Do EU citizens need health insurance in Spain?
Do I need medical insurance to live in Spain? Nevertheless, this is only true for non-EU nationals, as EU residents are entitled to free health care in Spain for the first 3 months of their stay. They just need a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC).
Is healthcare free in Spain for residents?
Spain has both public and private healthcare systems. The public system provides free basic healthcare to those who contribute to the Spanish social security system and their families. This entitles them and their families to receive free or subsidised medical care on the same terms as Spanish residents.
Do I need travel insurance for Spain if I have an EHIC card?
With an EHIC or GHIC you can get medically necessary treatment in Spain on the same basis as a Spanish citizen. An EHIC or GHIC is not a replacement for travel insurance – it does not cover everything, such as mountain rescue or being flown back to the UK (medical repatriation).
Who is entitled to free healthcare in Spain?
Spain has always allowed universal and free healthcare for anyone legally resident in Spain under Article 43 of the Constitution, signed in December 1978, but confusion and misinformation has long abound, with non-working expats under State pension age believing, or even being told ‘officially’, they needed private …
Is there a national health service in Spain?
The Spanish National Healthcare System (“Instituto Nacional de la Salud”), founded on Spain’s General Healthcare Act of 1986, guarantees universal coverage and free healthcare access to all Spanish nationals, regardless of economic situation or participation in the social security network.
Do you have to pay for hospital treatment in Spain?
All residents in Spain need to register to access healthcare. Once registered for healthcare, basic state services are free, but there are some things that patients need to pay for. For example, you usually have to pay something towards prescriptions – either a reduced price or the full price.
How much does it cost to get health insurance in Spain?
If you are not covered for public health care, you can also pay a monthly fee to access the state-run healthcare (so called pay-in scheme) after having lived 12 months in Spain. Currently, the fee is 60 euros a month for people under 65, and 157 euros a month for people over 65, regardless of pre-existing conditions.
Is healthcare free in Spain for EU citizens?
For any EU citizen, healthcare in Spain is for free for the first three months with the EU health insurance card. After this period, any EU citizen is required to get a private plan or register with the national healthcare system. Non-citizens to have insurance in place before entering the EU and Spain.
Is travel insurance enough for expats in Spain?
Travel insurance is just not enough. As an expat, if you have health insurance in place already then you can keep it. However, this will not exempt you from the social security while employed in Spain.
Who can benefit from the Spanish state health insurance scheme?
Those under 30 can benefit from similar discounts. Women returning from having a baby in Spain can claim 100\% discount for 12 months. For detailed figures on contribution bases and rates, see this table from the Spanish Social Security Office. If you work in Spain and pay social security contributions, then you receive state healthcare coverage.