Spain Health Insurance

Producing nearly half of all the earth’s olive oil, Spain sits in the southwest corner of mainland Europe, bordering the Mediterranean and Balearic Seas and the North Atlantic Ocean. It shares land-based borders with Portugal, Gibraltar, France and Andorra and with a total area of 504,030 square kilometers it is the second-largest country within the European Union. Beyond the clichéd images of bullfighters and flamenco dancers, Spain offers a treasure chest of architectural marvels, vibrant cities, fascinating museums and medieval towns. Travellers can also enjoy over 8,000 kilometers of sun-drenched beaches and a vast panorama of high plateaus, coastal plains and rugged mountains. This passionate nation of an estimated 46.7 million inhabitants, projects a zest for life, with a vibrant mix of art, history, culture, enjoyed with steaming paella and pitchers of quaffable sangria.

The capital, Madrid is the highest capital city in Europe and home to Real Madrid Football Club, which according to FIFA, is the world’s most successful footballing club of the twentieth century. The country is linguistically diverse, with several languages other than Spanish having a recognized status in different territories, and a variety of dialects spoken in some localities. The climate is largely affected by its surrounding seas, with a significant difference between temperatures of the north and south. Summers are moderate along the coast and hot in the interior. Winter is cool in coastal regions and cold inland. A varied range of well-established tourism facilities are available throughout the country with the industry sufficiently regulated. Visitors should still consider the activities they undertake, as the costs for medical attention in Spain are high and state-funded healthcare is not available to non-residents. There is therefore a need for visitors and new residents to arrange expat medical insurance prior to arrival.

Spain Health Care and Health Insurance

Compulsory state healthcare is overseen by the Spanish Government, and predominantly funded through taxes, employer and employee contributions, and out-of-pocket payments. The state healthcare fund provides universal coverage for Spain’s citizens and registered long-term residents, ensuring access to physicians, specialists, and hospitals, in addition to rehabilitation and diagnostic services.

All citizens must be registered with the state healthcare fund, known as the NSS, in order to enroll at a public health center and qualify for government subsidized healthcare coverage. The standard of public healthcare in Spain is considered high, however some Spaniards face difficulties in affording treatment as costs are not always fully covered by the state scheme. Out-of-pocket payments are often required for up to 25 percent of medical expenses. Hospitals, clinics and health centers exist in all major cities, of which facilities are of reasonable quality and provide excellent medical care. Emergency care is available free of charge in state hospitals, irrespective of whether an individual has state health insurance. Medical workers in Spain are considered well-trained in emergency medicine and provide swift and a first-rate level of care.

The first point of contact for most into the Spanish health system is through general practitioners, who treat acute and chronic illnesses, prescribe medication, provide preventative care and make specialist referrals. Patients seeking state-funded medical care must first ensure their doctor is contracted into the scheme in order to received subsidized treatment. Reflective of the standard of healthcare available, Spain has one of the developed world’s highest estimated life expectancies at 78 years for men and 84 years for women. Foreign nationals emigrating to Spain from outside the European Union are required to produce proof of private health insurance when applying for a Spanish residence permit, and will only be entitled to free healthcare after being employed and contributing to the state scheme continuously for two years. An international health insurance plan can be arranged through Expat Medical Insurance to satisfy the government requirement at the time of applying for residency.

Private health insurance is popular in Spain often used to top-up the cover provided through the state scheme. Many independent doctors and specialists work in private clinics which are well-equipped and largely funded by private medical insurance contributions. The private sector is known for providing excellent treatment with reduced wait times than those available in the public sector. Without cover from the Spanish social security to supplement costs, comprehensive health insurance is necessary, especially so for visitors to the country, who will be ineligible to receive such benefits and should be prepared to pay expenses in full should they require medical attention during a visit. Private clinics can be considerably more expensive than their public sector counterparts. Unless private health insurance is purchased, dental treatment in Spain is also largely financed privately. Beyond routine check-ups, all citizens except some vulnerable groups are expected to pay out-of-pocket at the time of treatment.

Spain Travel Insurance Concerns

The risk of contracting disease while in Spain is considered low, although Hepatitis B is known to occur in the country and therefore features on the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s list of recommended vaccinations. A pre-exposure Rabies vaccination also features, however is only recommended for those involved in activities which are likely to bring individuals into contact with bats. The Influenza vaccine is recommended by travel advisories for all visitors during flu season, which occurs from November through to April. The Spanish Ministry of Health advises travellers to telephone the emergency hotline on 112, if they become ill with flu-like symptoms. The Ministry of Health states that English-speaking staff will provide assistance and advise how to proceed with regard to treatment. Childhood vaccinations should also be up-to-date prior to travelling to Spain as Measles outbreaks occur frequently, the latest in October 2011 when almost 400 cases were reported.

Petty crime is also common in Spain, especially in the principal tourist areas. Travelers are advised to remain aware of personal security as the high incidence of pick-pocketing and muggings are generally opportunistic in nature, with the majority occurring at airports, ATM’s, monuments, beach resorts, in restaurants and on public transport. Travel advisories also suggest visitors remain informed of potential risks to safety by monitoring local information sources, due to the threat of terrorism. The Spanish Government’s alert level denotes a ‘probable risk’ of terrorist attack, with a number of attacks in recent times the work of an active terrorist organization in the country. Safety of road users in urban areas, especially at night, can be at risk due to the possibility of encountering pedestrians or drivers under the influence of alcohol, aggressive driving practices of locals and the weaving of motorbikes between traffic lanes. Rural areas pose a different set of risks, from poorly marked roads and wandering farm animals to heavy congestion during holiday periods when urban residents head out of the cities. Because new residents and temporary visitors will be expected to pay out-of-pocket for medical care in Spain, international health insurance should be arranged in order confirmation of cover can be provided in the event of injury or illness.

Spain Expat Health Insurance

Medical care is of a high standard in Spain and staff are extremely well-trained, especially in emergency medicine. New long-term residents and temporary visitors seeking medical attention are not eligible for treatment under the government healthcare plan and must pay any costs in full and at the time of treatment. A government requirement imposes the purchase of private health insurance on those wishing to apply for residence. Expatriate medical insurance is highly recommended, even for short visits to the country. An insurance policy provided by Expat Medical Insurance is globally transferable, covering you whenever and wherever, be it travelling with family or on an individual basis. A worldwide medical insurance plan covers a range of medical needs, including emergency evacuation, doctors’ fees and medication, maternity services and specialist consultations. To guarantee access to healthcare wherever you are in the world, contact an Expat Medical Insurance consultant to discuss a range of options available.