Private Health Insurance in Spain: What Should You Know? [Video]

Almost every day we receive questions about private health insurance Spain expats actually need — what matters, what doesn’t, and how to choose the right plan. In this guide (and the video above) I explain what type of private health insurance policy works for residency and visa applications in Spain, and I cover the one problem all new policies have — and how to avoid it.

1. Do you need private health insurance in Spain?

If you plan to apply for the non-lucrative resident visa in Spain (for non-EU citizens) or register as a resident by showing sufficient financial means (for EU citizens), you need to hold a complete private insurance policy for your residency to be approved. Even though Spanish nationals can access the state-run health system for free, many still choose private health insurance in Spain to avoid waiting lists, access specialists directly, and get a better quality of service.

2. What private health insurance Spain do you actually need?

Let’s start with what you most probably don’t need. International coverage plans are much more expensive than national ones. From experience, if you’re not constantly travelling outside Spain, a Spanish national plan is sufficient — many include coverage abroad for up to 90 days per trip, covering between €10,000–€20,000 in expenses.

No co-payments — you pay nothing for medical services at a private clinic or hospital. Just show your insurance card. Your only cost is your monthly or yearly premium.

Private health insurance Spain plans often include dental coverage. Dental services here are generally not expensive, but having them covered or discounted is a nice bonus — usually the price difference for the policy is insignificant.

As a surprise to some US and Canadian clients: prescriptions and glasses are not covered by private health insurance in Spain. However, medication prices here are a fraction of what they cost in the US.

To sum up — your policy must cover what the Spanish state-run system covers: General Medicine, Accidents, Emergencies, Hospitalisation, Surgeries, Specialists, and Preventive Care. All with no co-payments and no deductibles.

3. What about pre-existing conditions?

The Spanish government does not guarantee private health insurance for all — it’s entirely up to the insurance company whether they accept your application. Pre-existing conditions may or may not be included depending on the insurer and the condition itself. If covered, the price will be higher. It is critical to disclose your full medical history — if you don’t, your policy could be revoked exactly when you need it most.

4. Age considerations

Newborns are usually covered by the mother’s policy for the first 30 days. After that, the baby must be insured separately.

For older applicants, getting coverage becomes increasingly difficult over age 65. Prices can jump significantly at this threshold — sometimes it makes sense to start a policy just before turning 65, even if your move to Spain is months away.

5. The price of private health insurance Spain

Prices depend on age, gender, and pre-existing conditions. If you find a very cheap offer, it almost certainly has co-payments — which will not be accepted for visa, residency, or residency renewal purposes. Every year policies increase slightly due to inflation and the insurer’s rising costs.

6. Payment options

Be prepared for monthly direct debit from a Spanish bank account. This is standard in Spain for most services — electricity, water, internet, and insurance all work this way. If you don’t yet have a Spanish bank account, a wire transfer is usually possible initially.

7. Where to find the right private health insurance Spain plan

There is no single correct answer. Different companies are stronger in different regions. In a larger city like Valencia, most private hospitals are covered by all major insurers. Differences show up in smaller clinics and dental coverage. Some insurers offer VIP services at newer private hospitals — useful when not all doctors speak English.

The best approach is contacting an independent broker who can advise the most adequate plan for your situation. Our recommended broker for private health insurance Spain is Gidea Insbrok — everything can be arranged fully online and in English.

The problem: waiting periods

All new private health insurance Spain policies have one significant issue — waiting periods. Hospitalisation, pregnancy, certain tests and scans are excluded from coverage for up to 9 months. For young, healthy people this may not be a major concern. But if something goes wrong during that period, you could face thousands of euros in out-of-pocket costs.

A real example: a US family’s child broke her arm while playing. Emergencies were covered — no fees for the initial treatment. But the follow-up surgeries needed were not yet covered due to waiting periods. The total out-of-pocket cost was around €8,000.

This is avoidable — but only with a policy that has complete coverage with no waiting periods from day one. Talk to your broker before signing.

Have questions? Leave a comment below. And if you’re ready to get a quote for private health insurance in Spain, fill in our quick form and hear back from our partner directly.