Whenever you are travelling abroad, it is important to make sure that you have health insurance in place in case of an unexpected medical issue that requires healthcare services in the country you are visiting.
If you are travelling to Spain from the UK, this guide explains the insurance cover that will ensure that you can access any medical services you may require when taking a trip.
Health Insurance Card
If you are travelling to Spain, it is recommended that you have either a Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) or a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), which provides access to the health services in Spain. UK citizens used to be covered by a EHIC but as the UK is no longer in the EU, UK citizens must apply for a GHIC instead.
Applying for a GHIC is free and the card covers you for five years, allowing you to access Spanish health services in the same way that a Spanish national would. UK citizens can apply for the GHIC through the gov.uk website and when applying, you can add family members to the application, including children.
The GHIC covers emergency treatment, including visits to A&E during your trip. The card only covers what is deemed to be medically necessary treatments. Before you travel, it is a good idea to research the local health services, so you would know what to do in an emergency.
In more remote locations, there may not be any local healthcare services, in which case a private doctor or ambulance could be required which would not be covered by a GHIC. This is why travellers should also take out comprehensive travel insurance that covers these medical expenses.ich can quickly add up, particularly if you need hospital treatment or emergency care.
Travel Insurance
While your GHIC will cover the majority of emergency healthcare expenses, there are some potential services that may not be covered, in which case, your travel insurance should cover these costs.
For example, there could be additional standard costs for treatment. If you require non-urgent treatment or need to be repatriated to the UK for medical treatment, your health insurance should cover these eventualities.
Travel insurance should also cover you if you need to make changes to your travel bookings in the case of a medical incident. When you are choosing your travel insurance, read through all the details of what is covered to ensure that you will be fully covered.
If you have existing medical conditions or are pregnant, taking out adequate travel insurance will be particularly important. Also, if you are planning on participating in higher risk activities where there is a chance of injury, such as skiing, you should ensure that your insurance covers the activities you are planning to do on your trip.
These are the key types of cover you should check that your insurance provides:
Repatriation to your home country
While this cover will hopefully not be required, there are some instances where it could be necessary for you to be repatriated to the UK to receive urgent medical treatment. The costs of this will be significant, so taking out the relevant insurance will ensure you don’t have to pay this yourself.
Emergency medical care
Your GHIC will generally cover most medical emergencies but there can be additional costs involved such as a private ambulance. Your travel insurance should include cover for unexpected medical care while you are in Spain.
Medication
Should you require medical prescriptions following an accident or illness in Spain, your travel insurance should cover the cost of this, so check that this is included before you take out your insurance policy. It is important that you disclose any information about previous and existing medical conditions to ensure that your cover is valid. Failure to disclose relevant information could result the insurance company not paying out on a claim.
Travel arrangement changes
If you need to change your flights or extend your accommodation due to an injury or illness, your travel insurance should cover the costs of doing this. Also, if you fall ill or suffer an injury prior to your trip and need to cancel your holiday, travel insurance should reimburse the costs.
Do I Need to Get Travel Insurance for Spain?
Even if you have a health insurance card, there are still medical costs that could fall outside of the cover. Therefore, it is highly recommended that you always have adequate travel insurance in place prior to travelling abroad.
You might have travel insurance included in a packaged bank account and if you are planning on relying on this for your trip, you should check that it includes all the potential cover that you could require. Check the policy terms and conditions to see if there are any exclusions that could impact you.
Taking out travel insurance will not only give you peace of mind that you have medical costs covered in the event of an injury or illness, but there are also additional types of cover included.
These usually include:
- Holiday cancellations
- Lost or theft of luggage
- Loss or theft of items such as money and personal possessions
- Loss of passport
- Legal costs if you are sued for causing injury or property damage
- Treatment due to natural disasters
- Treatment due to winter sports injuries or lost/stolen sports equipment
How to Buy Travel Insurance for Spain
When you are choosing your travel insurance provider, you can use a comparison site to find the most suitable policy for your trip. The site will provide a summary of the different types of cover so that you can ensure that the one you choose has everything you need.
You will need to provide information about your trip, personal information and any previous/existing medical conditions. Check for any exclusions and don’t just go for the cheapest option, as there may be important exclusions that could leave you with a large medical bill to pay yourself.
Always take out insurance before you travel, as you won’t be able to claim for any costs that arise prior to the start of your insurance policy. If you are a regular travel, taking out annual travel insurance will usually be worthwhile but if it is a one-off trip, you can take out insurance for the period you require it instead.
Ready for Your Trip to Spain?
While requiring medical treatment during your trip to Spain is the worst case scenario, having the peace of mind that you are covered for any potential issues will help you to enjoy your holiday without worrying about unexpected medical costs.
If you are looking for the ideal place to enjoy a peaceful and memorable getaway, our Spanish villas in tranquil locations will be the perfect base for a holiday tailored to your preferences. Once you have your health insurance in place, you will be able to enjoy all the activities that you love doing or simply relax by your private pool and holiday in style.
View our stunning Spanish villas to book your dream getaway to Spain.