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When I quit my job in the U.S. to move to Spain, I wanted
to live la vida loca and not pay for health insurance. The
company that I worked for offered Cobra coverage, but for
around $350 per month, which I did not want to pay. However
my mother told me “if you get cancer they´ll
take our house” and guilt tripped me into making the
outrageous Cobra payments. Luckily, I haven´t gotten
sick here, so I haven´t needed to go to the ER, the
only coverage that my Cobra provides. Tired of spending
more on unused health care than on rent, I decided to look
into Spanish healthcare providers.
I chose Sanitas, because it costs about 55€ per month,
has a huge network of doctors in Spain, and provides 100%
emergency coverage outside of Spain. The plan I chose is
called the SANITAS MULTI. It gives me access to a network
of 20,000 primary care doctors and specialists in Spain,
assures a private room if I am hospitalized, and covers
basic dental care. With this plan I don´t have to
deal with sending in reimbursement forms or paying for anything
upfront – instead they just give you a swipe card
to use at office visits. They also have a version of this
plan designed specifically for foreigners, which links you
to their network of English-speaking doctors throughout
Andalucia and the Costa del Sol. If you might have a hard
time explaining what hurts in Spanish, its probably worth
the slight extra cost. Check out the different levels of
coverage at their website, available in various languages.
To apply, I just filled out a few simple health forms on
the website. You do need a bank account to open a policy
since Sanitas draws the payments straight from your account,
so make sure to get that done first. Their customer service
via email is excellent - they have answered every email
I have sent them within 24 hours. And, if you would rather
talk with an agent in person, they have an office on Avenida
San Franciso Javier, near Nervión Plaza.
Laura
Cohen lived in Sevilla for a year.
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