How is health care in Valencia? As soon as you are going to stay for a longer time in (or even move to) another country, one of the uncertainties is health care. This is often an unjustified concern and more than once has to do with ignorance and fear of the unknown. Health care in Spain is generally well organized. Here you can read about the advantages and disadvantages of health care in Valencia.

In Spain there is a health care system that consists of a basic health insurance (seguridad social) where the employer pays the premium for the employee. Everyone who is registered in Spain and has a health care card is entitled to health care. This care is provided in public hospitals and care centers. In general, the care is of a very high standard, the doctors are skilled, and they work with the best technical installations and materials. The disadvantage is that it can take a long time before you are helped. This applies to first aid, a visit to a general doctor and an appointment for a medical procedure.

Private or public health care in Valencia

You can also take a private insurance with a private health insurer. With this insurance you can go to the private hospitals. The biggest advantage of these hospitals and care centers is that you are usually helped quickly. The care itself is comparable to the care in public hospitals. You can go to a private hospital in Spain with most foreign health insurance policies.

Well known private hospitals and centers in Valencia are Quiron Salud and IMED. Quiron Salud is centrally located at the beginning of Avenida Blasco Ibañez and has recently opened a small center opposite Mercado de Colon. Quiron Salud is highly regarded in Spain and has 58 hospitals and 138 other health centers throughout the country.

IMED has 9 centers in the Comunidad Valenciana and in Murcia and employs 2,500 professionals. IMED opened a very modern hospital in Valencia a few years ago near Palacio de Congressos. They use the most advanced technologies and technical installations developed by Philips.

Of course, it is not to be hoped that you will have to use these services often. Still, it’s nice if you don’t have any concerns about health care. If you are going to live permanently in Valencia, it is advisable as soon as possible to apply for a NIE/TIE, then arrange registration with the municipality and then apply for a health care card at the care center (centro de salud) that belongs to the location where you live. If you stay in Spain for less than half of the time, you can also maintain a foreign health insurance policy. Then check which Valencian hospitals where you can go to.

Let us take care of you!

Match Better Valencia helps with applying for a NIE/TIE number, registering with the municipality, arranging a health care card, or choosing a private insurance. We also help, if necessary, to choose a suitable hospital and to assist with a hospital visit.

“For Match Better Valencia I help clients make appointments and translate for doctor and hospital visits. Doctors and specialists in Spain often speak poor English, so it is important that someone who is medically bilingual goes along.” Sabine