15 Expats Talk about Health Insurance and Healthcare in Spain

"I would say medical care is excellent. For chronic medical conditions, it may be difficult to get an insurance and they will have to pay more. there are other expats with chronic condtions who are able to get private insurance," commented one expat living in Granada, Spain.

"Although the primary care from physicians and the local hospital/clinic are generally adequate, I recommend getting a second opinion before accepting a recommendation for major treatment like surgery, even though you will likely have to pay that out of pocket. Doctors, treatments, medications are dramatically less expensive here. Custom orthotics would have cost me approximately $300 in the US, but are $45 here. ," wrote one expat.

"Healthcare services in Spain are provided by both public and private institutions. The public healthcare system is funded by the government and is available to all Spanish citizens and legal residents. The quality of public healthcare is generally good, with a wide range of services available, including primary care, specialist care, hospital care, and preventive care. Foreign residents in Spain are also eligible to use the public healthcare system, provided they have a valid residence permit. Expats in Spain can use the public healthcare system by registering with the local health authority and obtaining a health card. This card allows them to access the same services as Spanish citizens, including free or discounted medical care," commented one expat who moved to Spain.

"In Spain, medical services are generally of a high quality. The country has a well-developed public healthcare system, which is free for Spanish citizens and legal residents. Private healthcare is also available, and is often of a higher standard than the public system. Doctors in Spain are highly trained and experienced, and the country has a wide range of modern medical facilities," mentioned one expat in Spain.

"One time I developed a very sore tooth. I was able to make an appointment for that same day, the dentist was very efficient (and spoke English). And the cost was about 12% compared to the same procedure in the U.S. I was impressed," commented one expat who moved to Tenerife, Spain.

"Healthcare in Spain is generally considered to be of a high quality and is available to all citizens and legal residents. The cost of healthcare in Spain is largely dependent on the type of insurance coverage that is chosen. Public health insurance is available to all citizens and legal residents and is generally quite affordable. Private health insurance is also available and can be more expensive, but it often provides more comprehensive coverage. In general, health insurance in Spain is not overly expensive, but it is important to compare different plans to find the best coverage for your needs," said one expat.

"My policy costs 1017 Euros or about $1109 annually. It can also be paid monthly through a bank deduction. There is no co-pay, which is the requirement for the Spanish visa, so most treatment is included, but not prescriptions or outside consultation," remarked one expat in Altea.

"On my plan, there are two large private clinics/hospitals in Benidorm which is about a 45 minute bus ride or 20 minute car ride. I have heard and experienced both good treatment at these facilities, and also poor treatment, like a man I know who had surgery for a broken leg after being struck by a car. They botched it and he had to have multiple surgeries to correct it. I had to make multiple trips for assessment and feedback. ," wrote one expat.

"We are about one kilometer from our hospital “Vithas”. It is a very good private hospital. We received excellent care during our emergency visit last year. We were in and out under two hours, which is unheard of in the US. We would call our insurance Sanitas emergency line or dial 112 for emergency," commented one expat who moved to Granada.

"The cities of Barcelona, Madrid, and Valencia all have a wide selection of different levels of specialists. In addition, the region of Andalusia is renowned for having some of the top medical professionals in the country. Major cities within Andalusia such as Seville and Granada are especially known as excellent locations to find highly specialized care. Other regions of Spain that are home to excellent medical professionals include the Basque Country, Galicia, and the Balearic Islands," remarked one expat in Spain.

"Prescription is inexpensive and available at the local pharmacy. There are many pharmacies at every corner of the town," wrote an expat living in Granada.

"Yes, common prescription medications are available in Spain. Most medications can be obtained from pharmacies, either with a prescription from a doctor or without one. In some cases, a doctor's prescription is required for certain medications, such as those containing narcotics or controlled substances. In addition, some medications may require special authorization from the Spanish Ministry of Health," said an expat in Spain.

"Most medications are available at pharmacies without a prescription. Bring old medication bottle or written info with name and dosage. They may have a different name. I always check via internet to make sure what I got is the correct medication and dosage. Certain prescriptions like antibiotics require a prescription. Most medications are extremely inexpensive. ," commented one expat living in Altea, Spain.

"Haven't used, but hear they are fine. Private insurance first year (about $80 per month with NO deductible), after that can get on state medical for free," said one expat living in Granada.

"I'm 0.5 kilometers from the hospital. It's a very good private hospital. The quality is very good. There are both public and private hospitals. I used the emergency service once and I'm very impressed at the speed and quality of care I received. It's much better than in the US," mentioned one expat in Granada.

"Medical facilities and medical care in Spain are generally of a high quality. The country has a well-developed healthcare system, with many top-class hospitals and medical centers. Doctors and nurses are highly trained and experienced, and there are a range of specialist services available. The healthcare system is free at the point of care and a range of private services are also offered. The Spanish government also offers a number of preventative healthcare programs that promote public health," commented one expat who moved to Spain.

"Yes, as a foreigner living in Spain, you will have access to public healthcare. The public healthcare system in Spain is known for its high quality and is free for all citizens and legal residents. It is funded by the government and is available to everyone regardless of their income level. The public healthcare system in Spain is comprehensive and includes primary care, specialist care, hospital care, and preventive care. It also covers prescription drugs, medical tests, and treatments," said one expat living in Spain.

"No, not yet. We just moved to Granada eight months ago. My understanding is that after a year, we can join the public health system. Expats in my area are typically enrolled in private health insurance. We have Sanitas private health insurance and we are happy with them, It’s not difficult to enroll, We paid about €188 per month for two people with a full coverage with no copay and no deductible. There are public hospitals in our area but we have never used them because we are not yet eligible to join until after living in Spain for a year.. We used the private hospital Vithas and are very happy with them," mentioned one expat in Granada.

"While in the U.S. I very intentionally "self-isolated" in a remote section of southern Missouri. But, I received my 2nd Covid-19 vaccination last week, so now feel MUCH safer about traveling and moving about in the world," wrote an expat living in Tenerife.

"The pandemic has had a major impact on the healthcare system in Spain. During the pandemic, the healthcare system has been stretched to its limits, with hospitals and medical centers struggling to cope with the influx of patients. The government has implemented strict measures to try to contain the spread of the virus, including the closure of non-essential services and the introduction of a nationwide lockdown. Despite these measures, the healthcare system has been overwhelmed by the number of cases, leading to long waiting times for appointments and delays in treatment. Additionally, the pandemic has caused a shortage of medical supplies, such as masks and gloves, which has further hindered the healthcare system's ability to provide adequate care," said an expat in Spain.