Cyprus-Forum.com

[Tim Drayton]

Thanks for the info. Even though it's not what I has hoped for because it means that my German health insurance would fall away if I started working in Cyprus. Weirdly enough, the lady from the Cypriot embassy in Berlin told me there was no mandatory insurance in Cyprus.

Strange she would say that. Perhaps she didn't think you would be working here.

I am not sure if you would lose your German insurance. I pay into the Cyprus social insurance and also keep voluntary contributions going with the UK national insurance (my country of nationality). What makes you think you would lose it? If you keep the payments going in addition to those in Cyprus, surely you will keep it going?

[36510]

I think she was talking about health insurance only. And she may have been right. At least the document linked to above doesn't mention health insurance, but only other kinds of cover.
I was talking about medical cover only. My German public health insurance told me that they wouldn't cover me in case I was entitled to Cypriot public health insurance. That's why I'd rather avoid being covered by the Cypriot public healthcare system.

[DrCyprus]

German Health Insurance as you know it doesn't exist in Cyprus. There are hospitals where if you have a health card you can be admitted and treated (as long as you are working or in a special group) and there are independent private doctors you can use and pay on the spot.

Surprisingly enough you will find that it is CHEAPER to be treated by a Cypriot private doctor without any kind of insurance than it is to be treated by a German Doctor whilst under most German health insurance covers.

Honestly, my Cypriot dentist takes 60-70 euros to fill/repair a tooth and he is relatively expensive, and a German doctor, whilst being under health insurance, would take 100 euros.

[Tim Drayton]

I think she was talking about health insurance only. And she may have been right. At least the document linked to above doesn't mention health insurance, but only other kinds of cover.
I was talking about medical cover only. My German public health insurance told me that they wouldn't cover me in case I was entitled to Cypriot public health insurance. That's why I'd rather avoid being covered by the Cypriot public healthcare system.

That's not 100% correct. If you work here, I think you'll find you must contribute to the social insurance fund, which has a medical cover component, but the latter is means tested so that most people are not actually covered. I think there is also a rule that you must contribute for a year before you become entitled to anything. To be honest, I am not great expert on this. You can find more information here:

https://www.justlanded.com/english/Cypr ... -Insurance

In practice, state health care is not highly rated here and people who can afford it go to private doctors. You will see vast numbers of doctors' offices and private clinics dotted around cities here. The plus is that, as Dr Cyprus says, it is relatively cheap compared to other countries.