As a new expat in Spain, having access to a doctor and arranging for your health insurance might be on top of your list. After all, nobody likes to be unprepared for emergencies or be given a huge bill.
“Did you know that Spain ranks as the 8th best healthcare system in the world?”
So without further ado, let’s get you started on how you can access the healthcare system in Spain using your public or private health insurance.
Every resident has the right to healthcare in Spain
Spain takes healthcare very seriously. The constitution guarantees the right for every resident to have access to basic universal and preventative healthcare. This includes coverage for any pre-existing conditions.
So if you’re deciding to move to Spain, know that you’ll be in good hands as you’ll be benefitting from one of the best healthcare systems in the world.
But to access this healthcare system inexpensively, you need to have health insurance. What type of health insurance you need depends on your individual circumstance.
Who needs health insurance in Spain?
A very common question expats have is “Do I need health insurance when living in Spain?” or “Can I live in Spain without medical insurance?”
The short answer is no, not in all cases. But as an expat resident, the smart thing to do would be to get health insurance. Your health insurance can save you thousands of Euros on medical costs and is therefore highly advisable.
Health insurance for Non-EU citizens
As a non-EU citizen moving to Spain for the first time, it is a requirement to get travel insurance to enter the Schengen area.
As an expat working and contributing to social security in Spain, you will get access to free doctor appointments and subsidised prescriptions by presenting your Tarjeta Sanitaria Individual or TSI- your Spanish Health Card. Your legal spouse and children under the age of 15 will be entitled to healthcare as well.
The only exception is for pregnant residents in Spain who will get access to healthcare regardless of their insurance status.
If you are a non-EU student, you will need to arrange for international health insurance prior to your arrival in Spain.
Health insurance for EU or EEA citizens
If you are an EU/EEA working citizen or an expat migrating to Spain from another EU country, you can make use of your EHIC or European Health Insurance Card. This will get you free access to healthcare in Spain during your first 3 months.
If you are planning to live and work in Spain for more than 3 months, it’s better to get Spain’s public health insurance to avoid delays in getting non-emergency treatments.
As an EU student below the age of 26, you will have free access to Spain’s public health insurance.
The cost of health insurance- Is it really free?
To ensure that everyone in Spain can access basic universal healthcare, the healthcare system in Spain is funded by the social security contributions made by all workers, including freelancers and expats.
“The social security system is a set of schemes that provides suitable protection to the individual, and their family, for carrying out professional activities.”
As a result, every working resident who is contributing part of their wages to the social security system will get guaranteed free access to the National Health System in Spain. This ‘free’ access includes:
Free doctor and hospital visits for you and your (separated) spouse and children of up to 15 years of age.
Discounted prescription costs: 40% to 60% for salaried employees and 90% for pensioners.
Yes, we know what you’re thinking. It is not exactly ‘free’ as you are indirectly paying for access with your social security contributions. But the contributions you make are relatively small compared to the benefit you can derive from free healthcare access for you and your dependent family.
If you are an unemployed EU citizen or want to voluntarily opt-in for public health insurance as a non-EU resident, you can ask for assistance from the government. The Spanish government has a low-cost pay-in scheme called Convenio Especial that can cover standard treatments in exchange for small monthly payments. Depending on your situation, you can pick your level of contribution. Important to note is that this doesn’t cover prescription costs or specialised treatments.
If you are not working in Spain or are an unemployed non-EU citizen, you are not eligible for getting free access to healthcare in Spain. In this case, you will need to arrange for private health insurance and pay a premium each month.