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Hospital Only Health Insurance Spain
Home › Plan Structure › Hospital Only Health Insurance
Coverage Type Expat Guide

Hospital Only Health Insurance in Spain

Inpatient cover for surgery, emergencies, and specialist treatment. Understand hospitalisation insurance and find Sanitas plans that include comprehensive hospital cover.

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Understanding Hospital Insurance

What Is Hospital-Only Health Insurance?

Hospital-only (or inpatient) health insurance covers costs when you need to stay overnight in hospital. This includes surgery, emergency admission, intensive care, and specialist treatment that requires hospitalisation.

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Pure hospital-only plans aren't common in Spain. Most private insurers, including Sanitas, offer hospital cover as part of a broader health plan that also includes outpatient care (GP visits, specialist consultations, diagnostics).

What Hospital Cover Typically Includes

  • Emergency hospital admission and A&E treatment
  • Surgical procedures and operating theatre costs
  • ICU and high-dependency unit care
  • Inpatient diagnostic tests and X-rays
  • Private room or semi-private accommodation
  • Specialist consultations while hospitalised
  • Medicines and medical supplies during stay
  • Physiotherapy and rehabilitation (post-hospital)

What Hospital Cover Typically Excludes

Hospital-only plans don't cover:

  • Outpatient doctor visits and consultations
  • Prescriptions and medications at pharmacies
  • Dental and orthodontic treatment
  • Optical care and glasses/contact lenses
  • Mental health counselling (typically)
  • Routine health screening and wellness checks
Coverage Strategy

Who Should Get Hospital Cover?

Hospital insurance makes sense if you want protection against major medical events while managing costs through public healthcare for routine care.

✓ Hospital Cover Suitable For:

  • Healthy individuals with low outpatient needs
  • Those who are comfortable using public healthcare for GPs
  • People seeking to supplement Spain's public health system (SNS)
  • Budget-conscious expats wanting emergency protection
  • Those willing to pay copayments for hospital stays

✗ Hospital Cover May Not Be Ideal For:

  • Those needing regular doctor visits or chronic disease management
  • People who want 100% cost coverage with no copayments
  • Those with pre-existing conditions requiring ongoing treatment
  • Families with children (higher outpatient usage)
  • Visa applicants (consulates typically require comprehensive plans)
Sanitas Hospitals Plans

Sanitas Plans With Hospitalisation Cover

All Sanitas health plans include hospitalisation as a core benefit. There's no "hospital only" plan, but you can choose between copay plans (lower premium, some costs per visit) and no-copay plans (higher premium, zero costs).

Budget-Friendly Plans With Hospital Cover (Copay Options)

These plans include hospitalisation but charge you a small amount per visit. Perfect if you want hospital coverage at an affordable price.

from €22.10 /month

Sanitas Accede

Best for: Budget-conscious expats wanting hospital cover + GP access

  • Hospital admission & surgery
  • GP visits with copay
  • Specialist consultations
  • Sanitas network (900+ clinics)
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from €33.60 /month

Sanitas Avanza

Best for: Expanding beyond budget with wider cover options

  • Hospital admission & surgery
  • Lower GP & specialist copays
  • Diagnostic tests covered
  • Full Sanitas network access
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from €41.67 /month

Sanitas Más Salud Plus

Best for: Excellent all-rounder with hospital + outpatient value

  • Hospital admission & surgery
  • Low outpatient copays
  • Dental care (partial)
  • Blua telemedicine included
View PlanGet Quote

Premium Plans With No Copay Hospital Cover

For complete peace of mind: no copayments for hospital stays, plus comprehensive outpatient care.

No Copay
from €59.90 /month

Sanitas Más Salud

Best for: Complete coverage, no hospital copayments

  • 100% hospital cover (no copay)
  • No copay for outpatient visits
  • Diagnostic tests included
  • Dental care (annual limit)
View PlanGet Quote
No Copay
from €57.96 /month

Sanitas Top Quantum

Best for: Premium coverage with enhanced hospital benefits

  • 100% hospital cover (no copay)
  • Private room option available
  • Higher coverage limits
  • Worldwide repatriation included
View PlanGet Quote
No Copay
from €94.00 /month

Sanitas Premium 500,000

Best for: Maximum coverage with €500k annual limit

  • 100% hospital cover (no copay)
  • €500k annual coverage limit
  • Unlimited dental (annual cap)
  • 24/7 international support
View PlanGet Quote
Cost Context

How Much Does Hospital Care Cost in Spain?

Understanding typical costs shows why hospital cover is so valuable for expats.

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Emergency Hospital Admission: €1,500–€3,000+ per day (private facility). Public healthcare is free for residents, but private admission costs add up quickly.
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Surgery (Appendectomy): €6,000–€12,000 in private hospitals. Additional costs for anaesthesia, specialists, and post-op care.
❤️
Cardiac Procedures: €15,000–€30,000+. Bypass surgery, stent placement, or pacemaker insertion run into five or six figures.
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ICU Care: €3,000–€5,000+ per day. Critical care, ventilators, and 24-hour monitoring multiply costs rapidly.
⚠️ A Single Hospital Stay Can Drain Savings

Even a short 5-day hospital admission for surgery could cost €15,000–€30,000 without insurance. Hospital cover ensures you access care without bankrupting yourself.

Payment Options

Hospital Copay vs No-Copay Plans

Your choice determines how much you pay out-of-pocket during hospitalisation.

AspectCopay Plans (Accede, Avanza)No-Copay Plans (Más Salud, Top Quantum)
Monthly Premium€22–€45€82–€101
Hospital Copay€200–€600 per admission€0 (zero copay)
Best ForHealthy individuals, rare admissionsPeace of mind, frequent care needs
Annual Cost (1 admission)€271–€1,140€984–€1,212

Takeaway: If you're young and healthy, a copay plan keeps monthly costs low. If you want guaranteed zero costs when hospitalised, upgrade to a no-copay plan.

Outpatient Support

Sanitas Blua: 24/7 Telemedicine for Hospital Patients

All Sanitas plans include access to Blua, a telemedicine service offering video consultations with doctors anytime, anywhere.

📱

Video Consultations

Connect with English-speaking doctors via video call in 15 minutes or less. Perfect for minor concerns that don't need hospital admission.

🕐

24/7 Availability

Use Blua anytime — weekends, holidays, midnight. No appointments needed. Prescriptions sent directly to your pharmacy.

💬

English Support

All consultations in English. No language barriers when explaining symptoms or medical history.

Blua bridges the gap: Hospital cover protects you for major events; Blua keeps you healthy between admissions with easy GP access.

Other Coverage Options

Related Coverage Types

Understand how hospital cover fits into the broader insurance landscape in Spain.

👨‍⚕️

Outpatient Cover

GP visits, specialist consultations, diagnostics, and minor procedures.
🏥

Full Coverage

Hospital + outpatient + dental + repatriation in one plan.
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Hospitalisation Cover

Detailed breakdown of what hospitalisation includes.

Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Do all Sanitas plans include hospital cover?▼

Yes. Every Sanitas health plan includes hospitalisation as a core benefit. There's no "hospital-only" plan, but all plans cover inpatient care, emergency admission, and surgery. The difference is whether you pay a copay per admission or not.

What's the difference between copay and no-copay hospital cover?▼

Copay plans: You pay €200–€600 per hospital admission, but premiums are much lower (€22–€45/month). No-copay plans: You pay zero when admitted, but premiums are higher (€82–€101/month). Choose based on how often you think you'll need hospital care.

Does hospital cover include private rooms?▼

Standard plans include semi-private rooms. Premium plans like Sanitas Top Quantum offer the option of upgrading to a private room for an additional cost. Ask your Sanitas agent about private room guarantees.

If I use Spain's public healthcare (SNS), do I still need private hospital cover?▼

You don't strictly need it, but private cover is valuable. Public hospitals can have long waiting lists for non-emergency procedures. Private cover lets you avoid delays and access better facilities. Many expats use public healthcare for routine care and private insurance for emergencies.

Are there waiting periods before hospital cover kicks in?▼

Emergency hospital admission is usually covered immediately. Non-emergency procedures may have a 30-90 day waiting period (depending on the plan). Certain plans offer zero waiting periods if you're willing to pay higher premiums.

What happens if I have a pre-existing condition and need hospital admission?▼

Sanitas covers pre-existing conditions, but waiting periods may apply (30–90 days). Some plans offer faster cover for urgent admissions. Learn more about pre-existing conditions here.

Can I combine hospital-only cover with a dental plan?▼

Since Sanitas doesn't sell pure hospital-only plans, all plans come with basic outpatient care included. Dental is available as an add-on or standalone plan. Check our dental plan options.

Sanitas

Sanitas is Spain's leading private health insurer — trusted by expats, families, and visa applicants across the country.

58,000+ Healthcare Professionals
4,500+ Medical Centres
Zero Waiting Periods on selected plans
Since 1954 Trusted in Spain

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Tell us about your situation and we'll send you an exact price — or suggest the best alternative if there's a better fit. No obligation, no hard sell.

  • Exact price based on your age & province
  • Cover starts on the date you choose
  • English-speaking advisors
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