessary)
• Prescribed diagnostics (examples listed: X-ray, MRI, CT)
• Prescription drugs (covered up to 60 days per prescription)
• Emergency dental treatment (up to US$1,000)
• Physiotherapy and chiropractic care: up to 3 visits per injury/illness without referral; additional visits may require a referral

Deductible

• No deductible outside the US

Emergency support, evacuation, and repatriation

• Medical evacuation to the nearest adequate medical facility (up to US$100,000 lifetime maximum)
• Repatriation of remains or local burial/cremation (up to US$5,000)
• Local unrest evacuation (covered under the plan’s terms)

Travel benefits included

SafetyWing Essential includes travel protection benefits such as:

• Lost checked luggage (up to US$3,000)
• Travel delay (up to US$100 per day, up to 2 days)
• Trip interruption (up to US$5,000 in specific situations)
• Death arrangements (within the plan limits)

Home-country and USA rules

• Home-country cover: emergency medical treatment during home-country visits, up to 30 days per 90-day period (and up to 15 days if your home country is the USA), subject to plan terms
• USA: coverage requires purchasing the US add-on

Add-ons

SafetyWing lists optional add-ons such as:

• US coverage
• Adventure sports
• Electronics theft

Claims timing (important)

The plan summary notes that claims submitted after the 60-day window are excluded. Keep invoices, medical notes, and any required documentation, and follow the claims instructions in the policy.

Exclusions (summary)

High-level exclusions include pre-existing conditions, pregnancy/childbirth (except complications), mental health treatment, congenital/hereditary conditions, cancer treatment, experimental or unproven treatment, and intoxication-related incidents (plus other exclusions listed in the policy).

Pricing

From US$56.28 per 4 weeks (ages 18–39), with optional add-ons like US coverage, adventure sports and electronics theft.

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Medical care in Greece: what to expect as a foreigner or digital nomad

Healthcare in Greece includes public hospitals/clinics and a large private sector. What you use in practice often depends on your residency status, where you are in the country, and how quickly you want to be seen.

Public vs private care

• Public care: Available across Greece, but access and costs can depend on residency status and the documents you have with you. If you’re visiting from abroad, check what your national health card/agreements cover before you need care.
• Private care: Often used by travellers and expats for shorter waits and English-speaking staff (varies by location). Many private providers ask for payment upfront, then you handle reimbursement if your plan works that way.

Islands and smaller towns

• On smaller islands and in rural areas, you’ll often find basic clinics first, and more complex treatment may require transfer to a larger city. If you plan to move around Greece, it helps to know what your insurance says about ambulance transport / evacuation and how emergencies are coordinated.

What to ask for at the clinic

This makes claims and reimbursements smoother across most insurers:

• An itemised invoice (dates, services, amounts)
• A short medical report/diagnosis (in English if available)
• Prescriptions and receipts for medication
• Any test results (labs, imaging) if relevant

Quick checklist before you buy any plan

• Does it cover outpatient visits, or mainly emergencies/hospital stays?
• Are diagnostics + prescriptions included, and are there any time/limit rules?
• Do you need travel protection (luggage/delay), or only medical coverage?
• How do claims usually work: pay first + claim back, or assistance/direct billing in some cases?

Greece digital nomad visa insurance: what to check

Greece’s Digital Nomad Visa is issued as a national (Type D) visa, and insurance requirements can vary a bit by consulate and country of application. For the official starting point on Greece visa processes and consular services, head over to the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs (visa information).

What the official requirements usually focus on

For national (Type D) visas, Greece generally asks for travel medical insurance that:

• is valid for at least the full duration of the visa, and
• covers costs that may arise in the event of repatriation for medical reasons, plus emergency medical care and/or emergency hospital care.

What “proof of insurance” typically means in practice

Most applicants are asked to provide something like:

• a policy/certificate showing your name, territory of cover (Greece), and coverage dates
• a document that clearly states the plan includes emergency medical + hospital treatment and repatriation
• if you’re applying with family members: proof that accompanying dependents are covered too (if applicable)

If you’re using a “travel/nomad” plan

Before you apply, double-check:

• Whether the plan is valid for the full period you’re requesting (and how renewals work)
• Whether any key benefits are limited by a maximum payout (medical cap) or specific sub-limits (evacuation/repatriation)
• Whether there are any home-country rules that could affect you if you travel back during your stay

⚠️ Important note: Visa rules and document checklists can change. Confirm the current requirements with the Greek consulate/embassy handling your application before you submit.

Premium plans: Genki Native + SafetyWing Complete for Greece

Alongside Genki Traveler and SafetyWing Essential, both providers also offer higher-tier plans:

Genki Native

Genki Native is positioned as a premium health insurance product. Compared to entry-level travel medical plans, this premium insurance includes higher overall limits and a broader set of benefits.

SafetyWing Complete

SafetyWing Complete is SafetyWing’s premium health insurance product. It also comes with higher limits than the basic travel medical plan.

How to compare these plans for Greece (quick checklist)

Use these questions to match the plan’s features to your trip, without guessing.

1) Are you mainly looking for medical cover, or medical + travel protection?

• If you want medical-only cover (no luggage/delay benefits), Genki Traveler is structured as a medical plan.
• If you want medical plus travel benefits (like luggage and travel delay), SafetyWing Essential includes those benefits.

2) What medical limit do you want to rely on for your stay?

• Genki Traveler lists a €1,000,000 limit per insurance year.
• SafetyWing Essential lists a US$250,000 maximum limit per policy period.

3) How do deductibles and out-of-pocket costs work?

• Genki Traveler has a €50 deductible per insurance case.
• SafetyWing Essential lists no deductible.

4) What matters more for your Greece trip: outpatient care or emergency-only protection?

If you expect to use clinics for non-hospital care, check that your plan includes:

• outpatient doctor visits
• diagnostics (imaging/labs)
• prescribed medication
• …and read any limits that apply.

5) Will you move around Greece (islands, remote areas) or across borders?

If you’ll travel widely, pay special attention to:

• ambulance transport / medical evacuation
• repatriation rules and limits
• how assistance works in emergencies

6) Do you need cover during visits back home?

Both plans have specific rules for home-country cover (time limits and conditions). If you expect to go home during your stay, check those rules before you buy.

Final summary: Genki Traveler vs SafetyWing Essential for Greece (2026)

If you’re comparing these two plans for Greece, here’s the simplest way to frame it:

• Genki Traveler is a medical-only travel health plan with a €1,000,000 per insurance year limit and a €50 deductible per insurance case. It focuses on medical benefits like outpatient/inpatient care, diagnostics, prescribed medication, telemedicine, and accident dental/physio (limits apply).
• SafetyWing Essential combines medical coverage + travel benefits, with a US$250,000 maximum limit and no deductible. It includes medical treatment/hospitalization plus travel-related benefits like lost luggage and travel delay (limits and conditions apply).