Health and Hospitals
While in a foreign city it can be overwhelming to deal with health issues particularly in regards to understanding your options regarding care and treatment. Deciding on where to go, with whom you can communicate, how much you should expect to be charged are all issues that many people living in Barcelona will have to face at some point. It is very important to educate yourself about your options and rights. In order to help you do this, we’ve put together some basic information about health in Barcelona.
Spain provides all of its citizens with universal health care. If you are a citizen of the European , you are automatically eligible for free basic health care, but you need to make sure you have the proper documentation supplied in your home country. If you are not an EU citizen, Spain’s policy requires all health care providers, both public and private, to treat patients in an emergency situation.
Below are some useful phone numbers and contact information for doctors and resources that may be useful. Barcelona-home does not endorse nor accept liability for any of the listings below. We have not had direct contact with all of them and have listed them below only to supply you with some initial options.
Ambulance Services
For general emergencies in Spain, call 112. For ambulance services, call the following numbers:
• Samur 092
• Uvimovil 061
• Ambulances Cruz Roja 915 222 222
• Ambulancias Sasu 913 551 039
• Creu Roja 933 002 020
• Lazaro 934 566 666 / 934 551 000
• SAM 932 016 464
• Blanco 932 661 212 / 932 661 266
Hospitals
Visit: List of Clinics and Hospitals in Barcelona
Health Insurance
It is very important to know whether or not your medical insurance policy is accepted or covers you if you are in Barcelona. Many insurance companies offer special travel health insurance, as do many study abroad organizations in Barcelona. It is also important to determine how much your provider will reimburse you for if you see a doctor or purchase a prescription. Private health care is also an opiton which is available to everyone in Spain starting at around 50€ per month depending on age and gender.
Pharmacies
Pharmacies or “farmacias” in Barcelona can provide you with basic health information and advice, as well as treatments. You may consult a pharmacist for basic health questions since they have some higher level of training, but it is important to consult a doctor for more serious ailments.
Some farmacias in Barcelona are open 24 hours (including Sundays) but many rotate after hours duty. Local papers and farmacia windows will have information about where to find open facilities. You may find the distribution of medicine to be more lax in Barcelona as it is possible to get many prescription drugs over the counter and they are generally priced lower than in other countries due to government price caps.
Health care Information for Americans
(reproduced from the U.S. State Dept. Consular Information Sheet)
Good medical care is available in both Spain and Andorra. The Department of State strongly urges Americans to consult with their medical insurance companies prior to traveling abroad to confirm whether their policy applies overseas and if it will cover emergency expenses such as a medical evacuation. U.S. medical insurance plans seldom cover health costs incurred outside the United States unless supplemental coverage is purchased. Further, U.S. Medicare and Medicaid programs do not provide payment for medical services outside the United States. However, many travel agents and private companies offer insurance plans that will cover health care expenses incurred overseas, including emergency services such as medical evacuations.
When making a decision regarding health insurance, Americans should consider that many foreign doctors and hospitals require payment in cash prior to providing service and that a medical evacuation to the United States may cost well in excess of $50,000. Uninsured travelers who require medical care overseas often face extreme difficulties, whereas travelers who have purchased overseas medical insurance have found it to be life saving when a medical emergency has occurred. When consulting with your insurer prior to your trip, please make certain whether payment will be made to the overseas health care provider or if you will be reimbursed later for expenses that you incur. Some insurance policies also include coverage for psychiatric treatment and for disposition of remains in the event of death.
Useful information on medical emergencies abroad (including overseas insurance programs) is provided in the Department of State Bureau of Consular Affairs brochure, Medical Information for Americans Traveling Abroad, available via the Bureau of Consular Affairs home page.
