Best Health Insurance in Spain for International Students & Expats (2024)

Getting the right health insurance for your time in Spain seems complicated at first but it doesn’t have to be. As an international student or expat moving to Spain, there are a lot of topics to think about before your move. From finding the perfect apartment to live in, opening a Spanish bank account to deciding what to pack for your trip to Spain.

Contracting the right health insurance in Spain that will give you access to the best Spanish healthcare during your time abroad is probably the most important topic for your personal safety & health. This is especially true for those who will come from outside the European Union and who will require specific coverage in order to get their visa application approved. EU citizens do not necessarily need private health insurance in Spain however, it is highly recommended, especially nowadays. Health insurance is too important to be forgotten, so let’s sort it out together now.

1. Health Insurance in Spain – How Does it Work?

According to the World Health Organization Spain has one of the best public healthcare systems in the world. The Spanish social security payments fund the system, which means that most of Spain’s residents do not require private health insurance to access health services in Spain. That being said, it’s important to note that the public Spanish National Healthcare System (“Sistema Nacional de Salud“ or “SNS”), does not cover every health expense. For example, the costs for ambulances, dentists and pharmacy prescriptions are to a certain extent at your own expense.

In general, if your are moving to Spain to study or work, Spanish law requires you to have health coverage for the entire time of your stay in Spain. There are two options available, public and private health insurance which we will explain in detail in the subsequent chapters.

2. Public vs Private Health Insurance in Spain

While the Spanish public healthcare system is, without a doubt, of great quality, many international students and expats choose to contract a private health insurance. On the one hand, non-EU citizens have no choice, they will have to contract a private health insurance plan that covers them throughout the entire time of their stay in Spain. We will cover the best options later on in this article. On the other hand, for EU citizens there are many benefits in getting an additional private health insurance. For example, private health insurance removes the concept of painful waiting times to see a specialist and makes it way easier to see an English speaking doctor in case you do not speak any Spanish yet.

One of the main benefits of having private health insurance is that it gives you access to popular private hospitals all over Spain, like HM Hospitales. This private hospital is one of the best in the city. They are centrally located and run a great international office. This office provides patients with a personal medical translator onsite at no extra cost and will take care of all payments and paperwork on your behalf so you can focus on getting well. So long as you have an international private insurance, you’ll have access to all their services.

Having private health insurance in Spain will also help cover extra costs like pharmacy prescriptions, dentist visits and more. As coverage depends on what you contract, you will always need to ensure you’re aware of everything that is covered by your private health insurance before signing the contract.

2.1 Non-EU Citizens – Private Health Insurance is a Visa Requirement

If you are moving to Spain for a period of more than 3 months and you are from any country outside the European Union (EU), you will need to purchase private health insurance that covers the duration of your stay in Spain. This is a mandatory requirement for any visa application as proof of sufficient coverage must be submitted with the application. An additional requirement is that the plan must offer a minimum coverage of €30,000 (including evacuation/repatriation service). The recommended Spanish insurance providers listed below are specialized providers which means that their private health insurance plans for Spain cover the visa requirements.

Please note that if you are visiting Spain as a tourist (visiting for less than 90 days), you should also contract a private health insurance plan, however in this case you can purchase a so called “travel insurance plan” for your vacation in Spain from your home country.

When searching for the best private health insurance in Spain for international students and expats, you will realize that there are many Spanish insurance companies. But which one should you choose and how can you really find the best private health insurance that exactly matches your needs and expectations at a fair price?

In our chapter about of this guide you will find a list of popular Spanish insurance companies specialized in offering private health insurance in Spain to expats and students. You will also be able to obtain non-binding quotes from them so you can select the one that is best for you.

We recommend to start the research for the ideal private health insurance plan as early as possible. There is nothing more important than being properly covered during your time in Spain!

2.2 EU Citizens – Free Access to Public Health Insurance in Spain with your EHIC Card

If you are a citizen of the European Union, European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland, you should make sure to get your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) on time which means prior to your departure for Spain! EHIC is a free card that gives you access to necessary, public healthcare during a temporary stay in Spain. You can obtain the EHIC card by contacting your national health insurance provider. It usually covers you on short trips abroad within the EU but may not cover you if you are in Spain for a longer period of time or need serious treatment.

Make sure to contact your current national health insurance provider to understand in detail what will be covered and for how long! The European Health Insurance Card is not a substitute to private health insurance in Spain and thus will not cover you for repatriation, ongoing medical treatment, treatments that are not urgent or private care. To read more about EHIC and how to apply for it, click here.

To sum up, whether it is mandatory or not for you to contract private health insurance for your time in Spain, having one is definitely a good idea. Especially for international students & expats moving to Spain for a certain amount of time. As we outlined earlier, having access to the private healthcare sector in Spain will provide you with many benefits that the public healthcare sector will not offer. It will allow you more freedom of choice when it comes to selecting private specialists and you won’t be restricted by long waiting times. Additionally, having the right private health insurance will give you an extra peace of mind as you know that regardless of what happens, you will be completely covered and well taken care of.

Sign up for the free Citylife Healthcare Hotline!

To help you feel even more secure during your time in Spain, we have established a Healthcare Advice Hotline via WhatsApp for you. The advice hotline will be managed by us in collaboration with HM Hospitales for all healthcare related questions as well as by Sinews Multilingual Therapy Institute for when it comes to psychological assistance.

Attention is given in English & Spanish. You can reach out to consult any doubts you might have to get indications & expert advice! Simply save this number on your phone: Citylife Healthcare Support I +34656190745.

3. Best Private Health Insurance in Spain for International Students & Expats

Spanish private health insurance companies usually offer different insurance plans to match your specific needs and expectations. You can choose national plans that cover only Spain, Europe-wide plans, or if you travel a lot worldwide you could even get full international health coverage. Continue reading for a breakdown of our top recommendations for health insurance in Spain for international students & expats.

3.1 Overview of Popular Spanish Insurance Companies

To eliminate the stress of finding the right private health insurance, we’ve compiled a list of popular Spanish health insurance companies who have specific medical insurance plans for students and expats moving to Spain. You can ask for a free, personalized quote from our four top recommended companies: ASISA, Sanitas, MAPFRE, Adeslas & DKV via our free Health Insurance Inquiry form below. Within 48hrs of submission you will be contacted by a representative of each company providing you with detailed information and available options that match your needs. You then also have a direct contact to ask all the questions you might have – which always come in handy.

ASISA has broadest network of hospitals and specialist units nationwide including the islands. Asisa Health Insurance is ideal for students, visa applicants, foreign residents, and families that relocate to Spain. Customer care, legal documents, medical smartphone app service, list of doctors by language spoken, and 24-hour medical emergency hotline, are available in English no matter where you are in the world. ASISA is our top recommendation for longer stays in Spain (above 3 months). Their cover is the most comprehensive option and includes the best worldwide travel insurance as standard, at no extra cost. All the policies are available in Spanish, as well as in English.

Sanitas is a leading healthcare insurance provider in Spain. They have been in operation for over 60 years. They work in part with Bupa, an international insurance group that provides care to nearly 200 countries. They are proud to provide care at their very own hospitals and majority of their plans also include dental coverage. Sanitas is by far our top recommendation when it comes to insurance packages for international students and expats.

MAPFRE Medical Insurance is an outstanding option for people moving to Spain, as it has a wide network of hospitals and specialized units throughout the country, including the islands. Designed for students, visa applicants, foreign residents and families, MAPFRE is designed with a customer-centric approach. Its multilingual customer service guarantees perfect health management. MAPFRE has a 24-hour global medical emergency line and a list of doctors categorized by language spoken. In addition, its policies include worldwide travel insurance at no additional cost, making it an excellent option for comprehensive coverage during stays in Spain and international trips. All policies are available in both Spanish and English, providing clarity and convenience to policyholders.

Gidea-Insbrok functions as a web platform serving students and expatriates who are relocating to Spain. It distinguishes itself through its excellent customer service, resulting in high levels of customer satisfaction for its services. Having been in operation for nearly a decade, Gidea-Insbrok has facilitated thousands of successful relocations from overseas. The company demonstrates an understanding of the challenges associated with moving to a new country, and therefore strives to simplify the process for its customers by enabling them to set up their insurance in their native language. All health insurance policies provided not only meet residency requirements but also ensure access to excellent medical services at the top-rated health centers.

Looking for great travel insurance?

Gidea’s travel insurance also cover you for unexpected health issues like accidents, injuries, and illnesses, even dental emergencies and getting you back home if needed. If something comes up and you have to cancel your trip early, your insurance will help, as long as it’s for a valid reason. Also, if your flights or trains are delayed or lost. Plus, if you accidentally damage someone’s stuff or cause an injury while you’re away, there is cover for that too. And if your belongings are damaged, stolen, or lost during your trip, your travel insurance has you covered, including your gadgets, clothes, and even your passport. If you’re planning to travel more than once in a year, consider getting annual travel insurance to save money and make sure you’re protected for all your adventures.

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Other known Private Health Insurance Companies in Spain are:

At Adeslas you get extensive cover, the most professional care with the largest medical team: 43,000 professionals and 1,200 care centres at your disposal, and the assurance and reliability of the number one health insurance company in the country.

Axa operates in over 50 countries around the world. They an established, reputable company. They have been in service for roughly 40 years and offer a wide variety of insurance plans to their clients.

Allianz is the world’s largest insurance provider among many other business endeavors. This German based company is highly trusted and reputable and is always worth to check it out.

Cigna Global is an American insurance group and a major provider in the insurance market offering a wide range of services. Their international healthcare insurance is popular among expats and other young internationals.

3.2 Compare available Insurance Plans Today

You can get a quick and instant idea about health coverage plans across different insurance companies by using the online platform INSBROK. This way you receive your free insurance quote within seconds. It is a great tool, as you can use these results to compare them to all your other research. Simply click here.

Additionally, we highly recommend to fill out our free Health Insurance Inquiry form below. This way you will get a personalized, non-binding insurance offer by our three top recommended Spanish insurance companies: ASISA, MAPFRE, Sanitas, , DKV and Adeslas. As mentioned before, for many years these companies have been very popular among international students & expats.

4. Citylife’s Top Choices for Private Health Insurance in Spain

So, what insurance plan do we recommend to our international student & expat community in Madrid and Spain? The answer is fairly easy, our top recommendation for many years now has been Asisa, MAPFRE, Sanitas, Adeslas and DKV All five of them are amongst Spain’s leading insurance providers who have specialized in insurance plans for internationals moving to and living in Spain.

They offer many popular healthcare plans for expats and international students giving you access to all the facilities and specialists within the vast networks in Spain from the first day of the contract. They also make it very easy for you in case you get sick during your time in Spain. There is no need to make claims or fill out forms.

Some amazing features include:

Regardless if you are coming to Spain to study or work, we recommend you get in touch with the mentioned health insurance companies to get a non-binding offer that matches your needs and current situation. All you have to do is fill out the form below. Please make sure to indicate if you are moving to Madrid for work or studies. In general, the form below will be sent directly to the international service department of ASISA, MAPFRE, Sanitas, Adeslas and DKV. They usually will get back to you within 48h providing you with a free, non-binding quote describing everything in detail. They are also available to answer any question you might have after reviewing everything.

You are then free to contract or use the different offers to compare them and choose the insurance plan that fits best your personal situation. We hope it serves you well.

5. Get a Free Quote – Fill out our Insurance Inquiry Form

By completing this non-binding form you will be put in contact with representatives of ASISA, MAPFRE, Sanitas, Adeslas and DKV who will send you more details on their available plans. You will receive a free quote from each one of them, which will allow you to compare it to all the offers you’ve found. This way you can make a well informed decision on your healthcare coverage in Spain.

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