Healthcare for Brits in Spain
Healthcare arrangements for UK travellers visiting EU countries like Spain have changed as of 1 January 2021.
If you're a UK citizen travelling in an EU country, you can apply for a UK Global Health Insurance Card (Ghic) that will provide access to emergency and necessary state healthcare while you're there for free or at a reduced cost. If you have an existing Ehic, its predecessor, that is still in date, you can use that for the same. Read more about Ghic and Ehic.
Remember, Ehic and Ghic don't cover everything. For instance, repatriation and airlift rescues aren't included. So you should buy travel insurance with medical cover to ensure comprehensive protection too.
Like the UK, Spain has both public and private healthcare systems, sometimes operating out of the same clinics or hospitals.
If you need to access healthcare, it may be worth insisting you are treated at a public health centre or hospital. Travel insurance may cover you for private healthcare, but it’s worth checking your policy before you depart to be aware of your options in case something goes wrong.
The Spanish word for the accident and emergency department is “urgencias”. The emergency phone number is 112 or 061 for an ambulance.
Some regions of Spain are remote and ambulances might take some time to get you to the nearest public hospital. If you are staying somewhere remote, it’s a good idea to check where the nearest health centres are and whether they are private or public before you leave. This is particularly important if you have pre-existing medical conditions.
