Medical Insurance for a Seafarer’s Family in Spain

When a seafarer is working offshore, knowing their family at home has immediate access to high-quality healthcare is paramount. While Spain boasts an excellent public healthcare system (Sistema Nacional de Salud), obtaining a comprehensive private medical insurance policy (Seguro médico) is often necessary for faster access to specialists and is frequently a mandatory requirement for residency applications.

More information on How to Open an Autónomo in Spain for a Seafarer

Comparing Top Insurance Providers

The Spanish private health insurance market is dominated by several key players offering policies suited for expats and maritime families:

• Sanitas: Offers premium packages like “Más Salud,” which includes extensive hospital coverage, digital telemedicine (crucial for consulting pediatricians when the seafarer is at sea), and emergency coverage abroad.
• Adeslas: Known for the largest medical network in Spain. Their “Adeslas Plena Plus” policy offers full coverage with no co-payments, making it ideal for families with young children who require frequent doctor visits.
• Asisa: Often provides highly competitive pricing for family packages. Their “Asisa Completa” policy is a popular choice for comprehensive care without copayments.

Key Policy Terms: Copago and Carencia

When selecting a policy, two terms are critical:

• Copago (Co-payment): A policy sin copago (without co-payment) means you pay a higher monthly premium, but all medical visits and tests are fully covered. A policy con copago has a lower premium, but you pay a small fee (e.g., €5-€20) for every doctor’s visit. For residency purposes, the government usually requires a policy sin copago.
• Carencia (Waiting Period): This is the time you must wait after buying the policy before accessing certain complex treatments, surgeries, or maternity care (usually 6-10 months). Emergency life-saving care never has a waiting period.

Pricing Expectations

For a family of three (e.g., two adults in their 30s and one young child), a high-quality, no-copayment policy will typically cost between €150 and €220 per month. Always ensure the policy explicitly states it provides full hospitalization and repatriation coverage to satisfy the Extranjería (Immigration Office) requirements.