Coverage guideTypes of student coverWhat to compare
Student Health Insurance Spain Coverage
Not all 'student insurance' is the same thing. Here are the types of cover students actually buy for Spain, what visa-compliant policies must include, the exclusions that surprise people, and the short checklist that makes plans comparable.
Comprehensive private cover vs travel insurance vs EHIC
The inclusions consulates expect to see
The exclusions to check before you buy
✓Sanitas — part of the Bupa Group since 1989
✓Access to thousands of hospitals, clinics and medical centres across Spain
✓Check eligibility, see your price and apply online
Types of cover
The three things students call "insurance"
Comprehensive privateFull healthcare from an insurer authorised in Spain — GP, specialists, diagnostics, hospital. The only type that satisfies student visa requirements, and what non-EU students actually live on for months.
Travel insuranceEmergency-only cover with excesses. Cheaper because it does far less; generally rejected for student visas and no substitute for everyday healthcare.
EHIC (EU students)State healthcare during a temporary stay for EU/EEA students. No visa needed; private cover becomes an optional upgrade for faster or English-speaking access.
For non-EU students the choice is effectively made by the consulate: comprehensive private cover, without copayments and without waiting periods, valid for the whole stay — the requirements guide sets out the conditions in full.
What good cover includes
The inclusions to expect — and the exclusions to check
✓ A visa-ready student policy should include
- ✓GP and unlimited specialist consultations
- ✓Diagnostics from blood tests through CT and MRI
- ✓Full hospitalisation and surgery
- ✓24/7 emergencies and ambulance
- ✓No copayments and no waiting periods
- ✓Repatriation cover
- ✓An official certificate in Spanish for the consulate
✗ Common exclusions to check
- ✗Pregnancy and childbirth — commonly excluded from student plans
- ✗Pre-existing conditions — subject to review; declare them honestly
- ✗Session limits on psychology, podiatry and speech therapy
- ✗Dental beyond the included services — check what is included vs reduced-price
As the lead option for visa routes, the Sanitas International Students plan covers the full left-hand column with zero copayments — the service-by-service detail lives on its coverage page. Eligibility, premium and policy terms are confirmed before the policy is issued.
Comparing plans
Five questions that make any two plans comparable
- Is it visa-compliant as sold? Authorised insurer, no copays, no waiting periods, whole-stay validity — in the certificate, not just the brochure.
- What do you pay at the point of care? Zero-copay with direct billing means nothing; excess-based plans mean bills first, claims later.
- Where can you actually be seen? A network with hospitals and clinics in your study city beats a longer brochure.
- What are the session limits and exclusions? Read the not-included list before the included one.
- What happens in English? Adviser support, app, and English-speaking professionals when it matters.
Compare with a real figure in hand
See what visa-compliant Sanitas cover costs for your age, city and course — instantly and without obligation.
Exact price on screen in under a minuteNo obligation — no cover is created by quotingEnglish-speaking advisers
Happy with your price?
Complete the guided application online — we prepare the official Sanitas forms for you.
Frequently asked questions
Student insurance coverage in Spain — FAQs
Three, in practice: comprehensive private cover (the visa-compliant kind), travel insurance (emergency-only, generally rejected for visas), and the EHIC for EU students using state healthcare during temporary stays.
Comprehensive cover from an insurer authorised in Spain, without copayments and without waiting periods, valid for the whole stay, normally with repatriation — evidenced by an official certificate in Spanish.
Commonly excluded — student plans focus on the study-stay use case. If this matters to your situation, tell us before you buy. Cover varies by plan, so always check your particular policy details — or ask us for a plan that includes it.
They are subject to review at application — declare them honestly and briefly. Eligibility, premium and policy terms are confirmed before the policy is issued.
Sometimes — the Sanitas student plan includes Dental 21 with 30+ services and reduced prices on the rest. Always check what is included versus discounted. Cover varies by plan, so always check your particular policy details — or ask us for a plan that includes it.
That cover is usable from the first day of the policy — no months-long qualification for tests, specialists or hospital. Visa routes normally expect it, and it matters if you get ill in week one.
Good ones include worldwide emergency assistance — the Sanitas student plan covers up to €12,000 per person per year abroad plus repatriation. Cover varies by plan, so always check your particular policy details — or ask us for a plan that includes it.
Ask to see how the certificate will be worded before you pay: authorised insurer, cover dates for your whole stay, no copayments, no waiting periods. If a seller can't show you that, keep looking.