Public and private healthcare in Spain: a straightforward guide
The idea behind the Spanish system
If someone says healthcare is free in Spain, they are wrong: healthcare is never free, but we share the costs of a top-quality healthcare system because Spain is a welfare state. We all pay our great public hospitals, doctors, treatments and services through our taxes, and we are proud of this fact. We take care of each other in Spain, no matter your financial situation or country of birth.
Okay, but what do I need to know?
So if you live and work in Spain and have a valid social security number, you will likely have access to free state Spanish healthcare. The service is decentralised, meaning each autonomous county has its own system; they are similar, but it's worth checking the differences. For example, Spanish public healthcare in Barcelona is called CatSalut.
First, to register for social security, you must provide a valid passport or ID card, your residency certificate and proof that you have registered your address (which is called empadronamiento) at your local town hall. Once you’ve solved that step, you can apply for a health card (Tarjeta sanitaria individual or TSI) and get your family doctor assigned so that you can receive follow-up treatments and have a closer relationship with your medical professional.
Okay, but what do I need to know?
So if you live and work in Spain and have a valid social security number, you will likely have access to free state Spanish healthcare. The service is decentralised, meaning each autonomous county has its own system; they are similar, but it's worth checking the differences. For example, Spanish public healthcare in Barcelona is called CatSalut.
First, to register for social security, you must provide a valid passport or ID card, your residency certificate and proof that you have registered your address (which is called empadronamiento) at your local town hall. Once you’ve solved that step, you can apply for a health card (Tarjeta sanitaria individual or TSI) and get your family doctor assigned so that you can receive follow-up treatments and have a closer relationship with your medical professional.
How to register with a doctor in Spain
As an expat, you can get free state healthcare if you are:
– Living in Spain, working for a company or self-employment and paying social security taxes.
– Living in Spain and receiving certain state benefits.
– A resident in Spain and recently divorced or separated from a partner registered with social security.
– A child resident in Spain.
– A pregnant woman and a Spanish resident.
– Under 26 and studying in Spain.
– A state pensioner.
– Staying temporarily in Spain and have a European Health Insurance Card.
Many people opt for private insurance in Spain only for one fact: the waiting lists for appointments and minor surgeries. Since the public health system works very well and the doctors are highly trained, the queues for non-urgent procedures can be long. The wide range of private Spanish health insurance plans ensures that you will find the one that suits you best at a cost that will vary, as it always happens, depending on preexisting conditions, age and other factors.
Relocate to Barcelona
– Living in Spain, working for a company or self-employment and paying social security taxes.
– Living in Spain and receiving certain state benefits.
– A resident in Spain and recently divorced or separated from a partner registered with social security.
– A child resident in Spain.
– A pregnant woman and a Spanish resident.
– Under 26 and studying in Spain.
– A state pensioner.
– Staying temporarily in Spain and have a European Health Insurance Card.
Many people opt for private insurance in Spain only for one fact: the waiting lists for appointments and minor surgeries. Since the public health system works very well and the doctors are highly trained, the queues for non-urgent procedures can be long. The wide range of private Spanish health insurance plans ensures that you will find the one that suits you best at a cost that will vary, as it always happens, depending on preexisting conditions, age and other factors.
The idea behind the Spanish system
If someone says healthcare is free in Spain, they are wrong: healthcare is never free, but we share the costs of a top-quality healthcare system because Spain is a welfare state. We all pay our great public hospitals, doctors, treatments and services through our taxes, and we are proud of this fact. We take care of each other in Spain, no matter your financial situation or country of birth.
Okay, but what do I need to know?
So if you live and work in Spain and have a valid social security number, you will likely have access to free state Spanish healthcare. The service is decentralised, meaning each autonomous county has its own system; they are similar, but it's worth checking the differences. For example, Spanish public healthcare in Barcelona is called CatSalut.
First, to register for social security, you must provide a valid passport or ID card, your residency certificate and proof that you have registered your address (which is called empadronamiento) at your local town hall. Once you’ve solved that step, you can apply for a health card (Tarjeta sanitaria individual or TSI) and get your family doctor assigned so that you can receive follow-up treatments and have a closer relationship with your medical professional.
Okay, but what do I need to know?
So if you live and work in Spain and have a valid social security number, you will likely have access to free state Spanish healthcare. The service is decentralised, meaning each autonomous county has its own system; they are similar, but it's worth checking the differences. For example, Spanish public healthcare in Barcelona is called CatSalut.
First, to register for social security, you must provide a valid passport or ID card, your residency certificate and proof that you have registered your address (which is called empadronamiento) at your local town hall. Once you’ve solved that step, you can apply for a health card (Tarjeta sanitaria individual or TSI) and get your family doctor assigned so that you can receive follow-up treatments and have a closer relationship with your medical professional.
How to register with a doctor in Spain
As an expat, you can get free state healthcare if you are:
– Living in Spain, working for a company or self-employment and paying social security taxes.
– Living in Spain and receiving certain state benefits.
– A resident in Spain and recently divorced or separated from a partner registered with social security.
– A child resident in Spain.
– A pregnant woman and a Spanish resident.
– Under 26 and studying in Spain.
– A state pensioner.
– Staying temporarily in Spain and have a European Health Insurance Card.
Many people opt for private insurance in Spain only for one fact: the waiting lists for appointments and minor surgeries. Since the public health system works very well and the doctors are highly trained, the queues for non-urgent procedures can be long. The wide range of private Spanish health insurance plans ensures that you will find the one that suits you best at a cost that will vary, as it always happens, depending on preexisting conditions, age and other factors.
Relocate to Barcelona
– Living in Spain, working for a company or self-employment and paying social security taxes.
– Living in Spain and receiving certain state benefits.
– A resident in Spain and recently divorced or separated from a partner registered with social security.
– A child resident in Spain.
– A pregnant woman and a Spanish resident.
– Under 26 and studying in Spain.
– A state pensioner.
– Staying temporarily in Spain and have a European Health Insurance Card.
Many people opt for private insurance in Spain only for one fact: the waiting lists for appointments and minor surgeries. Since the public health system works very well and the doctors are highly trained, the queues for non-urgent procedures can be long. The wide range of private Spanish health insurance plans ensures that you will find the one that suits you best at a cost that will vary, as it always happens, depending on preexisting conditions, age and other factors.
