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It may be surprising to find out that the World Health Organisation found that Spain has the 7th best health care in the world, ranking significantly higher than the UK in 18th place. Spain’s national health service (SNS) is currently one of the best and most modern in Europe. On this page you can find everything you need to know about the healthcare in Spain if you were to move there.
Planning your move to Spain? You may be wondering about your health insurance options. There are a number of different companies that offer health insurance plans to expats in Spain. Check out these providers!
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Sanitas is a renowned and trusted private healthcare company in Spain. For those looking for comprehensive and affordable health insurance coverage, this provider is a good option. They provide a wide range of plans, specially made for expats.
| Benefit | Sanitas Accede | Sanitas Premium 500 | Sanitas Health Plan Complete |
| Inpatient Care | No | Covered | Covered |
| Outpatient Care | Covered | Covered | Covered |
| Maternity | – | Covered | Covered |
| Dental | Covered | Covered | Up to €500 for emergencies |
| Vision | – | – | – |
| Prescription Costs | – | Covered | Covered |
| Emergency medical evacuation | No | Up to €12,000/person | Up to €10,000/person |
Now Health International is a global health insurance that offers from more affordable coverages – only emergencies and urgent care – to comprehensive ones, with extra services. Their customized plans for expats will ensure you get the treatment you need faster.
| Benefit | SimpleCare Core | WorldCare Essential | WorldCare Apex |
| Inpatient Care | Limited | Covered | Covered |
| Outpatient Care | No | Covered | Covered |
| Maternity | No | No | Covered |
| Dental | No | No | Limited |
| Vision | – | – | – |
| Prescription Costs | – | – | – |
| Emergency Medical Evacuation | Limited | Covered | Covered |
This large healthcare provider in Spain offers tailor-made medical insurance for English speakers. They offer a range of complete plans, with a broad network of private hospitals and specialists in all areas.
| Benefit | Coverage |
| Inpatient Care | Covered |
| Outpatient Care | Covered |
| Maternity | Covered |
| Dental | 35% discount at Asisa’s Dental Clinics for 6 months |
| Vision | – |
| Prescription Costs | – |
| Emergency medical evacuation | Up to €12,000 |
Despite being smaller, DKV is a well-reputed healthcare provider in Spain. The company distinguishes itself by offering a more specialized range of health insurance plans, including plans for expats and plans for people with chronic conditions. For those seeking more specific coverage, DKV can be a favourable option.
| Benefit | DKV Integral | DKV Top Health | DKV Mundisalud |
| Inpatient Care | Covered | Covered | Covered |
| Outpatient Care | Covered | Covered | Covered |
| Maternity | Covered | Covered | Covered |
| Dental | Covered | Covered | Covered |
| Vision | No | No | No |
| Prescription Costs | No | No | 50% reimbursement |
| Emergency medical evacuation | Up to €20,000 | No | No |
Not convinced? Fill in the form below to request free health insurance quotes and we’ll help you find the perfect health insurance for your move!
When working or living in Spain you are always able to access public healthcare. There is a legal obligation to have medical insurance known as social security. These social security payments are deducted from wages (around 4.7%). This means that there is no upfront expenditure from patients.
As a British national, you are entitled to free state healthcare if you are:
If you are registered in Spain with an NIE number it may be necessary to complete an application form for the TA1 form which will allow you to receive a Tarjeta Sanitaria Individual (TSI), a renewable health card that is valid for four years.
In addition, it is also advisable to take out medical insurance as there have been cases in the past where EHICs have not been accepted in Spain.
Despite having an impressive public healthcare system an increasing number of people in Spain are opting to go through private healthcare to avoid long queues for non-urgent medical procedures. 18% of the population are opting for this option as it tends to be more modern and more comfortable.
Dental care and optical care are not included in free public healthcare in Spain (the average cost of dental insurance is around 10-20€ per month).
Pharmacies in Spain tend to be open from Monday – Friday 9.30 am – 2 pm and 5 pm – 9.30 pm, 24-hour pharmacies tend to be common, especially in bigger cities and the locations are usually shown on the door or window of the nearest pharmacy.
The cost of prescriptions is a percentage of the total cost based on salary. If you earn €18,000 or less you pay 40 per cent of the total cost of the medication, for €18,000 – €100,000 you pay 50 per cent and over €100,000 you pay 60 per cent. Pensioners only pay 10 per cent.
The level of spoken English in Spain may be a problem outside of big cities, therefore it may be advisable to learn some emergency words such as:
The healthcare system isn’t the only thing that is impressive about Spain. Education in Spain has increased a lot in recent years! If you want to learn more about moving to Spain check it out be found here.
