OBJECTIVES: To explore private health spending of unemployed people in an era of continuing economic crisis and universal health coverage.

METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 6 entities of the Manpower Employment Organization (OAED) in the region of Attika, from October 2016 to May 2017. A stratified multistage random sample was chosen based on taxable income. A self-completion questionnaire was structured including questions on unemployed people socio-demographic characteristics, access to healthcare, out of pocket (OoP) and co-insurance payments, as well as unmet health needs. Descriptive statistics and Pearson correlation were performed using SPSS 25.

RESULTS: CONCLUSIONS: Unemployment is associated with shrinking incomes and high private health spending resulting in barriers in access to healthcare. Therefore, universal coverage of the Greek population seems not to remove the existing financial barriers for free access to healthcare.