One of the biggest fears when you’ve just moved to Spain is getting sick. The language barrier is one thing, but the worry about potentially astronomical medical bills is another. I recently had to visit a hospital due to an allergy, and I finally got a general idea of the costs for both public and private healthcare. I’m sharing what I learned to help anyone else who might be confused.
Public Healthcare System
If you have a work or student residency permit and are properly contributing to the social security system, then congratulations—healthcare in public hospitals is essentially free. This “free” coverage includes most services, from routine appointments with your family doctor to seeing specialists, getting tests done, and even hospitalization and surgery, all without any personal out-of-pocket costs. While the [cost of a medical check-up in Spain] or general [Spanish hospital fees] might be a concern, being in the public system means most things are covered. During my recent emergency visit to a public hospital for my allergies, the doctor prescribed anti-allergy medication. You have to pay for prescriptions at the pharmacy yourself, but as I learned regarding the [cost of a medical check-up in Spain], the cost is subsidized by the government, so it’s not expensive; I paid about 40% of the total price. Remember, always bring your social security card (tarjeta sanitaria)!
Private Healthcare System
If you don’t have social security or find the wait times in the public system too long, private health insurance is the way to go. Many of my friends have insurance with providers like Sanitas, Adeslas, or Asisa. Having private insurance makes seeing a doctor much more convenient. You can directly book appointments with any private hospital or specialist within your insurer’s network, usually without long waits. As for the cost, it depends on your insurance plan. Some plans are full coverage (sin copago), where visits and tests cost you nothing. Others have a co-payment (con copago), meaning you pay a small fee each time you use a service—for example, €10 for a specialist visit or €20 for a diagnostic test.
What If You Have No Insurance at All?
In that case, you’ll have to pay for medical care out-of-pocket, and the costs can be quite high. Although prices vary significantly between hospitals and services, here’s a general reference range. Below are some approximate out-of-pocket costs for services at private hospitals, based on information from friends and online research. For exact prices, you should always consult the hospital directly.
| Medical Service | Estimated Price |
|---|
| General Consultation / Family Doctor | €60 - €100 |
| Specialist Consultation | €100 - €150 |
| Standard Emergency Visit | €150 - €300 |
| Abdominal Ultrasound | €80 - €150 |
| MRI Scan | €300 - €600 |
To sum up, if you have social security, use the public system to save money. If you prefer convenience and speed, get a good private insurance plan. The least advisable option is to go without any coverage at all—your wallet will really feel the pain. I hope everyone stays healthy and never needs to use this article! ¡Salud para todos
!
