How much private health insurance costs in Spain and why

Terms used

• Cuadro médico — The cuadro médico is the insurer's list of doctors and hospitals you can use under your plan.
• Reembolso — A reembolso plan lets you see any doctor and get back a share of the cost from the insurer.
• Copago — A copago is a small fee you pay each time you use a service covered by your plan.
• Declaración de salud — The declaración de salud is the health questionnaire you complete when applying for a policy.
• Recargo — A recargo is an extra amount added to your premium because of your health history.

Key rules

• Age: Age is the biggest price factor, and prices rise sharply from 65.
• Reembolso: Expect to pay roughly 40-100% more for a reembolso plan than for a comparable cuadro médico plan.
• Province: Where you live changes the price by roughly 5-20%, far less than age does.
• Honest answers: Answer the health questionnaire truthfully, or the insurer can cancel your policy or refuse claims.

What decides your price

Your age sets most of the price. After that come the type of plan, the province where you live, and the network or hospital tier. Other things matter less: how many people you insure, how often you pay, promotions, and your health questionnaire.

Indicative monthly cost by age

These are typical prices for an individual cuadro médico plan without copago from a major insurer. Use them to budget, then get current quotes.

From age 65 the price rises sharply, and some insurers refuse new customers. If you are close to that age, apply sooner rather than later.

A plan with copago costs less per month, because you pay a small amount each time you use a service.

Plan type

A cuadro médico plan lets you use the insurer's list of doctors and hospitals. A reembolso plan lets you use any doctor and reclaim part of the cost. Reembolso usually costs about 40-100% more. For example, a cuadro médico plan at about 60 EUR a month might match a reembolso plan at about 100-130 EUR. The gap grows as you get older.

Dental cover and hospitalisation extras add to the price. A plan with a wider or higher-tier network of hospitals also costs more.

Province

The same plan can cost roughly 5-20% more or less depending on where you live. Madrid and Barcelona are often the most expensive. Some lower-cost provinces are 5-15% cheaper. Province matters much less than age.

Your health questionnaire

You fill in the declaración de salud when you apply. The insurer can accept you at the standard price, add a recargo, exclude specific pre-existing conditions, or refuse you. Exclusions and refusals are more common than surcharges.

Answer truthfully. If you hide a condition you know about, the insurer can cancel the policy. If the fault was serious, it can also refuse to pay your claims.

Sex does not change the price

Insurers in the EU cannot price by sex, so men and women pay the same for the same plan.

How to budget

1. Find your age band in the table.
2. Add 40-100% if you want reembolso.
3. Adjust 5-20% for your province.
4. Ask two or three insurers for quotes with your real age, province and health answers.

The questions below cover the most common doubts.

Frequently asked questions

How much more does a reembolso plan cost than a cuadro médico plan?

A reembolso plan typically costs about 40-100% more than a comparable cuadro médico plan.

Does the same plan cost different amounts in different provinces?

Yes, the same plan can cost roughly 5-20% more or less depending on your province, which is far less than the effect of age.

Will my health questionnaire make my premium higher?

Sometimes, but it more often leads to exclusions or refusal than to a higher price. The insurer can accept you at the standard price, add a surcharge (recargo), exclude specific pre-existing conditions, or refuse you. Answer truthfully: if you hide a known condition, the insurer can cancel the policy within one month of finding out, and may refuse to pay claims if the fault was serious.

Does my sex change what I pay for private health insurance?

No, insurers in Spain no longer price by sex. Age is the main factor, followed by plan type, province and hospital network tier. Family discounts, payment frequency and promotions can also change the price.