Spanish Medical Insurance

For many people having private health insurance in Spain is essential. This is a topic of great importance - after all what is more important than your health?

The public health service in Spain is of a good quality but is not as good as that of the private medical system and this is why many people take out health insurance in Spain.

The first step is to consider your circumstances and whether you actually need health insurance in Spain.

Some holidaymakers still take out private health insurance for Spain as they want the reassurance that the care will be of a high quality and also they are likely to have access to multilingual staff.

If you are one of the many people who spent part of the year in your home county and part of the year in Spain then you would probably want to consider taking out private health insurance for the time you spend in Spain.

If you are staying in Spain for a few months or living in Spain then private health insurance in Spain may be essential. Exceptions are for people who are employed in Spain or people who are self-employed - in these cases you become entitled to free health care when you get your social security number.

If you are in the EU then you should be able to get your home country to pay Spain to cover you. For people in the UK this cover lasts six months before it runs out - to get covered you need to apply using form E-106 available from the Post Office. People over 60 are covered permanently.

Reasons for taking out private health insurance in Spain are:

1. You may not be eligible for the public national health service so you have no option but to take out private health insurance.

2. Private health insurance in Spain gives you access to the private hospitals and doctors who are generally of a higher standard than those in the public health care system.

3. People in the public healthcare system may speak some English but don't rely on it and so private health insurance in Spain gives you peace of mind that your health care issues will be explained to you and understood.

4. Private health insurance in Spain often means jumping the queue and getting immediate operations rather than waiting.

5. Facilities are usually more comfortable and private if you have private health insurance in Spain.

6. Private health insurance in Spain means you can choose which doctors you want to see and what facilities you wish to go to.

COSTS OF PRIVATE HEALTH INSURANCE IN SPAIN

This can only be a rough guide but for private health insurance in Spain expect to pay approximately €800 a year for a couple aged 50.

ISSUES TO CONSIDER WHEN CONSIDERING PRIVATE HEALTH INSURANCE IN SPAIN

You need to consider what private health insurance companies provide and more importantly what they DON'T. Check the small print - there is no point in paying money for health insurance on a regular basis only to find when you most need it - that you are not covered for something.

Consider if you will be travelling often outside of Spain - if so does your private health insurance in Spain cover you for this?

Does your private health insurance in Spain cover all of your family or just you?

Private health insurance companies in Spain often will not take on board clients with existing health problems. Not stating these initially may mean they will not cover you when treatment is required.

Premiums for private health insurance in Spain can be reduced considerably if you are prepared to pay a high excess if treatment is required.