The Greek consumer watchdog (EKPIZO) has published a formal complaint on its website after receiving tens of grievances about the insurance company Ethniki Hellenic General Insurance Company S.A. (Ethiki Asfalistiki) regarding allegedly reneging on its contractual terms with customers.
The consumer protection watchdog said policyholders with lifetime or long-term health insurance contracts were abruptly informed by a letter of a significant change in the reimbursement process.
Specifically, as of June 1, 2025, the company will require policyholders to pay their hospital expenses upfront. Reimbursement will then be considered only under certain conditions—such as prior notification, submission of a detailed medical diagnosis, supporting tests justifying the necessity of hospitalization, and an estimated cost of care. The insurer will assess these cases based on comparative pricing data from private hospitals and will then determine the payback amount it deems reasonable.
EKPIZO claims the shift fundamentally disrupts established industry norms and unfairly penalizes policyholders who are already struggling to maintain their contracts due to steep premium increases.
The Greek consumer watchdog denounced Ethniki Asfalistiki’s unilateral move as abusive, unlawful, and arbitrary. It pledged to take all necessary legal action to defend consumer rights and collective interests. EKPIZO has called on Ethniki Asfalistiki to immediately withdraw what it deems an illegal practice and refrain from any further actions.
Source: tovima.com
