Question
We have been trying for months to find any Health insurance for my 82 year old Mom from the USA (non EU, obviously), with pre-existing conditions for her first year in Spain. We have tried all the companies in Spain, and they all said no.
My immigration lawyer told me that a few years ago he helped a woman in her 80s from Chile who was able to buy into the Spanish public health care system soon after arriving in Spain. Does anyone know if and how this works?
Answers
“You need to have an insurance agent versus going to companies yourself. Many recommendations in this group. Search for ‘agent’ in the group search bar. You cant get into the public system until you reside there for a year, AFAIK.”
“Yes, we’ve used many agents, they all said yes in the beginning, but by the end they said no. Even the companies that claim they cover pre-existing conditions ultimately said no. And it’s not like she’s dying of cancer or anything, she just has diabetes and heart disease and chronic UTIs.”
“I would make sure you exhaust all of the agents that people recommend. Otherwise, what do you want to hear? Come for 3 months and then leave. Wait 3, comeback 3 months. (The Schengen Shuffle)”
“She can come over on her passport, get good travel health insurance, and also keep in mind that she can be seen for very little cost with doctors in Spain who will only need to see her passport and of course receive payment… Anywhere from $30-$100..
As long as she commits no criminal activity within 24 months, she can apply for the Arraigo to change her status from irregular to regular. She’s 82… living on the edge– why not.”
“You have to wait one year. Then you can buy into the public plan. (Convenio Especial)”
“Your mother will need to find a company to take her on for private health insurance for 2 years. Once she has been legally resident for one year she can start paying into the Convenio Especial de Salud. At her age it will cost €157/month. But it takes several weeks, maybe 2-3 months, to come through.
Private health insurance can only be taken out in annual chunks, so be prepared to be paying for both for a few months. Even if she were happy to risk having no cover, that would invalidate her visa. As others have said, find an agent/broker to compare all the different plans available.”
“You can get into Spanish public health care by paying (convenio especial) but you need to be a resident for one year first”
“Here’s a curated list of trusted health insurance providers specializing in visa-compliant policies for Spain. These brokers and exclusive agents offer policies tailored to meet the requirements for Spanish visas, including the Non-Lucrative Visa (NLV), Digital Nomad Visa (DNV) and Student Visa: https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=122111973956794055&id=61573821661405“
Conclusion
According to members of the Spain expat community, securing private health insurance for someone over 80 with pre-existing conditions is extremely difficult in Spain.
Even insurance companies and brokers that initially claim to provide coverage often retract when they assess the applicant’s age and medical history in detail. Diabetes, heart disease, and chronic illnesses are frequently excluded.
A common recommendation is to wait until legal residency has been established for one full year, at which point the Convenio Especial de Salud becomes available. This public healthcare buy-in option costs around €157 per month for seniors and does not exclude pre-existing conditions. However, it often takes several weeks or even months to activate and requires continued private coverage in the meantime.
Some suggest temporary solutions such as travel insurance or out-of-pocket payments for basic care, which can be relatively affordable in Spain. Others mention pathways like Arraigo, a regularization process after living in Spain for 2 years without a visa, though this comes with legal and practical uncertainties.
Ultimately, for those in similar situations, the best course of action may involve seeking extensive help from specialized agents, considering temporary private coverage, and planning to transition to public coverage after one year of legal residency.
