Does my foreign medical insurance cover my stay in Barcelona?

Travel insurance for Spain: medical insurance for visitors and tourists traveling to Spain

Medical insurance to travel to Spain Located on the Iberian Peninsula, Spain is one of the main tourist attractions in Europe. With its many historic sites, stunning beaches, bustling nightlife, and delicious food, this country is on anyone’s “must-see” list of travel enthusiasts.

If you intend to travel to Spain, prepare yourself for fascinating experiences.

On the other hand, prepare in case there is an accident or if you get sick. Surely the last thing you want to happen to you on a trip to Spain is if you get sick or have an accident. But they are things that happen. You can be on the beach enjoying the rays of the sun and, from one moment to the next, be in a hospital bed from food poisoning or worse.

For this reason, before going on a trip to Spain, you should consult and take out travel insurance for Spain.

What does travel insurance cover for Spain?
Travel insurance for Spain is a type of medical insurance that covers all kinds of medical emergencies during your stay in Spain.

It is also a main requirement when applying for a visa for Spain if necessary. Also, when you are at the Spanish port of entry, you may be asked to present a document confirming that you have health insurance for Spain.

Please note that your travel insurance for Spain must be valid throughout the Schengen area. As Spain is a Schengen member, the same medical insurance policy applies to travelers as the common travel insurance policy of the Schengen area.

Do you need travel insurance for Spain?
When obtaining travel insurance for Spain, you have a contingency plan in place in the event of a medical emergency, so all travelers are strongly recommended to obtain travel insurance for Spain.

However, not everyone is obliged to take out travel insurance for Spain. If you are an EEA or Swiss citizen with valid health insurance in Spain, you do not need travel insurance. Also, if you have medical insurance that is valid worldwide, you don’t need one for Spain either.

If you are still not sure if you need travel insurance for Spain, keep in mind that insurance is mandatory for you if you are in any of the following cases:

You need a visa to enter Spain for short stays. One of the main requirements for a short-stay visa for Spain is a document that proves that you have travel insurance that covers the entire Schengen area. The document must prove that your insurance has a minimum coverage of € 30,000. It should also cover any health-related incidents, including repatriation in the event of death.
You will enter the Schengen area through a member state that will ask you to present proof of travel insurance to enter the Schengen area. Several Schengen countries require travelers to prove they have travel insurance when they show up at their port of entry. You should check whether the country through which you intend to enter the Schengen zone has such a requirement.
Where can I buy travel medical insurance for Spain?
You can purchase travel health insurance coverage for Spain at a very low price directly from AXA Schengen or Europ Assistance.

Why should you get travel health insurance to Spain?
The main reason why you should take out travel insurance for Spain is to be prepared for anything that may happen. The trips are unpredictable, you never know what could happen.

Spain has a good health system, but the expenses are unaffordable for foreigners. Even if you receive treatment for simple food poisoning, the costs can be too high. You will have to pay much higher prices than those paid by the Spanish.

Also, public hospitals may not admit you and you have to find a private hospital, which has extremely high prices.

Two other very important reasons why you should take out health insurance for Spain (as explained above) are:

Travel medical insurance for Spain is essential if you apply for a visa for Spain.
You may be required to present proof of travel insurance at the Spanish port of entry.
Do you want to buy the best travel insurance for Spain?
Health insurance policies for foreigners traveling to Spain and meeting the Spanish visa requirements can be purchased online at AXA Schengen or Europ Assistance.

What does travel insurance cover for Spain?
Before taking out travel insurance for Spain from a specific company, take some time to check what they cover. In general, all companies cover the same situations. However, you should still take a few minutes to check it out, so you don’t get gambled.

Most travel insurance companies cover the following:

Accidents and unforeseen illnesses. Note that it is mandatory that the insurance you purchase has a minimum coverage of all emergencies of € 30,000. You should also remember that they will not cover pre-existing conditions, such as diabetes, or incidents related to alcohol. Unforeseen incidents due to terrorism or civil unrest are also not covered.
Repatriation to your country of origin in the event of death.
Cancellation and reduction of the travel period. If due to circumstances beyond your reach you have to cancel your trip or leave earlier, the insurance will cover your ticket.
Flight delay and loss. If you miss your flight due to circumstances beyond your control, this will be covered by your insurance.
Personal responsibility. In cases where you accidentally injure a third party or lose their belongings.

Coverage for loss or theft of passport and luggage.
How can you choose the best travel health insurance for Spain?
Since most providers generally cover the same situations, selecting the right one will not be a problem. However, when it comes to getting travel insurance for Spain, we advise you to try to follow the advice below:

Make sure it includes all the services mentioned above.
Make sure you cover accidents with a minimum coverage of € 30,000.
Check if it covers cruises in case you intend to do one while in Spain.
Check if it covers the Balearic Islands and the Canary Islands if you intend to go there as well.
If you are traveling with your partner or family, there are companies that offer travel plans for couples and families at a cheaper price. Find a travel agency that has these types of insurance plans for Spain.
We recommend purchasing travel visa insurance for Spain from AXA Schengen or Europ Assistance. These companies are accepted by the Spanish authorities around the world. You can also cancel it for free if you have proof that your Spanish visa has been rejected.

How does travel medical insurance for Spain work?
Many people wonder how travel insurance works. It’s actually very simple. When you have insurance, there is little you have to do. Travel insurance for Spain works the same as in most of the world. See the steps below to see how it works in practice:

When you purchase travel insurance for Spain, you will receive a document with two parts. When you apply for a visa for Spain, one of the parties will leave it at the embassy. The other party will take it with you to Spain. You may need to present it at the port of entry, but it won’t be taken away, you will still keep it.

Your travel insurance is activated when you leave your country. If something happens to you, you will be compensated as soon as you arrive in the area covered by the insurance.
If something happens to you while you are in Spain (such as an accident) you can receive medical attention at any hospital or clinic in Spain. Your payment can be made in two ways, depending on your insurance company:

Direct billing. The medical center where you receive health care will record your details and send the bill to your insurance company. Then your insurance company must make the payments.
Refund. You will pay the costs of the service you receive and you will get an invoice. You will then send this invoice to your insurance company, which will reimburse you.

Travel health insurance costs for Spain
The costs of travel insurance for Spain depend mainly on the company that offers the insurance. Prices vary from company to company. That is why we advise you to look at the insurance of several companies to decide which one you want to buy.

In general, the more services they offer, the more expensive they are. Also, the longer your trip, the more money you will have to pay for your travel insurance to Spain.

Even so, many providers establish different categories of person to obtain travel insurance for Spain at reduced prices (for example, students). Check if you belong to any of these categories. Also, if you select a lower overall maximum coverage limit, you will obviously have to pay less.

Why do some health insurance companies not cover Spain?
If you have EU travel insurance, you should check if it also includes Spain. On many occasions, Spain and other European countries are excluded from some travel insurance providers.

This is because health-related incidents are slightly more frequent.