Travel Insurance to Spain

Spain: sun, sand and Sangria.

Cheap flights and accommodation has made weekends, short breaks and holidays relatively inexpensive.

A Spanish holiday allows you to soak up the sun, the nightlife, activity sports and shopping opportunities.

Travel Insurance

The UK government strongly recommends travel insurance for Spain.

"The EHIC is NOT an alternative to travel insurance. It will not cover any private medical healthcare or ... repatriation to the UK or lost or stolen property ... For these reasons and others, it is important to have both an EHIC and a valid private travel insurance policy." NHS.uk

Travel insurance covers travel risks such as:

• Emergency medical cover & repatriation from abroad
• Trip cancellation, curtailment & interruption
• Baggage - accidental loss of, theft of or damage to items of baggage, articles or valuables
• Personal money for accidental loss, theft or damage
• Personal liability - for compensation, legal costs and expenses of 3rd party claims
• Delayed departure
• Missed departure at home or destination port
• Missed connection departure or return journey
• Hijack/Kidnap - of your plane or ship
• Legal expenses - legal costs (to a set value) to pursue a civil action
• Extended dog kennel / cattery fees - if delayed abroad for medical reasons
• Winter sports optional addition

Spanish Medical Healthcare

Holidaymakers who fall ill can easily find themselves shepherded to private medical care centres unless they show their EHIC card.

EHIC Medical Card

The European/NHS "EHIC" medical insurance card (replaced the E111 Form) allows you FREE medical treated from health providers on the same basis as Spanish residents.

• Ask for state funded healthcare and ensure the hospital/doctor knows you want state (not private) treatment and they accept EHIC. Make sure you have your EHIC with you
• If asked to pay for treatment, you are in private healthcare and your EHIC will not be accepted. Hotels and tour operators often call or recommend private doctors, reassuring visitors they can claim back whatever is paid out, they are referring to private insurance NOT EHIC
• Your pre-existing medical conditions are covered, as is routine maternity care (except when travelling for the birth)
• Dentists are usually private, as in UK

Prescriptions

Prescription medicine is noted on the appropriate medical report rather than an official prescription form.

They are charged at 40% of cost, except for pensioners. In the UK you may be able to get a refund.

Pre-Existing Medical Conditions

While your EHIC covers existing health problems such as heart problems or chronic hypertension or conditions under treatment or investigation, the NHS caution that you might not be near a state hospital if you have an emergency. It also does not cover the cost of an air ambulance if you need a transfer. You could also find yourself unable to avoid private treatment for other reasons. Many travel insurers provide cover for existing problems for an additional fee. This means treatment will be covered and should you need repatriation home for specialist care or if you should unfortunately die in Spain.

If you are taking prescription drugs/medication abroad then there are some simple tips that will help you maintain an adequate supply. If they contain "controlled" substances then you need to follow HMRC advice on volumes allowed.

Other Considerations

Sports and Activities

Activity holidays and leisure pursuits are one of the reasons for travelling to Spain:

Policies generally cover you for accidents in lots of sports so long as they are not the main purpose of your visit (e.g. playing football), you ware appropriate safety equipment (eg goggles for paintballing) and it is not racing related. Climbing on or jumping from any vehicles, building or balcony regardless of the height is automatically excluded. As is any injury down to you drinking too much.

Covered are usually:

• Golf, beach games, banana boating, deep sea fishing, fishing, swimming, snorkelling, water polo, sand boarding, surfing, wind surfing/sailboarding, wake boarding water skiing/water ski jumping, parascending (over water), whale watching, cycling, hiking & trekking
• Covered (except liability - so watch out for others): jet boating (no racing), jet skiing (no racing), horse riding (excluding competitions, racing, jumping and hunting)
• Skiing in Andorra (Spanish Pyrenees)? then you'll want to know more about ski cover as an optional extra

Groups

Spain is a top destination for groups, be they work, sport, club, friend, stag and hen, birthday or celebration.

You can often buy cheaper travel insurance a group, however the insurer needs to assess the risk of the trip being cancelled so everyone must provide them with information about existing medical problems or conditions that may affect travel arrangements.

Single Trip Annual or Long Stay

• Single trip insurance covers your individual trip to Spain. It is probably cheapest cover you take a break once or twice a year
• Annual insurance for several or more trips a year, such as at Easter, Summer Winter can save you money, time and hassle. Also called a 'Multi-Trip' or 'Year Round' policy individual holidays/trips are generally unlimited and have duration of approx. 100 days.
• Long stay insurance covers one trip/holiday up to approx. 18 months. Ideal for backpacking around Europe and worldwide travel. Check clauses for manual working if you plan to earn some cash whilst in Spain. Study, UK charity, bar, restaurant work; fruit, vegetable picking is often OK.

Touring

Many different rules exist for driving/touring in Spain, compulsory equipment includes: spare tyre, warning triangle and reflective jacket. Insurance: Third-party is compulsory; Severe penalties for drink driving and speeding or use of radar detectors. Care needed over contrived accidents and road crime. Lock all doors.

See AA Advice

Over 65s

Spain is a top holiday destination for people aged over 60, 65 and 70+. The elderly are motivated by warm winter sunshine, family and friends, packages and tours.

Instead of the E111 Form you need an NHS EHIC card that looks like a credit card. Travel insurance also covers emergency needs and repatriation. You'll need to decide if you cover existing medical conditions if you want comprehensive cover.

Expats

See FCO Living in Spain for comprehensive and up to date information about: Pensions, benefits, healthcare; Driving licences and vehicles; Criminal Records Certificate; Education; Employment; Entry & residence requirements; Consular fees; Finance; How to legalise documents; Importing your pet; Property in Spain; Other Websites & Forums, etc.

UK state pension and long-term incapacity benefit recipients may be entitled to state healthcare paid for by the UK. Apply for an E121 Form, then present it to the Spanish health authorities.

To register your E121 (Now S1) or E106 you will need to obtain the paperwork set out below in the following order: A Certificate of Residence (Certificado de Residencia) - available from the local police station. A Certificate as a Local Resident (Certificado de Empadronamiento) - available from the local town hall (at the Padrón Office). Take certificates, along with both copies of your E106 or E121, to the local 'Instituto Nacional de la Seguridad' office. They return a copy signed and stamped to allow you to access the Spanish healthcare system.