Ways to get covered
- Working in Spain (employed or self-employed): you pay social security and are covered, with your dependants.
- Pensioners from the UK or EU with an S1 form from their pension country register it with Spanish social security (INSS) and get public cover.
- The convenio especial: a pay-in scheme for residents who have been registered on the padrón for at least a year and have no other cover. In 2026 the national rate is €60 a month for under-65s and €157 a month for 65 and over, per person. Each region runs its own application.
- Private insurance: required for non-lucrative visas (no co-payments) and common for everyone else. Premiums depend on age and cover.
The health card
Once covered, register at your local health centre (centro de salud) with your social security number and padrón certificate to get your tarjeta sanitaria and a family doctor (médico de cabecera).
Visitors
EU visitors use the EHIC; UK visitors use the GHIC for necessary state treatment. Travel insurance is still wise.
Pharmacies
Look for the green cross. Pharmacists give advice on minor ailments, and an out-of-hours pharmacy (farmacia de guardia) is always open in each area.
Emergencies
Call 112 (free, operators often speak English). Public hospital emergency departments (urgencias) treat everyone in an emergency.
Official sources: Seguridad Social
