Questions about the Spanish healthcare system you will find the answers you need right here.

You've bought a fantastic house on the Costa Blanca and are really looking forward to moving there, the biggest move of your life. The money you inherited from your grandmother gave you the last little push you'd been waiting for. You've been preparing for the perfect journey to Spain for months, and suddenly you think: what's the situation with the Spanish healthcare system once I get there? Don't worry, we've sorted it all out for you. Read carefully all about the Spanish healthcare system here below, so that your perfectly planned journey goes off without a hitch. We wish you a safe and healthy time.

Public and private

The Spanish healthcare system is one of the best in the world. It's divided into a public and a private part. The public part is funded by contributions and offers a basic insurance for almost every health issue. This public healthcare system offers such good coverage that only 19% of Spanish people are insured privately. The only advantage of a private healthcare insurance is that it often gives a more extended coverage and shorter waiting lists for treatments and specialists. 

Who is entitled to public healthcare in Spain?

• everyone living and working in Spain and paying contributions to the national insurance scheme 

• all children resident or long-stay in Spain 

• pregnant women resident in Spain

• students up to 26 years of age, resident in Spain

• temporary visitors with an EHIC (Euopean Health Insurance Card) 

• all those entitled to social benefits or pension from the Spanish government. 

How do I register for Spanish public healthcare?

Let's say you meet one or more of the above-mentioned criteria: what do you have to do to receive public health insurance? To start with, you'll need a social insurance number - a ‘número de afiliación a la Seguridad social'. You will be issued with this number when you hand over your passport, your residence permit, proof of your accommodation and a TA.1 form, filled in in Spanish. That form is obtainable from the government body for foreigners.

As soon as you have collected all these documents, make an appointment at the general social insurance office:  the 'Tesorería General de la Seguridad Social'. These offices can be found at many tourist places, including the Costa Blanca. You will receive an invitation to go for an interview and following that, will be issued with your Spanish social insurance number. 

The last step: you go to the nearest health centre - 'Centro de Salud' - and ask for your health card - 'tarjeta sanitaria'. With that, you can get help at any health centre in Spain, free of charge.

Another option: private healthcare insurance.

Perhaps you'd rather save yourself the effort and would prefer private healthcare insurance. It's a popular option among foreigners and people who have a second home in Spain. The premiums for such a private healthcare insurance are between 50 and 200 euros a month, depending on whether you have family members you wish to insure too. A lot of people residing temporarily in Spain choose to take out this private healthcare insurance. 

Conclusion

A few lucky people have taken advantage of the drop in prices in one of the most beautiful places in the world and now travel several times a year to their dream houses. Purchasing a house in that paradise can lead to a life filled with happiness. 

Make the best of your trip to the Costa Blanca and enjoy it to the full, knowing that your health is perfectly safeguarded!