Confused about private insurance versus public healthcare in Spain? Trying to find an English-speaking doctor in Madrid? Wondering what isn’t covered by your insurance?Â
Don’t stress because Smart Insiders is here to help! In this blog, we’ll outline some important information about the healthcare system in Spain, finding pharmacies, and locating English-speaking (or German-, French- or Italian-speaking) doctors and hospitals.
1) Insurance: EU citizens
As an EU citizen, you can use your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) at public hospitals and clinics in Spain. This allows you to receive medical treatment at the same cost as Spanish citizens! Your EHIC only covers necessary care, including emergencies, so be aware that pre-existing conditions or extensive treatments might not be covered. Make sure to apply for your EHIC in your home country before traveling to Spain. Read more information about the EHIC by clicking here.
If you are studying or working in Spain for an extended period of time, you may need to purchase private health insurance. Check with your program or university about this possibility.
 2) Insurance: Non-EU citizens
If you’re a non-EU citizen, you may need to prove that you have private health insurance as part of your visa application process. Check with your university or program to see if private healthcare is already included – for auxiliares de conversación and many study abroad students, this is probably the case.Â
However, if there is a bilateral agreement between your home country and Spain, it may not be necessary to purchase private health insurance. Contact your embassy to find out if this agreement exists for you!
 3) Difference between private and public health care
Spain has 2 types of health care: public and private.
The Spanish public healthcare system is one of the best in the world and is free for all Spanish citizens and legal residents. Public health care covers treatment in public hospitals and clinics, as well as 60% of the cost of your medications. The public health system is financed through the income taxes paid by workers and self-employed people in Spain.
You could also choose to purchase private health insurance. Some benefits of this option include:
- Avoid long waits: With private health insurance, you will be able to avoid long waits in hospitals and book appointments more quickly for treatments. In recent years, the number of people with private health insurance have increased by 5%, possibly due to long waiting times in the public system.
- Higher quality care: Some argue that the quality of private doctors is higher than that of public ones, though the public health care system is also considered to be of very high quality.
- No language barrier: With private health insurance, you can be sure to find doctors and specialists who speak English or your native language. This could be especially useful for people who don’t speak Spanish.
However, there are still some inconveniences in the private healthcare system. Private health insurers tend to have agreements with a limited number of hospitals, doctors, dentists, and so on, so your insurance will not cover you everywhere. Also, private health insurance doesn’t cover you for all treatments or the entire cost of treatment.
The best option may be to use both public health care and private health insurance.
4)Â What is not covered by the public healthcare system?
Dentists are not covered by public healthcare, so you should either purchase private dental insurance or pay out of pocket. Luckily, dental fees are relatively low, especially for a yearly checkup. On the other hand, dental insurance is also relatively inexpensive, costing only 10 to 20 euros per month in many cases.
Opticians and eyewear are also not included in the public healthcare system. However, there are many shops and specialists with affordable services.Â
Also, specialists, cosmetic surgeries, or hospital stays may not be covered by public healthcare, or perhaps only up to a certain amount. As a result, you would have to pay the rest, so perhaps private health insurance would be a good idea to cover these expenses.
Finally, medicines are almost never completely covered by private or public insurance. The public healthcare system will cover up to 60% of the prices of your medications if your income is less than 18,000€ per year, but you will still be responsible for paying the remaining 40%.
We hope this article has answered your questions or concerns about healthcare in Spain!Â
For any other questions, don’t hesitate to email us at info@smartinsiders.com or send us a WhatsApp message at (+34) 607 131 677.
Useful websites
Pharmacies in Madrid
In Spain, you can recognize a pharmacy easily thanks to the large green cross outside. You can also use this website to find a pharmacy close to your home. Also, here you can check out the 24-hour pharmacies in Madrid.
Public Health Care Center
Click this link to find the health center (centro de salud) which corresponds to your home address.