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EnglishHealth insurance in Spain: a guide for expats
- Public or private: the public system is free and universal, with a centro de salud in each neighbourhood, but it automatically assigns you a GP whom you must see before any specialist, and waiting times are long. Private cover removes these delays, lets you choose your doctor, gives you a private room and covers dental care.
- Three types of policy: the network with co-payment charges a fee per visit, between €3 and €7 for a GP appointment, in exchange for a lower premium. The network without co-payment is the most widely used. Free choice of doctor, which costs more, refunds 80% of costs outside the network or abroad.
- Signing up: you need a passport or NIE, a postal address, a Spanish bank account and a medical questionnaire. Insurers set an age limit of 65; DKV and Sanitas insure up to 75, Adeslas beyond that.
- Waiting periods: 6 to 8 months for hospital stays, surgery or high-tech tests, not applied in a life-threatening emergency or an accident.
- Key point: pharmacy costs are not covered by private insurers; being registered with both systems is recommended.
Are you planning to move abroad or have you just settled in Spain and don't know where to start with the health system?
Should you take out health insurance, or simply stay in the public health system?
What is health insurance really for? How do you get one?
INOV Expat, an insurance broker specialising in expats in Spain and Portugal, explains everything in this article.
Understanding the differences between the public and private systems
In Spain, the public and private health systems are completely separate. Here is a quick overview of the main differences between the two:
Public system:
The public system is free and universal and includes health centres (centro de salud) in every neighbourhood.
In the public system, you will automatically be assigned a health centre and a GP, a doctor you must see before you can book an appointment with a specialist.
In general, waiting times are very long in the public system, depending on the specialty you need.
Private system:
With the private system, you can first of all say goodbye to the endless waiting times for a doctor's appointment.
You will have access to a network of health professionals from whom you can freely choose your doctor or specialist.
What's more, you get a private room if you go into hospital, and dental care is also covered.
Finally, your private insurer can give you a list of English-speaking doctor s if you are not very comfortable in Spanish.
The health system at a glance
Looking a little more closely at the health system, you can see that the private system is the better option.
Also, it depends on your status, but it is often necessary to have health insurance with no co-payment to obtain your residence visa or permit.
What's more, health problems never come at a good time, and being able to skip the waiting times of the public system and choose your own doctor means you can be treated faster and more effectively.
Bear in mind, though, that despite the comfort of the private system, it is not perfect either.
For example, pharmacy costs are not covered by the insurers. That is why, at Inov, we actually advise you to be registered with both systems so you get the benefits of each.
What types of health insurance policy are there?
In Spain, insurers offer three types of health insurance policy: The medical network with co-payment (Partial): you pay a small fee for each medical service.
This lowers the monthly premium of your insurance. For example, you will pay between €3 and €7 for a GP appointment. This option is recommended for people who do not use medical services often.
The medical network without co-payment (Complete): the most widely used option, giving you free access to GPs and specialists simply by showing your insurance card. With this policy you pay no co-payment.
The medical network with free choice of doctor (Total): this is naturally the most expensive policy, but in return it is the one that offers the best cover.
First, it covers all GP and specialist fees, plus a refund of 80% of the costs if the insured person sees a doctor abroad or outside the insurer's network.
In addition, natural medicine (osteopathy, acupuncture, homeopathy) and other extra services are also covered.
With all three types of policy, you always get travel assistance cover abroad. This protection is very useful when you go on holiday and have a medical emergency or an accident.
How do you take out health insurance?
It is very simple, and it will take no more than 24 hours! Through Inov Expat, you will be put in touch with one of our specialist advisers.
After discussing your needs with them, you will receive three free quotes for the best offers on the market. Next, you will need to fill in a medical questionnaire, either on paper or by phone.
As for the documents required, you will need a passport or NIE, a postal address and a Spanish bank account. The medical questionnaire is compulsory, but some insurers such as DKV, Sanitas or Adeslas offer options without a medical questionnaire with more limited cover.
Hospital stays are not covered, but you can still see doctors and specialists without waiting times. To find out more about these options, click here.
Insurers also set an age limit, and from age 65 you can no longer take out health insurance (don't worry: if you already have health insurance, it remains valid after you turn 65).
However, some insurers offer solutions here too. DKV and Sanitas insure people up to age 75, and Adeslas beyond 75. Feel free to look at their cover here.
Also note that there are waiting periods when you take out health insurance. These periods apply to hospital stays, surgery or high-tech tests (e.g. CT scans, MRI, etc.) and last 6 to 8 months depending on the medical procedure.
Please note that they do not apply in a life-threatening emergency or an accident. The waiting periods can even be waived by most insurers, provided you have already had health insurance until now. You only need to send a copy of the policy and proof of the last payment.
How do you choose the best insurer?
To choose one insurer's offer over another, you should of course think about your needs and look at the cover each insurer offers accordingly.
While price is an important part of the equation, take your time to avoid unpleasant surprises. The world of insurance can be hard to get to grips with, and that is why the best solution is undoubtedly to go through an insurance broker.
At Inov, we compare for you the offers of more than twenty leading insurers and give you three quotes so you can make up your own mind.
What's more, we give you personal advice to make your life as simple as possible and, best of all, our prices are exactly the same as those charged by the insurers directly or through their other sales channels! We have access to the current offers of more than 20 insurers (AXA, DKV, Sanitas, Adeslas, Asisa, etc.) as well as exclusive offers, you can see them here. Get your FREE health insurance quote:
INOV Expat is an insurance brokerage firm specialising in expats. For more than 15 years, INOV Expat has helped expats in Spain and Portugal hand over the management of their insurance to multilingual professionals: we offer very competitive insurance proposals and always defend your rights. Request your quotes online for free: car, health, home, business, travel and more. Visit our website: www.inovexpat.com or contact us on +34 93 238 87 42, on WhatsApp on +34,627,627,880 or by email at welcome@inovexpat.com
Thomas Rouer is the founder of Alveo Search and the CEO of the Alveo group. Based in Spain for almost ten years, he develops property services designed for the specific needs of foreign buyers.
His expertise covers every aspect of buying property in Spain: understanding the market, searching for and selecting properties, negotiation, financing, paperwork, tax and securing the purchase process.
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