Private healthcare in Spain for foreigners (UK expats)

If you’re a UK expat looking to get private healthcare in Spain, keep reading. Spain is one of the most popular destinations for Britons – the number of UK citizens living in Spain was slightly over 284,000 in 2023.¹

In a moment we’ll dive into the Spanish healthcare system, the differences between private and public healthcare and more. We’ll also look at some of the best private healthcare providers in Spain, their offerings as well as their pricing.

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Do you need private healthcare cover in Spain as a foreigner?

As an expat, you can take advantage of the wide coverage of Spain’s healthcare, its advanced medical technology and highly trained doctors.

There are 5 ways UK nationals usually access healthcare in Spain: ²

1. By making social security contributions as an employee or when self-employed.
2. By paying voluntary contributions to the Convenio Especial (the public health insurance scheme).
3. As a permanent resident when they’ve lived in Spain for over 5 years.
4. Through European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) or Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) for temporary stays when studying, or as a posted worker.
5. UK State pensioners can get UK-funded healthcare by registering a UK-issued S1 form with the social security office.

Spain has one of the best healthcare systems in the world, offering almost universal coverage. The hospitals are highly rated as well. In 2024 Newsweek released a ranking of the top 250 hospitals in the world which included 13 hospitals from Spain.³

So why would you want to get private health insurance? One of the main reasons is that it can take a long time to be able to see a specialist and get necessary treatments. We’ll cover the main differences between public and private healthcare in a moment.

Is private healthcare good in Spain?

Yes, in general, private healthcare in Spain is provided at a high level. The perks of private hospitals are very good facilities, excellent service as well as a more comfortable setting. As we mentioned above, you’ll also have faster access to services and specialists compared to public healthcare and you’ll have more options to choose from.

Differences between Spain's public and private healthcare

When you’ve registered for public healthcare you will receive basic health services for free from the state. However, you’ll have to cover the cost for some things – like paying either full or reduced price for prescription medication.²

To see a specialist you will first need to be referred by the general practitioner (family doctor). Some private health care providers will require a referral from your family doctor while others let you see a specialist directly.

In the first half of 2023, people in Spain were waiting an average of 95 days to get an appointment with a specialist. And 22% of patients spent more than six months waiting for their surgery.⁴ With private healthcare, you will usually get faster access to these services.

It’s good to know that wait times and access to public healthcare services differ by region, because the regional governments manage healthcare services in their area.

Public healthcare doesn’t cover dental services. Getting a filling will cost you around €60 (about £50). Some private health insurance providers will cover different dental services.⁵ You’ll find some examples under our list of health insurance providers further down.

Best private health insurance providers for expats in Spain

Here are some of the best private health insurance providers to get you started on your research:

• Feather
• Asisa through Innoinsure
• DKV

Something you should always be aware of is that health insurance policies can be complicated. We’re not able to cover all small details in a short overview, so it’s a good idea to go over any policy you are interested in. If you’re not sure if you understand something correctly, don’t hesitate to reach out to the provider directly for an explanation or further advice.

Feather

Feather⁶ is a great option for expats seeking easy and quick EU-wide health insurance coverage. You can get a written confirmation to use for your visa application in just minutes.

They have a 4.9-star rating on both Trustpilot and Google and over 55,000 customers served. Feather says they don’t cover pre-existing conditions, routine check-ups, regular vaccinations and mental health therapy.

Feather’s expat health insurance covers:

• Accidents and emergencies along with associated follow-up costs.
• Any medication prescribed by a doctor for an unforeseen illness.
• Transportation to a medical facility by ambulance if you have an injury or illness.
• Repatriation – return to your home country for either treatment or in case of fatality for burial.
• Pain relief for dental treatments and tooth replacement after an accident are each covered for up to €500 per year.
• Health insurance while you’re travelling in any EU countries.

Asisa through Innoinsure

Innoinsure offers private health insurance through several partners. Expats can get their private medical coverage through Asisa⁷, which provides a comprehensive health insurance solution.

One great feature is that you don’t need to pay for any medical costs in advance and then reclaim them later. All you do is show your insurance card at the hospital reception and your costs are paid automatically.

When you travel outside of Spain Asisa covers 30+ items including medical and hospitalisation costs, travel delays, loss of luggage and more.

Asisa’s expat insurance covers:

• Rehabilitation and physical therapy.
• Hospitalisation and treatment in the intensive care unit (ICU).
• Primary medicine and medical specialties.
• Emergencies and transportation by ambulance.
• Diagnostics, special treatments and getting a second medical opinion.
• Psychology, odonto-stomatology and ophthalmology.
• Obstetrics and gynaecology.
• Rehabilitation and physical therapy as well as preventive medicine.
• Human organ tissue and cell transplants, surgical implants and prosthetics.
• Repatriation and travel assistance.

DKV

DKV⁸ has a few different options for expats, ranging from budget-friendly options to packages that offer a truly wide coverage. Notably, they cover mental health services and you’ll also get dental coverage.

Most services can be used from day one. Their most popular package is called Integral Elite and it comes with 100% coverage. This means that you don’t need to pay anything yourself when you use any of the services.

DKV’s expat insurance covers:

• Primary care. This includes general medicine emergencies, pediatrics and more.
• Access to video consultations and chats with doctors, health coaches and midwives. You'll also have access to a 24-hour on-call doctor by phone and a 24-hour pediatric medical line.
• Access to all specialties directly without getting a referral from the family doctor first.
• Surgery and hospitalization. You'll always have a single room and a bed for a companion.
• Dental coverage includes more than 50 free services and the rest come discounted.
• When you travel abroad you will have coverage for up to 20,000 euros in worldwide emergency assistance.
• You can also get access to psychotherapy (20 or 40 sessions per year depending on the emotional health problem) and a nutritionist for the treatment of obesity.
• Optionally, you can add paediatric or gynaecology services, even if it's not included in the original policy.

How much does private healthcare cost in Spain?

It’s possible to find private healthcare for all budgets in Spain. The starting point is roughly around £40-£50 per month. You’ll get a tailored quote from health insurance providers. Your fee depends on things such as your age, any health conditions you have and any optional add-ons you want.

Here’s a quick overview for the providers described above:

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How to get private healthcare as a foreigner in Spain?

Getting your private health insurance in Spain is simple. Here’s a short step-by-step outline of how it works:

1. Research different providers – take a careful look at what different providers include and how their policies work. Get several quotes (this can usually done just by filling out a form online) and also consider your budget. The insurance provider may need to reach out to you to ask for clarifying information.
2. Compare different policies – once you have your quotes from different providers, compare what they cover and what they don’t. Do you want something that covers frequent travel? Or maybe dental coverage is a priority. People’s needs are different, so make sure you take the time here to find the best coverage for you.
3. Complete your purchase – when you’ve found the right insurance provider and policy you can conveniently complete your purchase online.

Spain has a robust healthcare system that ranks among the best in the world. Even then, many people like to have additional comfort or health security. Luckily there’s a wide range of different options available when it comes to private healthcare, so you can be sure to find a solution that matches your needs.

Sources used:

Sources last checked on date: 16-06-2024