Sanitas vs Asisa: Which Insurance is Better For Expats

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Moving to Spain as a non-EU expat is an exciting venture, but it also requires careful planning, especially regarding healthcare.

For non-EU expats, proof of paid insurance for a full year is mandatory for visa applications. However, choosing between leading health insurance providers, Asisa and Sanitas, can be challenging. 

But don’t worry! I’m here to help you make an informed decision by comparing these two providers. 

So, let’s get started. 

Requirements For Expats Visa in Spain

Securing a Spanish visa necessitates health insurance that meets certain essential criteria. Both Sanitas and Asisa fulfill all the necessary requirements:

  • Presence in Spain: Both have a significant presence in Spain, ensuring extensive access to healthcare services nationwide.

  • Unlimited Financial Coverage: Both offer comprehensive coverage for emergencies, consultations, diagnostic tests, surgeries (both inpatient and outpatient), and hospitalizations without financial limits, ensuring thorough healthcare protection.

  • No Co-payments or Deductibles: Accessing healthcare services is straightforward and free of additional costs, as there are no co-payments or deductibles involved.

  • No Waiting Periods: There are no waiting periods, allowing immediate access to medical services when needed.

  • Repatriation Services: Both providers include the repatriation of remains to the individual's home country in their coverage, offering complete and compassionate care in unforeseen circumstances. (Included in Asisa and Sanitas Health Plan For International Students) 

Sanitas vs Asisa Side-by-Side Comparaison

Feature Asisa Sanitas
Company Overview One of Spain’s leading healthcare providers, known for its extensive network of hospitals and specialists, and competitive pricing. Major Spanish healthcare provider, part of Bupa Group, offering comprehensive health plans with a large network of providers.
Coverage Full health coverage across Spain, including primary care, hospitalization, surgery, and specialized treatments. Comprehensive coverage including hospitalization, specialists, dental care, and additional wellness services.
Global Coverage Limited coverage outside Spain, mainly within the EU and through partner hospitals. Offers international coverage through specific plans like “Sanitas Mundo” for expats and travelers.
Dental Coverage Basic dental coverage included, with options for additional dental insurance. Includes dental care in many of its plans, with a wide network of dental clinics.
Expat-specific Plans Provides specific plans designed for foreign residents. Offers tailored plans for expats, including coverage for those on short-term or long-term stays in Spain.
Waiting Periods Varies by treatment, usually shorter waiting periods for general treatments. Some plans have no waiting periods; others have short waiting times for specific services.
Digital Services Offers a mobile app for booking appointments, consulting medical records, and accessing telemedicine services. Provides advanced digital healthcare services through its app, including telemedicine, appointment booking, and virtual consultations.
Network of Hospitals More than 600 hospitals and healthcare centers across Spain. Extensive network with over 1,200 hospitals and medical centers across Spain, part of a larger Bupa global network.
Prescription Medications Medications are generally covered but may require copayments depending on the plan. Many prescription medications are covered, but there may be a copayment or deductible.
Family Plans Family plans are available and customizable depending on the number of family members. Provides flexible family plans, often with discounts for children and spouses.
Maternity and Childcare Offers maternity coverage in most plans, as well as pediatric care. Comprehensive maternity and pediatric coverage, including fertility treatments in some plans.
Cost Generally more affordable, especially for younger individuals or those with basic health needs. Typically higher cost, but with more comprehensive coverage and additional services.
Direct Billing Offers direct billing for many hospitals and healthcare providers, though some copayments may apply. Provides direct billing with most hospitals in its network, minimizing out-of-pocket expenses.
Additional Wellness Services Basic wellness and preventive care services included, with optional add-ons for more extensive services. Wide range of wellness services, including nutrition consultations, fitness programs, and mental health support.
Customer Support Multilingual customer service is available for expats. Offers multilingual support, including English, with specialized expat services.

Overview of Companies

Sanitas

  • Key aspects: Sanitas includes over 54,000 medical professionals and almost 1,200 medical centers across Spain. This facilitates easy access to healthcare services for nomads wherever they are located. 

Asisa

  • Key aspects: The company serves 2.9 million policyholders and operates an extensive network across Spain including 300 hospitals, 36 medical centers, and 18 hospitals. Furthermore, there are over 50,000 healthcare professionals providing care across these facilities​. 

Basic Coverage 

Sanitas 

  • Full coverage: The Sanitas insurance for expats offers complete coverage for:

    • Emergencies

    • Preventive medical check-ups

    • Paediatrics

    • Consultations

    • Diagnosis

    • Obstetric-gynecological nursing

    • Speech, and language therapy

    • Hospital care (surgical intervention, childbirth, clinical psychology, etc). 

Asisa 

  • Full coverage: The offered coverage encompasses:

    • Primary medicine

    • Emergencies and ambulances

    • Medical specialties

    • Diagnostic tests

    • Special treatments 

    • Hospitalization and ICU

    • Odonto-stomatology

    • Rehab and physical therapy, and much more. 

Types of Insurance 

Sanitas 

Sanitas offers different types of insurance plans to cater to the requirements of expats. These include: 

  • Sanitas Health Plan Classic: The HPC plan offers comprehensive medical assistance via a personalized swipe card. Furthermore, it provides direct billing which eliminates upfront payments, with optional reimbursement for services outside the medical network with coverage limits up to €300,000.

  • Sanitas Mas Salud: This plan is favored by expatriates for its flexibility and comprehensive coverage. Moreover, for those enrolled in Sanitas' Mas Salud plan, there is an enhancement called Dental 21 cover. This addition allows them to access the Milennium Dental Centers without any additional subscription. 

  • Sanitas Premium 500.000: Designed to suit expatriates who may need medical care both in and outside Spain, it offers extensive medical coverage including international benefits. It’s suitable for work visa holders who travel as part of their job or for non-lucrative visa holders who often go back to their home countries.

  • Sanitas Blua: This plan is cutting-edge, offering digital health services such as video consultations. It is a great option for tech-savvy nomads and those with a student visa. It provides flexibility and immediate access to health services, which is crucial for students and young professionals adapting to life in the country.

  • Sanitas Health Plan For International Students: Specifically tailored to meet the needs of international students, this plan covers all requirements for a student visa. It is applicable for expats aged between 18 and 30. 

  • Sanitas Mas 90.000: Offering a high coverage limit, this type of Sanitas insurance is for those expats who need broader health services. Precisely, it covers all family members under a single policy. 

Asisa 

Asisa's Expat Insurance Plan is designed to meet all Spanish consulate requirements for visas and NIE applications or renewals, providing comprehensive coverage that mirrors the public health system. This includes emergencies, consultations, diagnostic tests, surgeries, and hospitalizations. 

The plan offers significant financial benefits with no copayments or deductibles and provides unlimited economic coverage within Spain. Policyholders also benefit from immediate coverage with no waiting periods and include repatriation of remains.

Dental Coverage

Sanitas 

Sanitas offers a specific plan tailored for dental services, known as Sanitas Dental. This plan is available to all, including nomads. Policyholders can access over 180 Milennium Dental Centers for high-quality dental care and convenience. Also, there are no waiting times. 

  • Services: The plan offers comprehensive dental coverage that includes:

    • Preventive dentistry

    • Various surgical procedures

    • Conservative and cosmetic dentistry 

    • Pediatric dentistry

    • Prostheses, periodontics, orthodontics, implantology, and more. 

Furthermore, services like temporomandibular joint pathology and high-tech diagnostic imaging are also included.

Asisa 

Asisa expat insurance offers dental coverage as an integrated part of its health insurance plans. However, it is not as comprehensive as that offered by Sanitas. 

  • Services: The insurance only includes basic dental care services like:

    • Routine check-ups 

    • Preventive care

    • Simple extractions

    • Annual dental cleaning. 

Travel Assistance 

Sanitas 

Sanitas offers emergency overseas travel assistance with coverage up to a maximum of €12,000 per person per year for medical care needed within 90 consecutive days from the start of the trip.

  • Services: It covers doctors' fees, prescribed medications over €3, hospitalization costs, and ambulance services requested by a doctor for local journeys.

  • Unique offerings: The travel assistance feature of Sanitas also covers emergency dental fees. However, this excludes endodontics, aesthetic reconstructions, oral cleaning, prostheses, crowns, and implants, which are covered up to €241 per insured. 

Asisa 

Asisa offers comprehensive travel assistance to expatriates, covering a wide range of services to ensure safety and support while abroad. 

During each trip, you will be covered for up to €25,000 in medical expenses, and have access to a 24/7 emergency helpline and repatriation services if necessary.

  • Services: This includes medical, pharmaceutical, and hospitalization expenses, as well as emergency dental treatment. They also provide healthcare transportation, medical repatriation, and cover expenses for returning home after hospital discharge. 

  • Unique offerings: Special services of the Asisa expat plan include sending a specialist abroad, advance payments for hospitalization, and travel expenses for a companion.

Age Coverage 

Sanitas 

  • Age coverage: Sanitas offers insurance plans for expatriates with a standard age limit of 75 years. For those aged 76 and above, an initial one-off surcharge applies when contracting the plan. Once enrolled, there is no upper age limit for maintaining the health coverage​  

Asisa 

  • Age coverage: Asisa's health insurance for expatriates provides coverage for individuals up to the age of 65. Once insured, there is no upper age limit for maintaining health coverage as long as the policy remains active.

Medical Cost

Both Sanitas and Asisa only cover medication costs during hospital stays. Medications prescribed outside of hospital stays are not included in their expatriate health insurance plans. 

Final Recommendations 

Sanitas

Sanitas provides broader age coverage up to 75 years, extensive reimbursement options for international treatments, and strong dental coverage. So, I’ll recommend it for expats who travel frequently and need flexible plans that include comprehensive dental services and reimbursement options for treatments outside Spain.

Asisa

On the other hand, Asisa is ideal for expats up to the age of 69, offering robust travel assistance with up to €25,000 in medical expenses per trip and comprehensive coverage without co-payments. 

Therefore, I would recommend it to those who prefer higher immediate coverage per trip and whose destinations fall within Asisa's covered regions, as well as those who seek extensive local medical services.

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Laetitia woue

Laetitia is the author of Coming to Spain and has been living in Spain for over six years. She is passionate about traveling throughout Spain and helping others overcome their limiting beliefs to achieve their dream of moving to Spain. Through her writing and resources, she provides practical advice and insights to support and guide individuals in making their dream of living in Spain a reality.