Health Service in Spain: What International Students Need to Know

If you are planning to go to Spain to study, in case you need to go to the hospital for a check-up, hospitalization, or other medical treatment, you are sure to experience one of the best healthcare in the world. In fact, according to the World Population Review for 2020, health service in Spain is the 7th best in the world. However, despite this fact, healthcare in the country remains accessible and affordable. No wonder, the majority of the Spanish population makes use of public healthcare, also known as the National Health System. 

Public healthcare in Spain is free for all citizens and some foreign nationals (including foreign students). Moreover, although the country has strong public healthcare, in recent years, the private sector has also been stepping up, assisting public health to make healthcare services better.

Moreover, hospitals and specialty centers in Spain make use of state-of-the-art facilities, innovative and the latest technology and equipment ensuring the best health services to the people. 

Accessing Healthcare in Spain as an International Student

If you are a foreign student in Spain, you can access healthcare in the country in various ways. The most common ways are through a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), or private health insurance. 

Health Insurance for EU/EEA Students

The first option is through the EHIC, which is only for citizens of the EU, Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein. The card ensures its holders get various health benefits from various EU countries, especially when it comes to necessary healthcare, which includes medical service in case of emergency including operations, and check-ups. 

Although the card may cover most medical costs in Spain at a discounted price, some, like dental treatment may not. This is because, originally, Spanish healthcare does not cover dental care, except for individuals under the age of 15, or unless it is an emergency. 

EU/EEA students can also check out some private health insurance plans they can use to supplement their EHIC. 

Health Insurance for non EU/EEA Students

The second way is through private insurance. For foreign students who do not belong to the category above, they can purchase private health insurance instead.

Good thing, there are many companies offering health insurance to foreign students in Spain. Some of the most famous health insurance companies include the following: 

• AXA
• ASISA
• Adeslas 
• Allianz Care 
• Cigna Global 
• Globality Health

One good thing about private health insurance is you can choose which one is the best for you (especially for individuals with specific needs), with some plans even offering flexibility to its benefits. 

In case you are not sure about the plan you should get, you can ask your academic institution if they can suggest a provider, or if they are already partnering with specific insurance providers. This can make accessing them easier for international students.

In Case of Emergency

In case of emergency, and immediate health service in Space is needed, these are the emergency numbers you must take note of: 

• 112 – Any emergency issue including urgent medical assistance, accidents, fires, and so on
• 061 – Ambulance
• 1003 – Emergency Doctor 

If you want to learn more about Spain, including know-how tips to make the most of your experience there, check out MSM Unify articles on Spain. To start, check out our article on Studying in Spain: How Much Does it Really Cost?