Every application with a pre-existing condition is assessed individually by Sanitas's medical underwriting team. There is no blanket acceptance or rejection — your case is reviewed on its own merits, and we guide you through every step.
Sanitas does not have a simple yes/no policy on pre-existing conditions. Each case is looked at individually, which means the outcome depends on your specific health history — not a blanket rule.
We find the right Sanitas plan for your situation and provide an exact price based on your age and province. This quoted price is what you see before any health assessment takes place.
As part of the application, you answer five straightforward health questions. If you answer no to all five, your policy activates immediately — no further steps needed. If you answer yes to any question, you provide brief details and the application continues to the next stage.
A specialist from Sanitas's medical underwriting team arranges a phone call with you. On this call they review your answers, ask any follow-up questions, and may request additional medical information or documentation. We are available throughout this process to support you and answer questions in English.
At the end of the underwriting process, Sanitas communicates their decision. There are four possible outcomes — see below. Whatever the outcome, you will know exactly where you stand before any policy is issued or any payment taken.
Have you suffered from or been treated for any illness or accident in the last five years that required medical treatment?
Have you been hospitalised or had surgery, or is this planned in the near future?
Are you currently under medical treatment or medical monitoring?
Have you recently had any medical tests, or are you planning to have any?
Do you have any undiagnosed symptoms or pain that has persisted or recurred continuously?
ℹ️ If you answer yes to any question, you will be asked to provide further details. A yes does not automatically disqualify you — it triggers the individual underwriting review described above.
After reviewing your health questionnaire and speaking with you, the medical underwriting team will reach one of four decisions. All four are communicated clearly before anything is signed.
Sanitas is satisfied with your health information and agrees to cover all pre-existing conditions at the same price originally quoted. Your cover begins in full on your chosen start date with no exclusions or adjustments.
The policy is issued at the same quoted premium, but treatment directly related to your declared pre-existing condition(s) is excluded. All other medical care — including any new conditions that arise after the policy starts — is covered in full.
Sanitas agrees to cover the pre-existing conditions but requires a higher premium to do so. The exact increase is confirmed before the policy is issued — you are under no obligation to proceed if the adjusted price does not suit you.
In some cases, the underwriting team determines that they are unable to provide suitable cover given the pre-existing conditions declared. If this happens, we will let you know promptly and, where possible, explore alternative options with you.
Not sure what outcome to expect? Our English-speaking advisors have handled many applications involving pre-existing conditions and can give you a realistic sense of what Sanitas is likely to decide for your specific situation — before you go through the formal process. Speak to us first →
While every case is individual, we can share how Sanitas generally approaches some of the most common pre-existing conditions we see. These are not guarantees — they are typical patterns based on our experience.
Well-controlled diabetes with no complications is often assessed favourably. The underwriting team will ask about HbA1c levels, current medication, and any related complications. Outcomes vary from full cover to exclusion of diabetes-specific care.
Hypertension, prior heart events, and arrhythmia are assessed case by case. Controlled hypertension without complications is often treated more favourably than recent cardiac events or unresolved conditions.
Depression, anxiety, and similar conditions are reviewed individually. Mild, managed conditions often receive more favourable outcomes. More complex or recent diagnoses may result in exclusions or premium adjustments.
Cancer history requires a detailed review, including the type of cancer, stage, treatment received, and time since completion of treatment. Applications are reviewed individually and outcomes depend heavily on these specifics.
Mild, well-controlled asthma is typically assessed more favourably than COPD or poorly controlled asthma. The underwriting team will look at current medication and frequency of symptoms or flare-ups.
Conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and inflammatory bowel disease are reviewed individually. Stability of the condition, current treatment, and recent test results all factor into the assessment.
Remember: the above reflects general patterns only. Your individual outcome depends on your specific medical history, current condition stability, medications, and the information provided during the underwriting call. The only way to know for certain is to go through the process — and we are here to help you do that.
While the decision ultimately rests with Sanitas's underwriting team, there are things you can do to approach the process in the right way.
Full disclosure is a legal requirement. If a condition is not declared and later comes to light at claim time, Sanitas can deny the claim or cancel the policy. Being upfront is always the right approach — and it is the only way the underwriting team can make a fair assessment.
The underwriting team may ask for details such as diagnosis dates, current medications, recent test results, or letters from your specialist. Having this information to hand before or during the call can speed up the process considerably.
Our advisors can help you understand the likely outcome for your specific conditions before you formally apply. This means no surprises and no time wasted — and if Sanitas is unlikely to be a good fit, we can let you know early.
Underwriting reviews take time, especially if additional medical documentation is needed. If you have a target start date — such as a visa application deadline — build in enough time for the underwriting process to be completed before that date.
The underwriting team will contact you by phone. Being responsive and available shortens the process significantly. We can let you know what to expect on the call so you feel prepared.
If your pre-existing condition is excluded, this does not mean you have bad cover — it means that specific condition is not covered, while everything else is. For many people, this is still excellent value, particularly if the condition is already managed and unlikely to require private treatment.
The plan you choose determines the breadth of your cover once underwriting is complete. Use the filters to find the right plan for your situation.
Prices shown are confirmed "from" prices (April 2026). Your exact premium depends on your age and province. Pre-existing conditions may affect the final premium — this is confirmed during the underwriting process.
Not sure which plan suits you? Get a free assessment →
Founded in 1954 and part of the Bupa Group since 1989, Sanitas is Spain's most recognised private health insurer — with experienced medical underwriting teams and the largest private medical network in the country.
Tell us about your situation and your health history. We'll give you an honest, realistic picture of how Sanitas is likely to assess your case — and guide you through the process step by step.
Honest answers to the questions we hear most often about pre-existing conditions and Spanish health insurance.
No. There is no blanket acceptance or rejection policy. Every application is assessed individually by Sanitas's medical underwriting team, who review your health questionnaire answers, speak with you directly, and make a decision based on your specific circumstances.
A member of Sanitas's medical underwriting team will contact you to arrange a call. On this call, they go through the information you provided, ask follow-up questions, and may request additional medical documentation. At the end of the process, they communicate one of four possible decisions: full coverage with no premium change; coverage with the condition excluded at the quoted price; coverage including the condition with an adjusted premium; or, in some cases, that they are unable to issue a policy.
There are five questions, all of which require a yes or no answer — with details provided for any yes. They ask: (1) any illness or accident requiring treatment in the last five years; (2) any past or planned hospitalisations or surgery; (3) whether you're currently under medical treatment or monitoring; (4) any recent or planned medical tests; and (5) any undiagnosed symptoms or recurring pain. A yes to any question does not automatically disqualify you — it triggers the individual review.
Yes, this is one of the four possible outcomes. The underwriting team may decide to cover all pre-existing conditions with no change to the quoted premium. Whether this applies to your case depends on the nature and stability of your condition, and is determined individually during the underwriting process.
An exclusion means the policy is issued at the original quoted price, but treatment specifically related to that excluded condition will not be covered. Everything else is covered in full from your start date — all new conditions, accidents, general healthcare, and anything unrelated to the excluded condition. For many people, this still represents excellent, broad coverage.
If you answer no to all five questions on the health questionnaire, your policy activates immediately. There is no underwriting review and no waiting — your cover begins on your chosen start date in full.
In some cases, yes. If the underwriting team is unable to structure a policy that adequately covers your situation, they may decline to issue one. This outcome is less common but does occur. Our advisors can give you a realistic sense of whether this is likely for your specific conditions before you formally apply — saving you time and uncertainty.
Yes — full and honest disclosure is a legal requirement. If a condition is not declared and is later discovered at the time of a claim, Sanitas can deny the claim, cancel the policy, or seek recovery of premiums paid. Completing the questionnaire accurately is always the right approach, and our advisors can help you understand exactly what needs to be declared.
It depends on the complexity of the health information provided and how quickly any additional medical documentation can be gathered. Simple cases can be resolved quickly; more complex histories may take longer. If you have a deadline — such as a visa application date — we recommend starting the process as early as possible. We will chase on your behalf throughout.
Yes. Our English-speaking advisors have experience with a wide range of conditions and a good understanding of how Sanitas approaches different health histories. We are happy to have an initial conversation with you before you formally apply, so you know what to expect. There is no obligation and no cost for this.