Private Health Insurance Spain

If you’re moving to Spain and concerned about whether or not the Spanish state health service INSALUD is going to provide you with the level and degree of care you expect and require, you should take into account that the level of care offered is excellent but that the availability of care is restricted because the state health service is basically under funded.

In some cases INSALUD only pays for up to seventy five percent of treatment as well which can make it difficult for some people to afford the treatment they really require.  It is possible to purchase private health insurance in Spain however which may well cover all additional expenses and even help you get to the front of the queue for essential medical treatment.

As I’m sure you’re aware there are about a million companies all offering to provide you with the level of health insurance you need - but in truth there are only a handful that are any good!  So how do you sort the wheat from the chaff and actually find the one provider who will give you the level of private health insurance cover you need when living in Spain?

Well, you have to know what you want and then you have to go and find it!  Simple really!

Knowing What You Want

To determine the type of private health insurance that will best suit you and your requirements you should draw up a list of features that you need; the following questions should get you thinking about your list: -

Who do you require health cover for - just you or you, spouse and or dependents?

Do you require international private health insurance - i.e., will you be traveling outside of Spain for any length of time?  If you’re going to be living full time in Spain you won’t probably need this.

Would you like additional travel insurance cover?  Many providers offer this as an add-on feature and it can be quite useful if you travel a lot.

What is the state of your health - depending on your age and state of health you may have to have a medical before being accepted for cover, alternatively you may find it very difficult to find cover and this will of course reduce your options immediately?

How much can you afford to pay out as an excess?  The more you can afford to pay the cheaper the cover will be but the more you can afford to pay may negate the usefulness of private health insurance in the first place!

Do you want dental and vision insurance as well?

Have you got any specific conditions that require ongoing treatment?  You must mention these to any provider you ask for a quotation from and ensure that the condition will be covered by your provider if needs be.

Research

Now you have a good idea of what level of private health insurance you want to cover your time in Spain you can begin your search for the best insurance provider.  You can either seek to use the services of an insurance broker or financial adviser - make sure you use reputable individuals who are recommended to you and who are independent and not tied to one product provider - or you can do your own research and company due diligence.

If you choose the latter approach speak to friends, family and other expats in Spain about what they do, who they are insured by and what their experiences are with their health insurance provider.  You may well receive recommendations in which case you can then approach the company directly and ask them for a personalized quotation.

If not, the only other way is to get online and wade through information about all the main providers who offer private health insurance for those living in Spain.  When you have come up with a shortlist you can get a personalized quotation quickly because you have already drawn up your wish list and know exactly what you want from your health insurer.