Upon your arrival in Barcelona, you and your family will already be covered by private medical insurance through Private Atlantida Medical Insurance. This coverage is arranged to ensure access to medical care during the initial period while we assist you with completing the necessary paperwork to apply for the local public healthcare system (CatSalut).

The HR Coordinator will guide and support you throughout the registration process for the Spanish public healthcare system.

In Spain, all residents are required to be registered with the public healthcare system. However, many individuals also choose to maintain private health insurance, as it often provides faster and more personalized services compared to the public system. At BFIS, we offer you the option to arrange private health insurance through Atlantida Medical Insurance. For approximately €60 per month, staff may contract supplementary private health insurance in addition to public healthcare coverage. 

Public Health Care System- Cat Salut Program

• National health care is free for those contributing to the system via social security, basically if you are employed by Spanish Company, also your dependants are covered ( children and partner)

• EU citizens, with insurance in their home countries should check with their embassy regarding the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC).  This allows the bearer a reduced cost and sometimes free health care in all EU countries. This card is only valid for state provided services and not for private hospitals or treatments.

• Non-EU citizens who are permanent residents in Spain and are paying into the Spanish social security system can obtain coverage in Spain.

• In order to register with the Catalan Public Health System or CatSalut (Servei Catala de la Salut), a Spanish social security number ( provided by the school when you have you NIE number) also a residency registration document called Empadronamiento  needs to be issued by the Town Hall, this document is only valid for 3 months since is issued.  

• You will need to hand out the documentation to the nearest Centre d'Atenció Primària (in Catalan or Centro de Atención Primaria (in Spanish) (CAP). And then you will be assigned a doctor. It's important to be registered before using the doctor's services. 

• The CAP is a public clinic and provides emergency treatment. The clinics are open from 8:30am- 8:30pm and there is a 24-hour help line: Tel. +34 902 111 444 or 061.

School private Health Care Insurance- Atlantida Medical Health Insurance

For those who would like to keep the school insurance arranged for your first month in the country. The school had an special rate for staff members due to the mutual agreement we hold. This LINK gives you more information about services offered and rates. The price will be increased annually matching the IPC increased for the previous year. 

Some of BFIS members are already using this Health Insurance Company and we have gather all preferences and recommendations: Staff Recommendations for how to find a good doctor.

Making Appointments:  Use this searcher: Top Doctor or access to the Atlantida WEB 

The payment for this monthly service will be  exempt of taxes and will be deducted from your monthly payslip as part of your Annual Benefits amount.

Other Private health insurance companies

• Private insurance is optional. However, as is not expensive compared to USA, therefore if you like to have a more personalized services you can arrange a private insurance. Some positive aspects are:  Waiting times (for the appointment & in the office) can be much shorter with private doctors and you could choose a doctor who speaks English.

• An example of companies which offer medical health care Adeslas, Sanitas, AXA, Mutua Madrileña, Mapfre, Cigna or Assistencia Sanitaria, among others.

• There are several insurance options and the price varies depending on how much coverage you require

  • Basic: “Cuadro Medico” is list of approved doctors, hospitals or medical centers. You will get a hard copy or instructions of how you can check online.  You “pay” with the insurance card and generally do not have to pay anything extra. This might also include emergency services if you are traveling abroad up to a specified amount. 

  • Basic plus: You may go to any doctor or hospital approved by the insurance company or you may go to any doctor or hospital of your choice in Spain. If you go to a doctor that is not included in the list of approved doctors or centers, you will have to pay the fee, and then file a reimbursement form with your insurance company. Depending on the insurance company you will be reimbursed between 80-100% of doctors fees and hospital costs.  Doctor’s fees and hospital fees are capped individually and there is a maximum global reimbursement amount. When comparing insurance companies it is important to check the individual and global cap before making a decision.

  • Worldwide coverage: Same coverage as with Basic Plus, plus you can go to any doctor or any hospital anywhere in the world and file a claim for reimbursement. 

Emergencies

• European Emergency number (Medical, Fire and Police): 112

• Emergency Ambulance Service:  061

• Management of all urgent cases will rely on the discretion of the medical staff receiving the patient in any institution, whether public or private.  

• Shortly upon moving to Barcelona, it is recommended that non-Spanish speakers contact their consular offices and request a list of emergency hot lines with English-speaking operators.

• If an ambulance comes to you then you have to tell them where you want to be taken otherwise they will default to the best public hospital nearby for the ailment/injury.

In Spain all citizens and expats will be taken into care regardless of citizenship or insurance status.

Other Hospitals (For Kids):

• Hospital de Nens (private): for kids between ages 0-18.  It has a 24-hour emergency room. 

  • Carrer del Consell de Cent, 437  08009 Barcelona 

  • Tel. 932 310 512

• St Joan de Déu (public):  It has a 24-hour pediatric emergency room with parking on site. 

  • Passeig Sant Joan de Déu, 2 08950 Esplugues de Llobregat, Barcelona  

  • Tel. 932 532 100

Hospitals (Adults & Kids)

• Hospital Universitari Vall d’Hebron (public):

  •  Paseig de la Vall de Hebron, no. 119, 08035 Barcelona 

• Hospital del Mar (public): 

• Paseig Marítim, 25-29, 08003 Barcelona 

• Hospital de Barcelona: 

  • Avinguda Diagonal, 660, 08034 Barcelona 

• Teknon (private): 24 hour Pediatric Emergency Room (0-16 age). Adult Emergency Room. May have some English-speaking doctors.

  • C/ Vilana, 12, Barcelona 08022

  • Tel. 932 906 200

• Hospital Universitari Quiron Dexeus (private): 

  • Gran Via Carlos III, 71-75, Barcelona

  • Tel. 932 274 747

• Hospital Clinic (public): Provincial Barcelona Hospital 

  • Carrer Villarroel 170, 08036 Barcelona

  • Tel. 932 275 400

Healthcare Websites in Spain

• Spanish National Health System (Sistema Nacional de Salud): msssi.gob.es

• Healthcare in Spain: healthcareinspain.eu

• Hospitalandia: hospitalandia.com

• Sanidad y Salud: sanidadysalud.com

• FindtheBest: hospitales.ftb-reference.es

Pharmacies

• Hours:  Vary—open in the morning and afternoon, not on Sundays; but  you can always find a 24 hour pharmacy.

• English speaking pharmacies in Barcelona - open 24hrs

  • Farmacia Josep Clapés Antoja, Rambles 98, Tel.  933 012 843 

  • Farmacia Ortopedia Boquer, Pg. St. Gervasi, 53- Edificio La Rotonda, Tel. 934 170 240

  • Farmacia A.Torres, C/. Aribau 62, (Eixample) - Barcelona – www.farmaciaabierta24h.com Tel. 934 539 220 

  • Farmacia Jordi Cabezas Andreu, Mayor de Sarria 94 (9:00am- 9:00 pm. Monday to Friday.) Tel. 932 031 121 

  • Farmacia Cervera Bech, c/ Muntaner 254, Tel. 932 000 996

• If you can’t leave home to go to the pharmacy, you may call a taxi service and for a taxi will go pick up the medication, pay for it and then bring it to your house for the amount marked on the meter.

• You can bring used medicine containers (pill bottles, boxes) from the States and in MOST cases you can obtain a refill without the prescription.  However, there are exceptions to this rule, including painkillers and some antibiotics. 

• Usually not a long wait at the pharmacy counter

• If something is not in stock, they will order it for you, it should arrive by the afternoon or next day.

• Coverage for prescriptions varies by insurance companies. 

• If medication is prescribed by a Social Security Doctor, the discount at the pharmacy will be significant. You may take a prescription given to you by a private Doctor to a Social Security Doctor and get a social security official prescription, which you can then take to the pharmacy to receive the discount.  Make sure you let your pharmacist know that you are planning on getting an official prescription and she will let you know what you need to do.