Comprehensive guide to emergency coverage in Spain. How Sanitas handles accidents, urgent care, A&E visits, and medical emergencies. What's covered from day 1, how to access emergency services, and which plans include worldwide emergency cover.
Here's what happens and how Sanitas and Spain's public system work together.
Spain has an excellent public healthcare system. If you have a true emergency:
Here's the important bit: public A&E in Spain is free for everyone, including tourists. Spain's public system treats anyone who arrives with an emergency, regardless of insurance status. You will not be turned away.
Sanitas covers emergencies from day 1 across two scenarios:
If you're injured and want to go to a private hospital instead of public, Sanitas covers:
If you use the public system (which is free anyway):
You don't need Sanitas to get emergency care in Spain. The public system is excellent and covers everyone in emergencies.
Sanitas defines emergency broadly. Here's what triggers zero-waiting-period coverage.
These usually need same-day or next-day care but don't trigger emergency coverage:
If you're unsure whether something is an emergency, call 112 or your Sanitas nurse line. Let them assess you. They're trained to triage. Better to call and be told you're OK than to delay a real emergency.
Step-by-step: what to do if you have a medical emergency.
In Spain: Call 112 (works everywhere, speaks English). This activates ambulance, police, and fire services.
Sanitas members: You can also call your Sanitas emergency line (number on your card). They'll advise and arrange care.
Tell the dispatcher:
Paramedics assess you and decide:
Bring your Sanitas card. Tell staff you have Sanitas insurance. They'll confirm coverage with Sanitas directly (no waiting for you).
Public hospital: You may not be asked about insurance — public care is for everyone.
Private hospital: Show your card; they'll verify coverage before admitting you.
You're treated for your emergency. Sanitas will pay claims directly for approved hospitals and suppliers in their network (which includes most private hospitals in Spain).
After stabilization, any follow-up care depends on your plan:
Not every health issue is an A&E emergency. For urgent but non-emergency situations, Blua is faster than hospital.
Blua is Sanitas's 24/7 video doctor service included with most plans. Perfect for:
Blua consultations are free or low copay (€0-10) depending on your plan. Often included in premium.
What if you have an emergency while travelling outside Spain?
Most standard Sanitas plans cover emergencies in Spain and EU countries only.
Premium plan with worldwide emergency coverage:
Designed for expats with international lifestyle:
Separate from Sanitas. If you have EHIC (from UK or other EU country), it covers emergency care in EU countries. Sanitas complements this.
If you travel outside EU frequently, check whether your Sanitas plan covers emergencies abroad. If not, upgrade to Residents Platinum or Mundi. Alternatively, buy travel insurance for trips outside EU (cheap: €50-150/year).
What if you're seriously ill abroad and need to be flown back to Spain?
Medical repatriation is being transported (usually by air ambulance) from one country to another for ongoing medical care. Costs tens of thousands of euros (€20,000-100,000+).
You're travelling in USA, have a serious accident, need surgery abroad, then need to be transferred back to Spain for rehabilitation. Sanitas Residents Platinum would cover the air ambulance cost and ongoing care in Spain.
If you don't have repatriation, you or your family would pay €20,000-100,000+ to fly you home privately. Standard travel insurance often has repatriation included, which is an alternative.
All Sanitas plans cover emergencies. Choose based on scope.
Best for: Local emergency coverage in Spain
Best for: International travellers, frequent trips
Best for: Digital nomads, expats abroad, global living
Founded in 1954 and part of the Bupa Group since 1989, Sanitas is Spain's most recognised private health insurer — with the largest private medical network in the country.
Yes, 100%. All Sanitas plans cover emergencies from day 1 of your policy with zero waiting period. No exceptions. If you have a true medical emergency, you are covered.
Contact us immediately. For genuine emergencies, Sanitas may waive copays or accept payment plans. Also, Spanish public A&E is free. You won't be turned away in an emergency due to cost.
Yes, if it's in the Sanitas network (which includes most private hospitals in Spain). Claim is handled seamlessly. If you use an out-of-network private hospital, Sanitas may reimburse at a lower rate — but rarely an issue for true emergencies.
Yes. If you're unconscious, hospital staff will treat you as an emergency under Spanish law (public system). Your Sanitas card (if available) will help direct you to private care if family chooses it. Either way, you're covered.
Blua provides consultations for non-emergency urgent issues: fever, cough, infection symptoms, rash, stomach pain, anxiety support, etc. Doctor can prescribe (to your pharmacy) or advise seeing a specialist. Included free or low copay with most Sanitas plans.
Yes. 112 is Spain's emergency service and responds to everyone. Public A&E is free for emergencies. Sanitas insurance means you get the added choice of private hospitals and faster service, but the emergency response is universal.
Yes. If you're in acute mental health crisis (suicidal ideation, severe psychosis), this is treated as a medical emergency. Call 112 or your Sanitas emergency line. You'll be referred to psychiatric A&E or crisis centre covered by Sanitas.
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.