Greece has an employer-based health insurance system in which all Greek employers enroll their employees in one of the “social insurance funds.” Due to strict regulation by the Greek Ministry of Social Health and Cohesion, Greece in essence has a single payer system. For instance, the Ministry controls employee contribution rates, insurance benefit packages, and the types of doctors a social insurance fund can employee. Also, employers can not choose among competing sickness funds as they can in Germany, they must choose an their industry-specific social insurance fund.

The National Health Service (NHS) also operates its own health care services. For instance the NHS operates hospitals and employs some physicians. One can see the NHS as a backup for the social insurance funds, but in some rural areas, the NHS is the principal provider of care.

The Greek health care system is funded through payroll taxes, general tax revenue.