Healthcare

Healthcare in Spain

Spain's healthcare system is world-class, ranking 10th globally in the 2025 Numbeo Health Care Index. The country boasts the EU's highest life expectancy (83.3 years) and virtually universal coverage (99.7%).

Public Healthcare System (SNS)

Eligibility:

• All legal residents
• Workers contributing to Social Security
• EU citizens with European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)
• Free for eligible users

Coverage includes:

• Primary care physicians
• Specialist referrals
• Hospital care
• Emergency services
• Prescription medications (with copay)
• Maternity care

How to access:

1. Register at local health center (Centro de Salud)
2. Receive health card (Tarjeta Sanitaria Individual)
3. Assigned primary care doctor
4. Referrals needed for specialists

Wait times:

• Emergency: Immediate
• Primary care: 1-3 days
• Specialists: 1-3 months (varies by region and specialty)
• Non-urgent surgery: Can be several months

Private Healthcare

Cost: €50-100/month for comprehensive coverage

Benefits:

• No wait times
• Choose your doctor/hospital
• English-speaking doctors common
• Better facilities (often)
• Immediate specialist access

Popular insurers:

• Sanitas
• Adeslas
• Asisa
• DKV
• AXA

For digital nomad visa holders: Private insurance required initially. Can switch to public after residence established.

Prescription Medications

Public system copay:

• Working age: 40% (€4.24 monthly cap)
• Pensioners: 10%
• Some chronic conditions: Free

Pharmacies (Farmacias):

• Highly trained pharmacists
• Can diagnose minor issues
• Many medications available without prescription
• Identified by green cross
• Some open 24 hours (farmacias de guardia)

Healthcare by Region

Best healthcare regions:

• Madrid: Excellent facilities, many hospitals
• Catalonia (Barcelona): Top-tier, international
• Basque Country: Well-funded system
• Valencia: Good balance of quality and access

For Expats

English-speaking doctors: Common in:

• Barcelona (especially Eixample, Gràcia)
• Madrid (Salamanca, Chamberí)
• Costa del Sol (Málaga, Marbella)
• Valencia
• Alicante region

Dental care: Not covered by public system

• Private insurance: €15-30/month dental-specific
• Out-of-pocket: €60-100 for cleaning

Mental health:

• Public system: Available but limited, wait times long
• Private: €60-120 per session
• Some English-speaking therapists in major cities

Emergency Care

Emergency number: 112 (universal EU number)

Emergency services: 061 (ambulance)

Emergency rooms (Urgencias):

• Available at all hospitals
• Free for residents
• Triage system—serious cases prioritized
• Wait times vary (2-8 hours for non-urgent)

Health Insurance for Visa Applications

Digital Nomad/Non-Lucrative Visa requirements:

• Must cover all of Spain
• No copays allowed
• Minimum coverage: Similar to public system
• Cost: €500-1,200/year

Recommended insurers for visas:

• Sanitas (most commonly accepted)
• Adeslas
• Asisa
• DKV