Spain/Healthcare
Spain has a strong public healthcare system that ranks pretty highly.[1] Private insurance is optional and offers direct access to specialists and a dedicated set of clinics.
Coverage
The Spanish are proud of their healthcare system. It is very efficient and has a wide reach. Healthcare in Spain is generally seen as a right, not a paid commodity.
For Spanish citizens and foreigners who are on a work visa, the public system is free. If you are on a non-lucrative, digital nomad, or study visa, you must purchase international health insurance coverage which will give you access to the public system and may also include private providers.
When you register your residence at your town hall, you are assigned a local CAP that is your "home base" for medical care. Your doctor can then refer you to specialists as needed. You can elect to have private insurance on top of the public system. Private insurance gives you direct access to specialists.
Practices
No information yet.
Organization
There are 4 levels of healthcare in Spain:
- Farmacias offer OTC and prescription meds, as well as informal advice for minor maladies.
- Centre d'Atenció Primària (CAP) is for non-emergency visits.
- Hospitals provide emergency rooms.
- Specialists provide specialist consultations.
Farmacia
These are located on nearly every block in large cities. They do not, however, provide any traditional or herbal medicines.
CAP
These are very efficient public health centers. You check in at the front desk and tell them what is troubling you. They will assign you a room to visit at a certain time (could be just a 15min wait on a slow day). When the doctor is ready they will open the door and call for you. The doctor can then recommend a specialist, provide prescriptions, and post a notification to your employer (if employed by a Spanish company) to excuse your absence.
If you have social security (public health insurance) these visits are free. If you have private insurance you will pay a small fee.
In Catalonia, on your first visit, they will initiate the registration for web/mobile access to the patient portal, La Meva Salut.
Hospitals
Aster's coworker mentioned that going to the emergency room with private insurance is not something that will have astronomical costs like in the US.
Specialists
Some specialists work for the public system but waiting times to see them can be longer than seeing a private specialist. Some private clinics include Barnaclinic and Privaclinic.
Further info needed:
- How is somatic and psychosomatic healthcare divided?
- Mental health
- Long term care and care for children
Finding a GP
You are assigned a GP when you register with your local CAP. If you have private insurance you can choose a specific GP at the private clinic.
Mental healthcare
No information yet.
- How does mental healthcare work in this country
- how to access it
Emergency care
No information yet.
- How does emergency care work?
- What are reasonable problems to go to Emergency care here?
- How to bes access it
Trans/LGBTQI specific Healthcare
Trans care in Spain varies by autonomous community. Catalonia operates on an informed consent model.
Accessing care via the public system involves talking to your GP and depending on your location they may send you for a psychological evaluation.
Links by location:
- EU: Imago - a virtual clinic that covers the whole EU
- Catalonia: Catsalut - you can request appointments directly via Email/phone.
Trans/queer friendly health professionals and services
No information yet.
- Do they exist?
- What are limitations?
- How can they be accessed
- Links to places/further information
How to approach continuation of HRT
No information yet.
- What is needed to continue HRT in the country?
COVID practices
Masking is very rare in Spain but it is not shunned. Aster went to a CAP with a mask on and she was the only one masked.