Tracey F. Says:
What is private healthcare like in Spain?
IL Executive Editor Jennifer Stevens Says:
Hi Tracey,
Private Spanish hospitals are often affiliated with private insurance companies. For example, if you have Sanitas insurance, a subsidiary of BUPA International and one of Spain’s larger private insurers, you will go to a Sanitas hospital for treatment. In that case, your private insurance covers the costs.
To give you an idea of price, a plan with Sanitas for a healthy 64-year old would be around €130 ($140) per month, with a 4% discount for annual payment.
Other private hospitals in Spain cater specifically to medical tourism. In those cases, the costs would be determined in a contract with the hospital before your arrival. In an emergency, you can go to either a public or a private hospital, both can accept your insurance.
Keep in mind that most private Spanish hospitals, as well as physicians in private practice, expect payment at the end of your visit. You’ll need to pay upfront for treatment and then submit the claims for reimbursement to your insurance company. Be sure to ask about the reimbursement process when evaluating insurance plans.
Private healthcare in Spain will cost you as little as 70% of what it does in the U.S., depending on the procedure and where you have it done. The cost is also somewhat cheaper than it is in some other European countries like the U.K.
Here are a few sample prices:
- Doctor’s visit: €100 ($107)
- Dental crown: €415 to €650 ($446 to $700)
- Laser eye surgery: €1,400 to €1,600 ($1,507 to $1,722) per eye
- Total knee or hip replacement: €12,000 to €16,000 ($12,921 to $17,228)
Get the full story on healthcare in Spain in Chapter 7 of Escape to Spain.
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