Who pays nothing or less for prescriptions (aportación reducida)

Terms used

• Aportación reducida — Aportación reducida is a lower 10% contribution on the pharmacy price for listed medicines used in chronic or serious illnesses.
• Ingreso Mínimo Vital — The Ingreso Mínimo Vital is a national minimum income benefit for people with very low household income.
• PNC — The PNC is a non-contributory pension paid to people who have not paid enough into Social Security.
• LISMI — LISMI benefits are payments for people with a recognised disability under the older social integration law.
• EHIC — The EHIC is the European Health Insurance Card, which covers necessary care during temporary stays in another EU country.
• S1 — The S1 is a form that registers you for state-funded health care in Spain when another EU country pays for it.

Key rules

• Foreigners: Foreign residents who are insured or beneficiaries in the Spanish health system qualify on the same terms as Spaniards.
• Reduced rate: Listed medicines for chronic or serious illnesses cost you 10% of the pharmacy price.
• Regional extras: Your region may add exemptions, so ask your regional health service.

Who pays nothing

Some people pay nothing at the pharmacy for prescribed medicines. You are likely exempt if you fall into one of these groups:

• You receive the Ingreso Mínimo Vital or a similar social integration income.
• You receive a non-contributory pension (PNC).
• You have lost your unemployment benefit. Your dependants are covered too.
• You have a recognised disability and receive LISMI benefits.
• You have an occupational accident or occupational disease. This covers treatment for those conditions.

Medicines given to you in hospital as an inpatient are also free. So are certain medicines for treatments such as those for serious diseases.

Some regions add more exemptions. Ask your regional health service what applies where you live.

Who pays less: aportación reducida

Aportación reducida means you pay 10% of the pharmacy price, instead of the usual share. It applies to medicines for chronic or serious illnesses that appear on a Ministry of Health list. Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you if a medicine is on it.

A monthly cap applies to this category. In 2025 it was 4.52 euros per medicine per month. The Ministry of Health sets the cap, so ask your pharmacy for the current figure.

This category is separate from the pensioner and income-based systems, which are explained elsewhere in this guide.

Can foreigners claim?

Yes. If you are insured or a beneficiary in the Spanish health system, you qualify on the same terms as Spaniards. You must also meet the income, pension or benefit condition. People who access health care under the universal coverage rules have the same copayment rights.

If you hold an EHIC or S1, your treatment depends on your status. Ask your health centre how your card is treated.

What to bring

The documents list below shows what to prepare. Requirements vary by region, so check with your regional health service before you go.

The questions below answer regional extras, the monthly cap and EHIC or S1 holders.

Documents you need

• Your Spanish health card, showing you are insured or a beneficiary in the national health system.

• Your foreigner identity card (TIE) or NIE, to prove who you are and that you are a resident.

• Proof of residence (empadronamiento), the certificate from your town hall showing where you live.

• Proof of the income or benefit that justifies the exemption or lower rate, such as a Social Security or tax certificate.

Frequently asked questions

Does my region offer extra exemptions?

Yes, some regions add further exemptions on top of the national ones, so your region may cover more than the national list. Ask your regional health service or your health centre which extra groups apply where you live.

What is the monthly cap on reduced-contribution medicines?

The cap was 4.52 euros per medicine per month in 2025 for medicines in the reduced-contribution category (aportación reducida). That category charges 10% of the pharmacy price for medicines used in chronic or serious illnesses. The Ministry of Health updates the cap, so check the current figure.

Can I claim an exemption if I am a foreigner with an EHIC or S1?

Yes, if you are insured or a beneficiary in the Spanish system, you get the same copayment rules as Spaniards, but EHIC and S1 holders are treated according to their own status. Ask your health centre how your card or S1 is handled before you go to the pharmacy.