It’s common for many employers in Barcelona to offer health insurance as standard and there are various packages tailored for the English-speaking expat, in monthly or annual payments.

UK-based AXA PPP’S ‘International Health Plan’ offers packages called Standard, Comprehensive and Prestige. In-patient treatment is well covered in the cheapest (Standard) package here, but does not include consultations, psychiatric treatment, vaccinations, prescribed drugs, pregnancy or childcare. Detailed quotes are available on request.

Health Plan from Sanitas, a Spanish company in the Bupa group, is also aimed at expats and offers the standard three packages at monthly subscriptions: Basic (€11); Classic (€27); and Complete (€50). The Basic package covers GP consultations, tests and diagnoses, with hospitalization only covered on the Classic and Complete plan.

For those moving regularly between their home in Spain and another country, Sanitas has joined with its UK parent company Bupa to provide Bupa-Sanitas Health Plan Complete. This offers total cover in Spain with partial cover in another country of your choice.

Spanish insurance giant Mapfre is also worth looking at, offering full dental plans. Its insurance plan against long-term sickness or injury is a good option for freelancers (autónomos).