GeSY, Cyprus's national health system, covers permanent residents for a 2.65% contribution and pocket-change co-payments. The planning problem is the year before you qualify — and knowing that the pink slip never gets you in.
Last verified: July 8, 2026GeSY (the General Healthcare System, GHS) is a universal single-payer system, fully rolled out in June 2019 and run by the Health Insurance Organisation. Public and private providers work inside the same system: you register with a personal doctor (GP), who refers you onward. Cypriot citizens, resident EU nationals, and third-country nationals with permanent residence who habitually live in the government-controlled areas are beneficiaries — as are their dependants.
The full walk-through — eligibility table, contribution math, registration steps, and the Medicare question — is in GeSY: the health system, explained.
| Phase | Your cover | Budget |
|---|---|---|
| Scouting trips (90 days visa-free) | Travel medical insurance — Medicare and provincial plans don't travel | Per-trip policy |
| Application & waiting (pink slip / pending Category F) | Private health insurance, required for the permit | Indicatively €1,000–€3,000+/yr each at 50–70 — get quotes |
| Permanent residence | GeSY — register on the HIO Beneficiary Portal, pick a GP | 2.65% of income + capped co-payments |
Who qualifies, what you pay, the co-payments, registration step by step — and why pink-slip holders need private cover.
Read the guide →What policies for 50–70s actually cost, what they exclude, and the questions to ask before you buy.
What keeps paying, what stops at the border, and whether to keep Part B running.
Most visas require proof of cover before you apply. We'll match you with an expat health insurance specialist we've independently vetted for Cyprus. Free, no obligation.