Health Insurance on the Costa Blanca

The Costa Blanca, on the Alicante coast, has one of Spain’s largest English-speaking expat communities — from Torrevieja and the Orihuela Costa urbanisations in the south to the villa belts around Jávea and Dénia in the north. Private cover is the norm here for fast, English-speaking care, and essential for residency-visa applicants.

Private healthcare across the Costa Blanca

Private hospitals are spread along the coast. In the north (Marina Alta), the HCB Hospitals Group runs HCB Dénia and medical centres in Jávea; IMED Levante in Benidorm is the largest private hospital in the province; the south is served by Quirónsalud Torrevieja; and Alicante city has Vithas Medimar Internacional and HLA Vistahermosa.

Public healthcare in the Costa Blanca

Public hospitals include the Hospital de Dénia (Marina Alta), Hospital Marina Baixa (Benidorm area), Hospital Universitario de Torrevieja and Hospital Vega Baja in the south, plus Alicante’s city hospitals. Good quality, with the usual caveats; most foreign residents also hold private cover.

Why expats on the Costa Blanca choose private cover

With so many northern-European retirees and families, English-speaking care and short waits are highly valued. Many residents are on the NLV (no-copay cover required); the area also has a strong market in retiree plans.

Cover options across the Costa Blanca

The choice is the same everywhere on the Costa Blanca: no-copay cover for visas, cheaper co-pay everyday plans, or reimbursement plans for free choice of clinic. The practical question is whether your insurer's cuadro médico includes the hospitals above near where you live. Compare insurers on our best health insurance and compare insurers pages.

Health insurance for visa applicants on the Costa Blanca

Applying for the NLV, DNV or student visa from the Costa Blanca? You need full private cover with no co-payments and a certificate — see the requirements or use the visa checker.