most migrants living and working legally in cyprus have private insurance coverage the benefits package is comprehensive the only explicitly excluded services are some dental services such as orthodontics for those over years old and fixed prosthetics when services are either not available in the public sector or there are long waiting lists the ministry of health subsidises care provided to beneficiaries either in the private sector or abroad in rare circumstances eligibility for these subsidies is based on an individual s financial and medical needs proposals over whether to include a service in the benefits package are made by the relevant department in the ministry of health and the final decision is taken by the minister of health in some cases the approval of the minister of finance or even the approval of the council of ministers is required