How healthcare works in Spain — public and private — and where Sanitas private health insurance fits for expats, residents and visa applicants.
Spain has a strong public healthcare system alongside a large private sector. Which one you can use depends on your status: employment and social security, an S1 form, the convenio especial scheme, or private health insurance for a visa or residency route.
These resources explain the differences in plain English, so you can understand your options before choosing cover. They are guides, not medical advice.
Understand what each system covers and who can use it.
Two common routes to healthcare access, and how they compare with private cover.
Where private health insurance is required as part of a residence route.
Finding medical access through the Sanitas network.
Access to healthcare in Spain usually comes through one of a few routes: contributing to social security through work, an S1 form for some pensioners and posted workers, paying into the public convenio especial scheme, or holding private health insurance — either because a visa or residency route requires it, or for faster access and English-speaking support. Knowing which route applies to you is the single most useful thing, because it stops you paying for cover you do not need or, just as importantly, relying on access you do not actually have.
Many expats use more than one route over time. It is common to take private cover for a visa application, then gain public access later after starting work or registering with social security, keeping private cover alongside for speed and choice. The comparisons in this hub are designed to make those trade-offs clear in plain English. One practical point worth checking early: access to a specific hospital, clinic or specialist depends on your plan and the Sanitas cuadro médico, so it is always worth confirming the network in your area before you commit to a policy. We can help you check this as part of choosing cover.
We are English-speaking Sanitas health insurance specialists. Our role is to help you understand your options, choose a suitable plan and arrange the cover and certificate clearly, in English. The resources in this hub link to our detailed guides so the information stays accurate rather than going out of date, and you can always talk to an adviser, book a consultation or request a personalised quote when you are ready.
We are not a medical or legal service. We do not provide medical advice, diagnosis, triage or emergency assistance, and we do not handle visa applications or give immigration legal advice. Acceptance and exact terms depend on Sanitas underwriting and the official policy wording, and any visa or residency decision is made by the Spanish authorities based on your full file. For a medical emergency in Spain, call 112 or use the emergency services available through Sanitas / Mi Sanitas where applicable.
Our English-speaking specialists can explain where Sanitas private insurance fits your situation.