Spanish Health Insurance for Residencia

If you are have Spanish Residency, and rely in private health insurance - in time that will become your ONLY source of healthcare.

It is not just about cost. It is about difficulty/convenience in accessing the service, as well as the standard of the service.

My wife and I happen to have our health insurance with DKV. My wife became seriously ill last year, and DKV have been absolutely fantastic. 

BUT we have had to travel to obtain treatment and tests, mostly to the Quiron Hospital in Murcia. We have also used (I think) 9 other medical facilities in Murcia, Elche and Torrevieja. 

This seems to be quite normal. We have met numerous other people "doing the rounds" - each having different insurers.

Into the detail .... insurers may quote the various clinics and hospitals that they use, but in reality, they pick and choose exactly what services they contract for at which hospital. So if your insurer's brochure says that they use (say) Quiron or IMED hospitals/clinics, the city you have to go to depends on the medical service you need.   

We use a GP in our village (not the health centre) and she acts as the gateway into the DKV system - and she is very good at it. 

Our local GP works with DKV (which may be why our local insurance broker recommended DKV). So it seems that the most important thing is to have an insurer who works with your local GP. 

These are the questions to ask your insurance broker. I think you should start with your local GP. Choose one who speaks English, then choose an insurer that works with that GP.

It seems to me that the different insurers are not far apart in price, for equivalent coverage. My wife is 62. I am 60. Our combined annual cost is 1760 Euros (but my wife incurred a 600 Euro "excess" last year, bringing the total to 2360 Euros).  

Without wishing to seem churlish, if you cannot afford the Private Health Insurance that you need, you cannot realistically afford to become Resident in Spain. Some people talk about moving on to the Convenio Especial after a year (i.e. paying into the Spanish NHS), but the costs are similar. 

We are also with DKV. 66 + 74, monthly 330,00.

Thanks for your comments, really helpful, 1800 euros for 2 people seems ok as we are both in our late 50's, however, some quotes I got online were over 2500e a year which seemed excessive. Money however isn't really the issue it was a good recommendation I was after so thanks both for this.

I will do more research but at least you have helped me narrow it down.

Andy

I am 64 and use DKV they have been fantastic, nothing in to much i have full cover which covers cancer should i get it, i pay 14,000 euro's per year. best cover for the mony. and it does not go up because you use it, unlike most other companeys 

Blimey 14 000 euro's a year ??

Did you mean to say  €1,400 A year 😬

Our DKV insurance is "Integral Plus".

Last year, my wife endured chemotherapy, surgery and radiotherapy. DKV were brilliant. 

In the last two months, she has had follow-up scans, tests and medication adjustments. This has carried on throughout the Covid crisis (with appropriate precautions). 

We could not be more impressed. Worth every penny.

Hi yes 1,400 sorry

ya ya ya 1,400