Spain Expat Health Insurance
The Kingdom of Spain, or Espana in Spanish, is located in south-western Europe. Its territory includes the Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean Sea, the Canary Islands in the Atlantic Ocean, Ceuta and Melilla (two cities located in North Africa), as well as some uninhabited islands. The country is 504,030 square kilometres, making it the second largest country in the European Union. The capital city is Madrid and the population is estimated to be approximately 46.7 million. The official language is Spanish.
Spain is a constitutional monarchy with a King as the head of state, and has a Parliamentary Government. Spain is a democracy following the death of Dictator Francisco Franco and the Spanish Constitution in 1978. It is divided into 17 autonomous communities and two autonomous cities. Spain has a colourful past, it has been ruled by Celts, Iberians, Romans, Germanic people and France.
Spain is part of the Euro zone having adopted the Euro as its currency in 2002. It has the 12th largest economy in the world and a high standard of living. The country is involved in textiles, apparel, food, beverages, metals, chemicals, ship building, motor vehicles, machine tools, footwear, pharmaceuticals, medical equipment and clay and refractory products.
Spain is mountainous and is dominated by many high mountain plateaus and rivers. The Pyrenees are the most well known mountains in Spain. The highest mountain peak is 3,478 metres high on Sistema Penibetico. The highest point in Spain is 3,718 metres located on the Teide, an active volcano in the Canary Islands. Spain is a leading country in the production of renewable energy. It is the solar power world leader and Europe’s main producer of wind energy. In 2010, wind energy accounted for approximately 53 per cent of the country’s electricity needs.
The weather in Spain varies based on the geographical region, separated into three climate zones:
- the Mediterranean climate - dominant on the peninsula with warm
dry summers
- The semiarid climate in the south eastern quarter – where the
dry season extends beyond the summer and
- The oceanic climate in the northern quarter - where temperatures are influenced by the ocean.
The mountain ranges in Spain have an alpine climate while the Canary Islands are located in the tropics.
The tourism industry in Spain is the second largest in the world. Spain’s climate, history, culture, monuments, food (think paella, tapas and sangria), beaches and stunning architecture make it a preferred holiday destination. The tourism industry employs a large number of people.
Spain has an extensive high speed train network. It is the most extensive in Europe. The trains cover 3,500 kilometres of track. Spain aims to double the amount of track by 2020, connecting all provincial cities to Madrid.
Spain Health Care and Insurance
The medical facilities in Spain are of a good standard although the larger towns have the better hospitals. Pharmacies are helpful and can offer valuable advice. Each district has a duty pharmacy to ensure that one is open all the time. Medical costs in Spain are lower than those in some other European countries but can soon add up quickly. Travellers are advised to purchase travel insurance to ensure that they are covered for the cost of medical treatment in Spain.
Health care for ctizens is free as mandated by the country’s constitution. It is illegal for medical facilities in Spain not to treat an ill patient in the event of an emergency, even if they are uninsured. If it is not an emergency, the medical facility will ask for a social security card, evidence of health insurance or proof of an ability to pay for the treatment. Health care facilities are run independently in each region resulting in varying health care spending and levels of quality. The central Spanish Government gives funding to each region based on the population.
In order to receive free health care the patient (or their immediate family) must be paying social security or be over 60 years old. Alternatively, a Certificate de Empadronamiento can be obtained by registering on the community’s city roll. A health card (el carnét para la asistencia sanitaria) can then be applied for, which gives a patient the right to receive emergency care in any public hospital. Spaniards typically cannot choose their doctor; they are assigned one within their region.
Many people take out medical insurance to gain access to the better private medical facilities which have multilingual doctors and shorter waiting times. Approximately 12 per cent of the country has private health insurance. This increases to approximately 25 per cent in the big cities, like Madrid and Barcelona.
Travellers with a European Union Insurance Card (EUIC) are covered for the cost of emergency health care in public hospitals in Spain. They will not be covered for non-emergencies or emergency repatriation back to their home country. Travellers with EUIC’s will also not be covered for medication purchased from pharmacies (including that which is prescribed), some specific tests and procedures and dental care.
Spain Travel Advice
Travellers should be aware that Spain’s hotel star rating system is more demanding than other countries in Europe making the standards higher. The larger cities have several efficient forms of public transport, including subways, buses and metered taxis.
Spain has an increased threat of international terrorism. In March, 2004 commuter trains in Madrid were the victim of bombings, killing 191 people and injuring many more. A local Islamist militant group who were inspired by al Qaeda were responsible. In January 2011, the Basque Fatherland and Liberty (ETA) terrorist organisation announced a ceasefire; however, they have yet to lay down their arms. ETA has not previously targeted foreigners. Visitors to Spain should be vigilant with respect to their personal safety.
Street crime in Spain does occur, particularly in the tourist areas of Madrid and Barcelona. While they generally consist of petty crimes such as pick pocketing, muggings and occasionally violent attacks have been reported. Visitors to Spain should be careful with their personal belongings and not carry all their valuables together. Travellers should carry limited cash with them, only one credit card and a copy of their passport. Additional cash, credit cards and the actual passport should be kept in a safe location.
Thieves often work in teams in Spain and use similar tactics when targeting tourists. A few examples of these tactics are:
- One thief distracts you by asking for directions, and will then
accidentally spill something on you, or drop money or keys near
you, while the other thief takes your belongings.
- Thieves will target tourists from above with “bird droppings” (in fact it’s a milk mixture) and a helpful passer-by stops to help you clean it up while stealing your belongings.
Theft from vehicles is also common. Valuables should not be left in unattended cars. Tourists should be wary of the “Good Samaritan” scam a car will flag down a tourist to help with flat tyre or mechanical problem. When the tourist stops the car and goes to help, a second thief will steal valuables from the unlocked car.
There are some reports of sexual assaults as well as the use of “date rape” drugs. Tourists should travel with a companion at night and be wary of their personal safety.
If you require emergency assistance in Spain the emergency telephone number is 112. If you require an ambulance in Spain, telephone 061. No vaccinations are required to enter the Spain. However, the World Health Organisation recommends that all travellers be vaccinated against diphtheria/tetanus, measles/mumps/rubella (MMR), polio and hepatitis B, regardless of their travel destination. Measles outbreaks occur frequently in Spain including three cases in 2011. It is important that visitors to Spain keep their MMR vaccination up to date. Outbreaks of Legionnaires have also occurred as recently as November 2010. The disease is spread by airborne droplets from contaminated water sources.
Visitors should be wary of creatures that may harm them, including red/brown caterpillars in the forests, which cause an allergic skin reaction if touched, centipedes which may sting, mosquitoes, sand flies, snakes and scorpions.
Tap water is safe to drink in Spain but water from rivers and lakes should be avoided. Bottled water is available for those who prefer it.
Spain Expat Health Insurance
Spain is a wonderful country for tourists to visit as it offers many attractions for visitors. For those considering traveling to Spain, expat health insurance or comprehensive travel insurance for shorter trips can ensure that you have access and coverage for receiving treatment at higher quality private healthcare facilities. Please contact one of the medical insurance specialists at Global Health Insurance today for a no obligation free quotation. You and your family can travel with the peace of mind of knowing that you will be covered if you require medical treatment in spain with expat health insurance.
Recent Questions / Comments:
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