Moving to Spain, where do you start?
Do you have plans to emigrate to Spain? That is of course a lot of fun and exciting, but prepare yourself well to avoid unpleasant surprises.
Each country has its own rules and healthcare is also different in Spain than in the Netherlands.
How does the healthcare system work in Spain?
We can distinguish between public and private care. Any resident of Spain who pays contributions to the social security system in Spain (Seguridad Social) or contributes in the Netherlands in the event of a benefit or pension is entitled to public care. Public care in Spain means that you can visit a public hospital, general practitioner and specialist. You cannot just visit a specialist, you need a referral for this and that can sometimes take months.
Because the public care system does not always work well (difficult to obtain a referral, impersonal care, long waiting times, poor hygiene, etc.) many people also take out private health insurance in addition to public care.
If you choose to take out private health insurance, but you already pay a premium for the Seguridad Social, you will in fact pay double premium.
Read more about Seguridad Social here
Below we indicate in which situation you are entitled to public care.
What is your situation?
- You live and work in Spain
- You receive a benefit or pension from other country and you live in Spain
- You live in Spain and work abroad
- You live in Spain but you do not (yet) have a job in Spain
1. You live and work in Spain
If you are registered in Spain as a self-employed person, or if you work for an employer in Spain, you are entitled to public care. The premium for this is deducted from your wages or, in the case of an independent entrepreneur (autonomo), you pay monthly social security contributions, which also includes the premium for public care.
2. You receive a benefit or pension from other country and you live in Spain
An amount is withheld from your benefit or pension in other countries for the care, as a result of which you are entitled to public care (Seguridad Social) in Spain. This amount is automatically withheld. Because, for example, in the Netherlands has a treaty with Spain, you are entitled to medical care through the Seguridad Social in Spain. With the treaty document, form E-121 / S1, you can register with the Seguridad Social. You can request this from the CAK.
3. You live in Spain and work abroad
You are a resident of Spain and you regularly travel to the Netherlands for example to work there. Because you work in the Netherlands, you remain compulsorily insured in the Netherlands. In this situation too, you can register with the Seguridad Social via E-106 form, which you can request from the CAK.
4. You live in Spain but you do not (yet) have a job in Spain
If you do not (yet) have a job in Spain or are not yet registered as a self-employed person and are not insured through your partner, then there is a good chance that you are walking around uninsured. It is best to take out private health insurance at that time. Contact us for information about the different health insurance products by email or telephone (0034 951 319 383).
Because every situation can be slightly different and rules can change, we advise you to consult the CAK (Central Administration Office) yourself. You can always contact us with your questions via telephone number: +31 88 711 5551 or through their website https://www.hetcak.nl/regelingen/buitenland.
