You may or may not need Private Health Insurance for your residency or visa application, even if you don't you may want to reassurance of this access. The costs are affordable in Spain, and given the language barrier you may find some insurance providers may provide you access to more English speaking doctors.

• Must-Haves: Your insurance policy must be contracted with a provider in Spain, and travel insurance is not accepted. If it's not clear in the documentation ask the provider for clarity and make sure the provider gives you the assurance that it's valid for the Visa you require (i.e. Full Coverage, No Co-Payments, Waiting Periods, Must be valid for one year). Some consulates may ask you to prove you have repatriation cover, however this is not common.
• Your Needs: Make a note of your 'must have' list of requirements and check that the providers can deliver upon your needs. They may have optional services you can add into your policy.
• Pre-Existing Medical Conditions: Once you have made contact with the insurance companies, do make sure you make them aware of existing medical conditions to ensure the policy you purchase is fit for your needs, and seek clarity on coverage for costs of any regular prescription medications.
• Benefits: Look at the different 'benefits' that you get from each and weigh-up what you value the most.
• Customer Reviews: Ask the provider if they have any customer reviews / ratings that you can review.
• Value for Money: Considering the above, how does the price of the contract compare with your budget and expectations
• Contract Terms: Make sure you are clear on the payments, some providers allow monthly payments, some may ask for full year payment up front or offer a discount for doing so. Check on the cancellation terms and when the insurance starts taking into account for any delays in the Visa process and/or your arrival in Spain.

Help At Hand Spain can make introductions to trusted partners to provide you the best policy to meet your individual needs.

If you are an EU or UK Citizen and have residency in Spain you may no longer be eligible to use your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) or Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) in Spain for access to public health care.

You may be eligible for Public Health Care in Spain under the following circumstances:

• Employee in Spain: If you employed by a Spanish company you will be eligible for public health care.
  
• Self Employed in Spain: If you are an EU or Family of EU Citizen and register for autonomo, as you will be paying into the Social Security System you will also be eligible to register and access public health care.
  
• Digital Nomad Visa:If you have a Digital Nomad Visa and are covered by a Bilateral Social Security agreement, or you are registered for Self Employment (Autonomo), you will be eligible to register for access to the Public Health Care system.
• Retired with State Pension: If you are an EU or UK (United Kingdom) citizen eligible for a state pension you will be able to register for public health care in Spain.

Help At Hand Spain offers a service to help you register for public health care services (if you need to obtain a certificate of entitlement), and then register with your local doctor.

If you are not covered for state-run healthcare through any other means, the Spanish regional health authorities offer a special pay-in scheme (convenio especial). This is a public health insurance scheme available nationwide where you pay a monthly fee to access state-run healthcare. The scheme is managed by each autonomous region. Before application, you must have been a resident for at least one year.

Policy holders pay on an individual basis for access to public healthcare, regardless of pre-existing conditions, anywhere in Spain. Children do not have to join the Convenio Especial as they are protected under Spanish law and can access state healthcare for free.

The basic monthly fee is 60€ for the under 65s and 157€ for those aged 65 and above. However, prescriptions and prosthesis are not subsidised so you would pay 100% of prescription costs. This form of cover doesn’t give holders the right to an EHIC at this time, so if you wish to travel, you will need to take out private travel insurance. To register you need to contact the Health Authority in your local autonomos region.

• Help At Hand Spain offers a service to help you register for Convenio Especial if you are eligible.

If you plan to travel back to your original country of residence prior to becoming a resident in Spain, then it's important you check with your countries health authority if you are still covered by public health care (if it's provided by your country).You may no longer have access to public health care services and if so you may need to take out travel insurance.

When you have residency in Spain, if you have access to Public Health Care, you will be eligible to apply for a Spanish European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) which you can use for public health access in other European Union (EU) or European Economic Area (EEA) countries.  This will not cover you for travel to Non-European Countries so don't forget to take out travel insurance.

Remember this card access medically necessary treatment for short / temporary stays.You should check on the limitations of cover, you may still require travel insurance depending on your needs.Keep in mind that the EHIC is not a replacement for travel insurance, it may not cover all health insurance costs and never repatriation. It's advisable to have private travel and medical insurance during your trip.

• Help At Hand Spain offers a service to assist you in registering for the Spanish EHIC card.
• Useful Links: EU EHIC Card

Repatriation insurance is a type of travel insurance that covers the cost of returning a traveler to their home country in case of a medical emergency or death while traveling abroad. This type of insurance can also cover medical expenses, emergency medical evacuation, and other travel-related benefits. Repatriation insurance can cover the cost of a companion to travel back to your country of residence, as well as any expenses incurred, such as hotels or tickets. Repatriation coverage is also called repatriation of remains coverage, and it provides for transport of the traveler’s remains back to their home country in case of death.

• Help At Hand Spain offers a service to assist you in obtaining repatriation insurance should you need it.