A Guide to Insurance in Spain

Find out what additional coverage you need to safeguard your lifestyle and family while living in Spain, as well as which insurance in Spain are required in that country.

In Spain, there are about 5 million foreigners who work and live there. Spain’s social security benefits, excellent work-life balance, wonderful weather, and without a doubt, its extremely effective healthcare system are some of the top reasons why it is so well-liked by foreigners.

Expats, however, frequently lack clarity regarding the Spanish healthcare system, including how it operates, if they are eligible for public insurance, and whether they must buy private health insurance. Here is an introduction of Spain’s international healthcare system before you join the country’s 5 million other expats.

Create a New Address Registrar

As soon as you arrive in Spain, you must notify your local padron (town hall) of your new address and obtain a registration certificate (empadronamiento).

To apply for your health care card, you will need your registration certificate.

Request a Social Security number

You must also supply your social security number, which you can get from your work, in order to sign up for health insurance. However, you must apply at your neighborhood social security office (Tesoreria General de la Seguridad Social (TGSS)) if you are self-employed or have not yet obtained your number.

For people moving to Spain, it might be difficult to understand which insurances are required there as well as to deal with the paperwork required to obtain Spanish insurance.

This great article is about insurance in Spain for expats, including information about what the law requires and what you might need in addition to the compulsory Spanish insurances.

Read Also: Insurance in Canada: What Immigrants Need to Know

Which insurance in Spain is legally required?

Car insurance

In Spain, a type of car insurance known as seguro a terceros is required by local law. This includes theft, fire, and injury to third parties. Choose seguro a todo riesgo, which will cover damage to both your car and the other automobile as well as any other issues, if you want comprehensive insurance.

If you can demonstrate that you haven’t filed a claim in a number of years and/or are prepared to pay a greater excess, lower monthly payments might be possible (franquicia). You might be able to provide information on accidents or insurance from your prior country of residency in specific circumstances. Spanish auto insurance providers include:

• Linea Directa
• AXA
• Caser Seguros

Once you become a resident, you might need to obtain a Spanish driver’s license in order to drive in Spain. You must also become familiar with Spanish driving regulations.

All types of vehicles, including trucks, RVs, motorcycles, scooters, boats, and airplanes, must have insurance in order to be lawfully used. Bicycles, meanwhile, do not require insurance.

Health insurance

The government-run healthcare system in Spain offers free medical care to all citizens. Your required social security contributions in Spain will pay for it if you are eligible to use the state system as a resident.

Many expats decide to increase their budget by purchasing optional private health insurance. The advantages include more options and quicker wait times.

Additionally, having private insurance might increase your access to medical providers who speak English. Several foreign health insurance providers are well-liked by expats, including:

Allianz Care
Cigna Global
Globality Health

Social insurance

Like many other European nations, Spain has a social security system that requires all employees and self-employed individuals making at least the minimum income to make monthly contributions to social security. In Spain, social security also includes healthcare:

• work-related sickness or injury
• family and child benefits, including parental allowance
• invalidity benefit
• old-age pension
• unemployment benefits

Optional forms of insurance in Spain

Dental insurance

Health insurance plans in Spain frequently do not cover dental work. You can, however, purchase a separate dental insurance coverage or add it as a supplement. Before purchasing a dental insurance coverage, carefully weigh the costs and advantages as some only provide a service discount.

Even while a 50% discount can be alluring, think about how frequently you’ll use the policy and whether the cost will outweigh your yearly checkups and cleanings.

Additionally, you might be forced to use a certain network of healthcare professionals; in that case, you might want to confirm that your local English-speaking dentist in Spain is included before you sign.

Dental insurance can be purchased for as little as €10 to €20 per month. The price of packages that involve more specialized care, such implants, will be more.

Housing insurance

Although it is not required by law, purchasing building insurance is frequently advised if you plan to purchase a home in Spain. It’s possible that your Spanish mortgage lender will need that you have building insurance and will frequently present you with an internal deal. You can look about for more affordable solutions if you choose not to take this, though. Spanish home insurance companies include:

Directa

Linea

Luko

Look for insurance that covers damage from fire, flood, and other calamities. Additionally, new construction ought to come with covering against subpar craftsmanship.

Insurance for apartment complexes is frequently covered by service fees. Make no conclusions about the coverage prior to reading the policy specifics; this insurance is not a replacement for building insurance.

Contents protection

In Spain, having contents insurance is not required by law. As a result, almost eight million Spanish households lack contents insurance. More people also have inadequate insurance.

However, you might feel more secure with insurance if you plan to rent out your property or frequently leave your home unoccupied, such as when you go on vacation. Many insurance companies charge an additional price to cover movable items outside the home, including bicycles, laptops, and cell phones.

Insurance for injuries and unemployment

Government-run initiatives help the poor and unemployed in Spain, but visitors should confirm their eligibility for the country’s social safety nets.

You should look into how much you might be eligible for under Spain’s unemployment program in relation to the costs of both injuries and unemployment insurance. You can get this coverage separately, through your pension fund, or through your health insurance company.

Life insurance

One of the most popular insurance policies among Spanish citizens is life insurance. Although it is not required, it offers a lump amount or ongoing payments to your dependant family members (such as your husband and children) in the case of your passing.

After your death, life insurance can pay for expenses like your mortgage payment and one-time expenses like burial expenses. Finding the greatest rate is advised based on what you want your coverage to cover, so look around.

Pet insurance

If you have a pet in Spain, insurance for domestic animals typically covers medical expenses. Additionally, it might pay for theft, travel, and costs associated with burial or cremation. Assistance in locating lost pets may also be offered as part of some programs.

Travel protection

Check the amount of coverage provided by your private health insurance to see if it offers at least a basic level of travel insurance (seguros de viaje). If you frequently visit other countries, engage in extreme sports (such as skiing or cycling), or stay for an extended amount of time, you might want to consider supplementing your travel insurance.

There are options for single-trip, multiple-trip, and annual travel, which can cover lengthy journeys of up to 120 days. Any issues that develop during your trip, including canceled flights, may also be covered by insurance.

Spanish commercial insurance

You must make sure you have sufficient business insurance if you are operating a business in Spain. In Spain, company and independent contractor insurance options include:

• Business liability insurance –Public liability insurance is a sort of protection that every business needs. This protects you against mishaps, injuries, and property damage to third parties that take place on your property or as a result of your commercial activity. Additionally, you have the choice of extended protection against monetary loss or reputational harm brought on by your business choices or activities.
• Premises insurance – This shields your company’s property from vandalism, fire, flood, and other natural disaster-related harm. Although not all businesses must have it, many landlords require their tenants do.
• Contents insurance – This provides protection from theft and damage for all mobile devices. However, it will not provide coverage for autos, which require their own insurance policy.
• business interruption insurance – This can cover operating expenses, such as employee salaries, if your company suffers a financial loss as a result of an unplanned shutdown.