Public
To register with a doctor go to your local health centre, ask at reception and take the following documents:
EU citizen:
- Residence card with your NIE
- Social security number (certificate itself is not necessary)
- Passport
For the Non-EU (and children) to be added as a beneficiary to the EU’s medical cover go to your local Social Security office and the place inside you’ll need is the TGSS office which deals with healthcare and other tramites. The following documents will be needed:
Non-EU:
- Passport
- Completed modelo (see below for extra instructions)
- Residence card or residence card acceptance letter which states the expiry date of the card (some regions do not ask for this, just the NIE, but most do)
- NIE
- Marriage certificate (legalised) and a Spanish translation (legalised)
- Spouse’s (EU’s): passport and NIE (residence card)
How to fill in the modelo
The EU’s details need to be filled out on the first sheet and at the bottom of the boxes tick the “persona asegurada” option. Do not fill in anything else on the first page. On the second page fill in the details of your spouse (and/or children) but do not fill in the box asking for financial income “Ingresos (1) (2)”. The relationship is “conyuge” (spouse). Do not fill in anything else on that page. On the third and final page the EU spouse has to sign and date under the section “Solicito”.
What happens next?
In both cases you will both be given a certificate with all of your details. In the case of the EU it will have the name of the registered doctor and in the case of the Non-EU your certificate will be a special “beneficiario” one with your details. Both will be stamped and with both of these documents you can see your doctor (once you have one assigned to you) free of charge, and also receive any prescribed medication that is covered by Social Security. The cards will take around 2-4 weeks to arrive at your house as they are issued from the Spanish Mint, and from then on the certificate is not necessary when you go to the health centre, only the card itself. Keep the certificate for your personal records and the Family Permit.
Always take your card with you when needing medical attention (the best place is to keep it in your wallet).
Private
Taking out a private health insurance policy is relatively simple and the documents that both EU and Non-EU need are: passport and NIE (if Non-EU doesn’t have one it shouldn’t be a problem, but it makes the process less complicated).
There are varying prices and cover plans ranging from 8€ – 120€+ per month. Different policies have different terms and conditions with regards to when and what they cover, for example, if you are having or planning to have a baby you will need to have paid at least 8 months’ insurance before giving birth for it to be covered. For operations the time ranges from 3-6+ months from taking out the policy. General doctors appointments are usually covered once the medical card is received, but any tests following on from those consultations may require one full month’s insurance paid first. Any visits to A&E are covered from the moment you get the card and in some cases, emergency operations are also covered within the first month.
There are generally no waiting times for appointments and the quality of care and attention is generally better as well. The hospitals, clinics and private doctors who are covered with your company’s policy will be available on their website (or in their handbook when you receive the medical card).
Check with your bank as some give reductions if you have an account with them. Always check the small print, especially what is covered after what time period.
Always take your card with you when needing medical attention (the best place is to keep it in your wallet).
Closing the Gap 