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Home Community answers How to obtain affordable medical insurance in Spain for retirees?

How to obtain affordable medical insurance in Spain for retirees?

Last Updated on March 18, 2026 by Bruno Bianchi

Question

We were originally planning to retire to Spain but were put off by the cost of medical insurance. How do retirees out there afford the medical insurance?

Answers

These are the answers of some Facebook group members:

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“If you are in receipt of a State Pension in U.K. then you get free medical treatment but have to pay a percentage of prescriptions. You will need to contact DWP Newcastle for the necessary forms.”

“You can apply. To pay into the spanish health system its abour 60 euros per month”

“Use the S1 DHSS Spain has a reciprocal agreement with the uk that gives you full access to the Spanish health system.”

“If you’re retired age you don’t need medical insurance you need S1 form which will cover you for all hospital needs backed up by British government”

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“You can apply to department of health and insurance for an S1 to cover medical costs you have to have your S1 inputted into the Spanish system”

“Get quotes for the best Health insurances to apply for a NLV


Useful links:

📖 Related Reading: For a complete overview of tax residency, income tax brackets, Beckham Law, Modelo 720, and more, see our Taxes for Expats in Spain: The Complete Guide.

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author avatar
Bruno Bianchi CEO & Spain Immigration Expert
Bruno Bianchi is the founder and CEO of Spainguru, Spain's largest expat immigration community with 150,000+ members. Since 2014 he has helped thousands of people relocate to Spain through expert guides, webinars and vetted professional services covering visas, residency, taxes and life in Spain.