If you are currently, like many others, thinking about spending the winter or emigrating in Spain, you are wondering how health care is arranged in Spain. How can I spend the winter in Spain or emigrate to Spain in a healthy way?

Healthcare does not have to be a barrier to emigration to Spain if you are (chronically) ill or in need of care. In general, healthcare in Spain is good. However, many things are arranged differently in Spain and this also applies to healthcare. It is therefore important to know what to arrange. However, CasasdelSol Andalucia offers you as a (potential) customer the necessary information to help you with this. If you choose to emigrate to Spain, CasasdelSolAndalucia will provide guidance and mediation in health care if you wish.

Healthcare in general

In Spain there is a separation between the health care provided by the government, the Spanish health insurance fund, and the private health care, private health insurance fund. The general hospitals, nursing homes and general practitioners are covered by the Spanish health insurance fund (Seguridad Social) and there are private hospitals, private nursing homes, private general practitioners, private dentists that you can choose from if you choose to insure yourself with private health care.

  

Seguridad Social

There are in fact 3 possible situations in which you can claim the Spanish health insurance fund ¨Seguridad Social¨. These apply to you and to any partners and children.

1. You can claim the Seguridad Social if you receive a benefit or pension from Spain or if you work in Spain (in your own company, as a self-employed person or as an employee). In this case, a deduction will be made from your benefit or salary, or you will pay a monthly amount for the Seguridad Social as a self-employed person.

2. If you receive a pension or benefit from your country. In this case, you must request the necessary documents (including NIE, passport and possibly marriage certificate) when you have made an appointment with the Seguridad Social pre-registration. Registration in the Seguridad Social can take a while, so always ensure a transition when you come to Spain, for example through travel insurance.

3. If you join the Segurdad Social privately. You will then receive the same coverage as everyone else. However, for this you must demonstrably have resided in Spain for at least one uninterrupted year. This is not possible or easy in every region in Spain. Inquire with us about the possibilities.

When you arrange the Seguridad Social, you are insured through the health insurance fund and you can go to the general practitioner in the out-of-hours GP (CentroSalud) where you live and you can go to the general hospitals in your region. Keep in mind that waiting lists may be longer in case of planned medical treatments. Dental care is not covered by the health insurance (only for children up to the age of 18) and you must pay for dental visits and treatments yourself.

Private healthcare

In addition to health insurance, you can always take out private health insurance in Spain. You are then entitled to a private doctor, private clinics, private hospital of your choice. The big advantage of this is that you can approach a general practitioner who speaks English and in private hospitals you always have access to an interpreter. A disadvantage is current and past conditions are excluded from the coverage. Medical care in the Spanish health insurance fund and private health care is of the same level. The organization of care may well be different in the Spanish health insurance fund: somewhat less service-oriented and with less ´luxury´. In a private hospital you have to deal with shorter waiting lists, you get your own room, a choice menu, foreign television and other extras.

What to do in concrete situations when you emigrate toSpain?

If you have decided to move to Spain, it is important to take the following steps. Notify the following authorities of your move:

- Inform your current health insurance company when the moving date is known.
- Inform your benefits or pension agency about your move.
- Register in the population register of the municipality where you live in Spain.
- Register in the Seguridad Social.
- Apply for your health insurance card at the local doctor post ¨Centro Salud¨.
- Take out private health insurance if necessary.

If you do not receive a benefit or pension from your country (EU), you do not have to inform those authorities (although it is always important that your pension fund has your current address in Spain). From the moment you live in Spain, your benefit or pension institution will withhold a contribution from your benefit or pension. This is generally less than the premiums you have paid up to that point. If you do not receive a benefit or pension, the premiums for the Spanish health insurance fund will be deducted from your Spanish wage (if you work in Spain) or Spanish benefit. Below you will find a number of concrete situations that you can claim.

- Doctor.
- Referral to a hospital.
- You have an emergency.
- Home care.
- Physiotherapist.
- Dentist.
- Admission to a care or nursing home.

You can go to your local doctor Centro Salud. If you are prescribed medication, the prescription will be written out for you on your health insurance card. Just like in your own country, your doctor a role in the referral to the hospital. Always take your health insurance card (Tarjeta Seguridad Social) with you for identification. In case of an emergency, call an ambulance (112) or go directly to the emergency room of the hospital.

If your general practitioner refers you to a hospital, you must report to the government hospital in your region. Your general practitioner will tell you which hospital it is. You also report to that hospital with your health insurance card. Talk to your doctor if you prefer to visit another government hospital.

Physiotherapy is covered and, depending on the rehabilitation, you will be referred to a physiotherapist at your general practitioner post or in the hospital. Physiotherapy is usually organized in a more group-oriented manner. A dentist is not insured in the health insurance fund. You must therefore pay this yourself or take out private health insurance. There is only limited cover for certain treatments for children up to the age of 18.

You are entitled to home care offered by a government institution through the Spanish health insurance fund. There is a system of indications and urgency: people who need it most receive the first care. Long-term care such as home care and nursing home care do not fall under the Seguridad Social, but under the Social Affairs department of your municipality where you live. If you believe you are entitled to long-term care, you must also register there for an indication. You are entitled to admission to a (government) nursing home. Nursing homes do not exist in Spain, at least provided by the government, private nursing homes do exist.

What to do in concrete situations if you are temporarilystaying in Spain?

If you only stay in Spain for a few months a year, you will remain insured for medical expenses and long-term care in your country (unless you are going to work in Spain). Before you go to Spain, read the policy conditions of your health insurance carefully and contact your health insurance company, because it is good to know what to do if you need a doctor or are admitted to a hospital. It is important that you are always entitled to private health care in Spain through your health insurance. Before you leave for Spain, also request the European Insurance Card from your insurer. With this you are insured of medical care (in a government hospital). A (continuous) travel insurance is not an unnecessary luxury (in some cases the health insurer can reimburse less than the costs incurred in Spain). You therefore always have 2 options: to a government institution or doctor (reimbursement based on the treaty scheme via your European Insurance Card) or to a private institution or doctor (reimbursement afterwards based on your health insurance).

- You need a doctor.
- You will be referred to a hospital.
- You have an emergency.
- You need a physiotherapist or dentist.

  

Go directly to a local doctor (Centro Salud) or visit a private doctor. In most cases it is better to visit a private doctor, because he or she speaks English with you, for example. In some – urgent – ​​cases it is better and faster to visit the doctor post in your place of residence. In case you visit a private doctor, you may have to pay for the consultation. In most cases, you can declare the bill that you receive from this doctor from your health insurer.

If you are referred to a hospital, you can choose a private hospital in your area. If you only consult a specialist, you will be asked to pay the costs for that consultation immediately. Again, you can declare the bill you receive for this to your health insurer. If you are to be admitted you will be asked for your insurance papers. In a limited number of cases you have taken out health insurance that reimburses the costs to you and not to the hospital if you are admitted abroad. In that case, you must first pay the costs for your admission in Spain yourself. So always make sure that you have taken out what kind of insurance you have taken out before you go abroad and if in doubt, always contact your insurer to make sure. to be what to do in case of medical care in Spain. At the moment there are more and more hospitals in Spain that have an agreement with abroad health insurers and there you only need to show your health card.

Depending on your health insurance, you can declare the costs you have paid for your physiotherapist or dentist in Spain to your health insurance company. Please also inform yourself about this before you leave for Spain.