Health Services in Spain

You should never go to another country without health coverage. Will you be given free treatment by the Spanish national health system?


    Some Important Points To Start With

European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)

From the beginning of 2006 the form E 111 shall not be used anymore for European citizens who want to visit Spain as tourist. Instead you must bring with you the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) from the health office in your home country.

You Are Only Covered For Emergency Treatment In Spain

With the European Health Insurance Card you are covered for emergency treatment in Spain, but nothing more. The Spanish health authorities are controlling what they call the "health tourism".


    Nature Of Your Stay In Spain

Tourist?

If you have come to Spain as a tourist, you may be covered for any health risks by the insurance of the tour operator, or if going on your own you may have taken out travel insurance. Or you may have brought with you the form from your national health insurance that gives you coverage in accidents or urgent illnesses in certain countries abroad.

Staying A Bit Longer?

But if you buy a property in Spain and stay here permanently, or for several longer periods over the year as a non-resident, you ought to consider if you have sufficient health coverage. This Short-Information aims to help you with this matter.


    The Travel Insurance

Sit Down And Read The Small Print !!

For a person who is not covered by the national health services of his country, and who stays in his property in Spain for one or more shorter periods of the year, a travel insurance may suffice. Some feel that they are sufficiently covered by the insurance included with the travel they buy, or from an insurance given by a credit card company or some other private entity. We recommend everyone to sit down with the small print of the conditions for such "inclusive" coverage, to make sure it is sufficient. It may become a very expensive oversight if you have a serious accident or become so seriously ill that you cannot be moved.

Make Sure The Insurance Does Not Lapse

If you are confident the very economical travel insurance will give you and your family the protection you need, this is a good solution. But make sure that this insurance does not lapse (for instance you overstaying the period of coverage, or by your credit card expiring).

You May Have To Pay And Recover The Cost Later

Be prepared to pay for the treatment and the medicines you get in Spain, presenting the bills upon returning to your home country.


    The European Health Insurance Card (the E111 is out)

Staying In Spain For One Or More Shorter Periods Without Becoming Resident

If you are covered by the national health services of your country, and that country has an international agreement on reciprocal health services, the best solution for someone who wants to stay in Spain for one or more shorter periods without becoming resident, is the European Health Insurance Card.

The Form

It is issued by the national health services in your own country, and you should have it together with your passport, ready for any emergencies.

The Doctors And The Hospitals

You will have to use the medics, health stations or hospitals of the Spanish national health services, called INSS. If you go to a private doctor or hospital, they will ask you to pay.

The Health Centres ("Centros de Salud")

In almost all tourist municipalities you will find a "Centro de Salud". That is the place to approach.

If You Need To Go Straight Into Hospital

If you need to go straight into hospital, you must ask to be taken to one of the hospitals of the INSS, or if you have been taken to a private hospital you should communicate this to the INSS within 24 hours. The personnel at the hospital will assist you.

Please Note ! The European Health Insurance Card Is For Use In Emergencies Only.

We must stress that the European Health Insurance Card is to be used only in emergencies, not for treatment of chronic illnesses or for taking an operation in Spain that you would have to wait a long time for in your home country.

But - If You Run Out Of Your Medicine Whilst In Spain

But if you run out of your normal medicine while staying in Spain, the card can be used.

You Won't Have To Pay In Emergencies

If your EHIC is valid and you are using it for emergency treatment, you will not have to pay for the intervention of the medic, the stay in the hospital or for the medicines.


    The E-121 For Permanent Residents

Staying For Longer Periods In Spain - Or Becoming A Permanent Resident

If you have contributed to the national health services of your own country, and that country has an agreement with Spain on health services, you can also be covered if you stay for longer periods in Spain, or become a permanent resident here. Then you need to bring a form E-121 in two copies with you to Spain, and register it with the Spanish health authorities, even if you have an EHIC.

Registration Of Form E121

The registration is with the local Centro de Salud. They will keep one of the copies of the form, and fill in and stamp the other one, to be kept by you.

After a while you will receive in the post a card identifying you as a person with certain rights to use the Spanish national health services. On it will be given the name of the medic you are to visit in case of illness, as well as the address of the next INSS health centre.


    Private Health Insurances

If You Have Such Cover, Does It Cover You In Spain?

If you are not included in the national health services of your home country, you may have contracted a private health insurance there. Find out with the insurance company if they will pay your medical bills in Spain as well. If you are completely or partly without cover abroad, and a travel insurance does not fill the gap, you should take private health insurance. Some foreigners feel more comfortable with private insurance in addition to the public one, because they like to choose their medic and hospital, or because they doubt the quality of the state health services. To the last point we can say: The national health services in Spain have improved immensely, and are of a very high standard. What you cannot avoid, not in Spain and also not in your home country, are queues and waiting times.

Private Health Insurances Offered To Foreigners In Spain

There are a number of private Spanish or foreign health insurances offered to the foreigners in Spain. You only have to read one of the publications in foreign languages to find their addresses or agents. You may also ask other foreigners who have been staying in Spain for a long time for their experiences.

Example

One of the leading Spanish health insurance companies offer a very comprehensive coverage for a price of 2.000 Euros per year for a married couple of 61 years of age.

Important Health Insurance Companies In Spain

The most important health insurance companies in Spain are Adeslas, Asisa, La Estrella, DKV Seguros, Sanitas and Winterthur.

Complaints Procedure

Today, all insurance companies have their "Defensor del Asegurado" (ombudsman for the insured) who you can present your complaints to if you feel the company is not dealing correctly with you. If that does not work, you can approach Dirección General de Seguros (phone 91-339 72 00) in the Ministry of Economy.

Formal Complaint

If you want to present a formal complaint to this office, proceed as follows:

* Write the complaint in Spanish, add a copy of the contract and the bills that the company eventually refuses to pay and all other documentation of relevance.

* The Dirección General will then transmit the complaint to your insurance company and demand an answer within 10 days.

* After the insurance company has answered, the Dirección General will give you the content of this answer, and you have 10 days to comment on their arguments.

* If you just maintain your original complaint, the Dirección General will give their opinion on the case, which is not binding for either party. If their opinion is favourable to the client, the insurance company has 1 month to decide whether they accept the ruling or not. If it is favourable to the company or if the company ignores it when it is favourable to you, you have to bring the matter to court.


    Preparing For Emergencies

Keep Contact Deals Next To The Phone

We recommend every person to have next to the phone the name and phone number of a medic speaking your language, or of the local health centre, as well as a company providing ambulance services, and the closest hospital where you would want to go to in an emergency (depending if you are covered by the National Health Service or rely on private services).

Local Information Office For The Foreigners In Your Area

If there is a local information office for the foreigners in your area, they will provide you with a list of medics speaking foreign languages, public health centres, as well as public and private hospitals and clinics.