Dual USA/ Ireland citizens Needing Health Insurance in Spain

seamus452 · 2025-07-28T15:11:24+02:00

Explore health insurance options for dual USA/Ireland citizens in Spain. Get insights on comprehensive coverage, company choice, and international plans.

seamus452 Active member

Member since 01 December 2023

seamus452Active member28 July 2025 13:11:24

Hello, All,

For a few days now I have been in contact with two brokers and collecting information in order to get quotes and details for the health insurance my husband and I need to stay in Spain indefinitely, obtain the NIE, etc.

It is my understanding that we need comprehensive coverage with no copays.

My question is about two things. (1) International coverage. (2) Choice of Company.

Each broker with whom I am in touch sell plans from聽 companies like AXA, Sanitas, Salus Health,聽 ASSSA, for example and monthly costs vary from 鈧�300 -鈧�410 ( higher than I had guessed) for BOTH of us included.

Some of the plans, especially those offering "choice of physician" also include coverage abroad.

Another friend I have currently living in Spain has coverage within Spain with a company called FIATC, but no coverage internationally. He buys travel health care insurance as needed.

Any and all information is helpful from any of you who has advice to share.

Furthermore, I should share, we are dual citizens of the USA and the EU, but not Spanish citizens.

Thank you!

Seamus

gwynj Bulgaria Expert

Member since 30 June 2020

gwynjBulgaria Expert31 July 2025 15:58:53

2482

@seamus452

If you've got EU passports, there's nothing that stops you rocking up in Spain and staying indefinitely. You SHOULD do your EU Citizen Registration within 90 days if you want to live there, and if so, you need the health insurance you describe.

EU Citizen Registration can be done in Spain.

Once you've done this registration, you're not compelled to keep or renew your health insurance. You could reduce the cover / increase the copay, to make the cost more affordable too. However, it is recommended to have some kind of health cover.

The cost sounds about right for two people (if not 20-somethings). You can check using the comparison engines (Acierto, etc.). There are a whole bunch of companies, and they usually have direct quotes on their website.

International cover costs extra, so if you don't need it, don't buy it. I have coverage in-country, and use travel insurance for travelling (as your friend does).

Moreover, as an EU citizen, once you are resident in Spain (having got your EU Citizen Registration Certificate), you can enroll in the Spanish health system. Normally this is better (and cheaper) than paying for private insurance for the next many years. Plus, once you do this, you can get an EHIC which covers you elsewhere in the EU.

FIATC, AXA, Sanitas, Asisa, Mapre, DKV, Adeslas, and many more. We has Asisa, they were good and fairly inexpensive.