Need travel insurance to Spain? Find out what the Blue Card covers when you travel to Spain. You’ll also find some examples of why private travel insurance can be a good addition to your luggage.
UPDATED JANUARY 2022
The blue health insurance card
It can be difficult to keep track of the specific rules around health insurance abroad. New health insurance cards are coming and conditions are changing. In 2014, our health insurance card for abroad changed colour. Now we need a blue health insurance card if we go on holiday in Europe. The main difference from the past, when we could use our yellow health insurance card abroad, is that we are insured on the same terms as the citizens of the country we are visiting.
This means that in some European countries we may have to pay for part of the treatment ourselves. For example, if we get sick and have to go to the doctor or get injured and have to go to the hospital. Indeed, some European countries have partial user charges in their healthcare sector.
Medical and hospital care is free in Spain
Just like in Denmark, in Spain it is free if you need to see a doctor or if you need to be treated in hospital. However, this requires that the doctor or hospital you visit is part of the public health insurance system. Just like in Denmark, there is both a public and a private health sector, and it is in the public health sector that you are entitled to treatment.
You should be aware that in some places in Spain you can find hospitals that operate both publicly and privately. If you end up in such a place, make it clear to them that you want the public treatment. You cannot get a refund if you choose to pay for private treatment yourself.
Remember that you will never be asked to pay upfront for treatment under the public health insurance scheme. So if you are charged, you can be sure it is private treatment.
Home transport is not covered by health insurance
The foreign doctors may decide that you need to be transported back to Denmark for further treatment. In such cases, ambulance services to and from the airport must be paid for. You also have to pay for the flight, and sometimes you also have to pay for a doctor to accompany you all the way. This is the case, for example, if they consider that treatment may be needed on the return journey.
All this is not covered by any public health insurance, which means you have to pay for it yourself, or you have to take out private travel insurance.
Advantages of private travel insurance
Private travel insurance covers repatriation in the vast majority of cases. This means that you don’t have to pay out of pocket if the doctor recommends that you be sent home by medical transport. The bill will then be passed on to your insurance company.
24 hour telephone hotline
All Danish travel insurance policies have a telephone hotline, with Danish staff, which you can call if you fall ill or are injured. Most also have Danish doctors on hand to help assess your situation.
It can be a great help if you have been seriously injured to have someone who can help, who speaks your language. Especially if you are not fluent in Spanish. They can also help you get in touch with local doctors or hospitals and – in some cases – even send a doctor straight to your hotel or holiday apartment. So you get a higher level of service if you choose private travel insurance.
Read more about private travel insurance to Spain
To find out more about the benefits of private travel insurance to Spain, visit RejseforsikringsGuiden.dk. Here you will also find prices and conditions for a wide range of Danish travel insurance policies. Also, always keep up to date with the latest travel advice for Spain – especially in relation to coronavirus, this can also be done at Rejsevejledningen.dk.
By Claus Bermann
Also read the guide with tips on how to get cheap flights to Spain.
