Healthcare is one of the top concerns for anyone considering a move to the Costa Blanca — and rightly so. The good news is that the Spanish healthcare system is genuinely good, the Costa Blanca has well-equipped hospitals accessible from all major towns, and private healthcare costs are a fraction of what most Northern Europeans pay at home.
The less good news is that navigating the system — understanding what you are entitled to, how to access it, and what private insurance covers — requires some groundwork. This guide covers everything you need to know before you arrive.
Spain operates a universal public healthcare system (Sistema Nacional de Salud — SNS) funded through general taxation. It covers GP visits, specialist referrals, hospital care, surgery, emergency treatment and the majority of prescription medications — all at zero or very low cost to the patient.
The system is organised regionally. In the Valencia Community (which covers all of the Costa Blanca and Valencia city), the regional health authority is the Generalitat Valenciana through its Conselleria de Sanitat. This means that healthcare quality, funding and waiting times can vary from region to region in Spain — but the Valencia Community is generally considered one of the better-funded and better-organised regional health systems.
The backbone of public healthcare is the network of centros de salud (health centres) in every town, where you register with a GP (médico de cabecera). Your GP is the gateway to the system — they refer you to specialists, hospitals and diagnostic services.
Your entitlement to use the Spanish public health system depends on your status:
If you are an EU citizen (Dutch, German, Belgian, French etc.) and you register as a resident in Spain — on the padrón municipal and as an EU citizen at the Foreigners Office — you are entitled to full public healthcare from day one of registration. This applies whether or not you are working or paying Spanish social security, simply by virtue of your EU residency status under the cross-border coordination of social security rights.
EU citizens who receive a state pension from their home country (AOW in the Netherlands, Rentenversicherung in Germany, State Pension in the UK) and move to Spain are entitled to use the Spanish public health system. The cost is recharged by Spain to the home country's social security system — so the individual pays nothing. You need an S1 form (formerly E-121) from your home country's pension authority to register.
If you own property in Spain but are not a resident — spending less than 183 days per year here — you are not entitled to use the Spanish public health system for non-emergency treatment. You are entitled to emergency care (urgencias) at any public hospital. For non-emergency healthcare, you need private health insurance.
EU citizens visiting Spain for short periods can use their European Health Insurance Card (EHIC — Europese ziekteverzekeringspas in the Netherlands) for necessary healthcare during the visit. This covers emergency treatment and necessary medical care — not elective procedures. It is not a substitute for health insurance for non-residents who plan to spend significant time in Spain.
Many long-term expat residents on the Costa Blanca use both systems. They register with the public health system for their GP, chronic condition management, free prescriptions and hospital emergencies — and take out private health insurance for faster specialist access, English-speaking doctors and elective procedures. This combination gives comprehensive coverage at lower cost than relying on private insurance alone.
Hospital Marina Salud is the primary public hospital for the entire Marina Alta comarca — the reference hospital for everyone living in Jávea, Moraira, Dénia, Calpe, Altea and surrounding municipalities. It operates under a public-private partnership model managed by Ribera Salud, which has invested significantly in facilities and technology. The hospital has full emergency services, surgery (including cardiac), obstetrics, paediatrics, oncology and a wide range of specialist departments.
For residents of the Marina Alta, this is the hospital you will be referred to for anything beyond basic GP care. Emergency response times from the main towns (Jávea 12–15 min, Calpe 25 min, Altea 35 min) are generally considered good for a rural-coastal area. The hospital has invested in translation services and some staff speak English, though Spanish remains the primary working language.
The reference hospital for the Marina Baixa comarca, including Benidorm, Altea and Villajoyosa. Located in Villajoyosa, approximately 15 minutes from Benidorm and 20 minutes from Altea. Full emergency, surgical and specialist services. Given the high tourist population of the area, the hospital has significant experience treating foreign patients and has more multilingual capacity than many comparable hospitals in Spain.
The main private hospital serving the Costa Blanca, located in Alicante city. Internationally accredited, with English, Dutch, German and French speaking staff across most departments. Accepted by virtually all major international and Spanish private health insurers. For complex elective procedures, specialist consultations and anything requiring a high level of linguistic comfort, Vithas Medimar is the facility most used by expats across the Costa Blanca. The distance from the northern Costa Blanca (75–90 minutes from Jávea) means it is used for planned care rather than emergencies.
The primary private hospital for the southern Costa Blanca (Torrevieja, Orihuela Costa). Full specialist services, internationally accredited. English and German speaking staff. Used extensively by the large British and Northern European expat community in the Torrevieja area. Also has a public contract for some services, making it a mixed public-private facility for some patients.
For non-residents and for residents who want faster access and English-speaking doctors, private health insurance is the solution. The Spanish private health market is competitive and prices are significantly lower than in Northern Europe.
| Service | Public (resident) | Private (no insurance) | Private (with insurance) |
|---|---|---|---|
| GP consultation | Free | €50 – €80 | €0 – €10 copay |
| Specialist consultation | Free (after referral) | €80 – €180 | €0 – €15 copay |
| Blood test (standard panel) | Free | €40 – €90 | Free or small copay |
| X-ray | Free | €50 – €120 | Free |
| MRI scan | Free (waiting time) | €350 – €600 | Free or small copay |
| Day surgery | Free | €1,500 – €5,000+ | Covered (check limits) |
| Emergency A&E visit | Free | €150 – €400 | Covered |
| Prescription medication (monthly) | €0 – €8 per item | Full price (€10 – €80+) | Full price (reimbursed) |
| Dentist — check + clean | Not usually covered | €40 – €70 | Sometimes included |
| Private insurance premium (individual, 50s) | — | — | €80 – €140/month |
On the Costa Blanca Norte — particularly in Jávea, Dénia and Calpe — finding English-speaking doctors is straightforward. The area has served international patients for decades and the medical community has adapted accordingly.
For specific doctor recommendations — a Dutch-speaking cardiologist, an English-speaking oncologist, a good dentist who speaks German — the established expat communities in Jávea and Calpe are by far the most reliable source. These networks have decades of accumulated knowledge about which practitioners are genuinely good and which to avoid. Ask in the expat Facebook groups and community forums before making appointments.
If you are a registered resident using the public health system, prescriptions issued by your Spanish GP are heavily subsidised:
If you use a private GP and pay for prescriptions yourself (without insurance covering it), you pay the full pharmacy price. Most common medications cost €5–€30 per month in Spain — significantly cheaper than in most Northern European countries even at full price.
If you take regular prescription medications, check before you move whether they are available in Spain under the same name. Some medications are marketed under different brand names in Spain, or may require a new Spanish prescription. Bring a 3-month supply and your home-country prescription documentation to help your Spanish GP issue the equivalent Spanish prescription.
In a medical emergency, go directly to the Urgencias (A&E) department of the nearest public hospital. Emergency care is available to everyone — residents and non-residents, with or without insurance — at no upfront cost. If you are a non-resident, the hospital may bill your travel insurer or private health insurer after treatment, but you will never be refused emergency care due to lack of insurance.
The Spanish emergency number is 112 — operators speak Spanish and English, and in tourist areas often Dutch and German. Ambulances are dispatched from this number.
| Town | Nearest public hospital | Drive time | Nearest private hospital |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dénia | Hospital Marina Salud | 5 min | Vithas Medimar (Alicante) 75 min |
| Jávea | Hospital Marina Salud | 12 min | Vithas Medimar (Alicante) 85 min |
| Moraira | Hospital Marina Salud | 20 min | Vithas Medimar (Alicante) 90 min |
| Calpe | Hospital Marina Salud | 25 min | Vithas Medimar (Alicante) 70 min |
| Altea | Hospital Marina Baixa | 20 min | Vithas Medimar (Alicante) 60 min |
| Benidorm | Hospital Marina Baixa | 15 min | Vithas Medimar (Alicante) 55 min |
| Torrevieja | Hospital Torrevieja | 10 min | Quirónsalud Torrevieja 10 min |
| Valencia city | Hospital La Fe / Clínico | 15–20 min | Quirónsalud Valencia 15 min |
We can point you toward the right resources, connect you with expats who can share their experience, and help you think through which area gives you the healthcare access your family needs. Independent, honest advice.
Talk to us →