Setting up family healthcare

It is for anyone thinking about, planning or carrying out a move to Spain with family. You will know who to register and see first, what costs nothing, how your region matters and what to expect from Spanish doctors, midwives and pediatricians.

Start with "Setting up healthcare for your whole family, step by step". It takes you from arrival to a working pediatrician, matrona or GP for each person. After that, read these in any order:

• "Public care or private cover for each family stage" helps you decide where public care is enough.
• "What family healthcare is free in Spain and what you pay for" shows the costs.
• "How your region changes family healthcare" explains what varies where you live.
• "What to expect from Spanish family doctors, midwives and pediatricians" covers style of care and appointments.
• "Booking appointments and seeing health records online for your family" covers portals, apps and electronic prescriptions.

Health card registration and buying private insurance are covered in other topics.

Key rules

• Pediatrician age: In most of Spain, public pediatricians see children up to age 14, after which a family doctor takes over, though some regions extend this to 15 or 16.
• First midwife visit: The first matrona visit is usually in the first trimester, around weeks 8 to 12, followed by the first hospital scan at about 12 weeks.
• Child check-ups: Routine child check-ups and the vaccines in your region's calendar are free in public care for children with health coverage.
• Medicine co-payment: Children and pregnant women have no special exemption: working families usually pay 40% of outpatient prescriptions with income under 18,000 euros, and hospital-supplied medicines are free.
• Order: Get proof of entitlement before you apply for the tarjeta sanitaria.
• Your centro: Your padrón address decides which centro de salud and doctor you get.

Setting up family healthcare: the whole process, step by step

• Register on the padrón (the municipal census) at your town hall: First, as soon as you have an address

• Get your legal residence papers: NIE, residence card or EU registration certificate: Right after the padrón, or as your visa route requires

• Register your right to public healthcare through Social Security, or through the regional health service if you use a special agreement: Once your residence papers and work or dependant status are in place

• Apply for the tarjeta sanitaria (health card) for each family member, children through a parent's entitlement: After your entitlement is registered

• Check your assigned centro de salud and named doctor or pediatrician, and ask for a change if needed: When the card is issued

• Book the first appointment by app, phone or at the centro: Once the card and doctor are assigned

• Pregnancy: see the matrona for the first visit, then the first hospital scan: First visit around weeks 8 to 12, scan at about 12 weeks

• Children: plan the move from pediatrician to family doctor: After age 14 in most of Spain

Documents you may need

Identity and residence

• Padrón certificate — Setting up healthcare for your whole family, step by step
• Legal residence papers — Setting up healthcare for your whole family, step by step
• Your NIE or DNI — Booking appointments and seeing health records online for your family

Other documents

• Proof of healthcare entitlement from the Social Security office — Setting up healthcare for your whole family, step by step
• A digital certificate — Booking appointments and seeing health records online for your family

Setting up family healthcare: questions that cross several articles

Can I choose or change my family's centro de salud and doctor?

Yes, you can usually ask to change your centro or doctor, but your region may limit how often and the doctor's list may be full. You are first assigned to the centro for your padrón address. Read "How your region changes family healthcare" and "Booking appointments and seeing health records online for your family".

Does my child see a pediatrician until age 14 everywhere?

No, the limit is 14 in most of Spain, but some regions extend it and a shortage of pediatricians can bring in a family doctor earlier. Your centro can tell you the local rule. Read "How your region changes family healthcare" and "What to expect from Spanish family doctors, midwives and pediatricians".

Who do I contact first when I am pregnant?

Your first contact is the family doctor or the matrona (midwife) at your centro de salud, and many regions let you go straight to the matrona. You need your tarjeta sanitaria first. Read "Setting up healthcare for your whole family, step by step" and "What to expect from Spanish family doctors, midwives and pediatricians".

Which family services are in the common public package, and which depend on my region?

Child health visits, calendar vaccines, pregnancy and birth care, family planning and mental health are in the common package. Regions can add extras such as dental cover or more vaccines. Read "What family healthcare is free in Spain and what you pay for" and "Public care or private cover for each family stage".