Spanish Health Insurance Glossary
Last updated: June 2026 · Independent, English-language guidance
Spanish health insurance comes with a vocabulary of its own, and the words that trip expats up most are the ones that decide whether a policy suits you — or whether it will be accepted for a visa. This glossary translates the terms you will meet on quotes, policy documents and consulate checklists into plain English, with a note on why each one matters. Terms are grouped by theme; use the links to dig deeper on the pages that explain each topic in full.
The three that matter most for visas: copago (a visa plan must be sin copago), carencia (visa cover should have no waiting periods), and cuadro médico (check English-speaking doctors are near you). Get a quote if you would rather we just match you to compliant cover.
Plan types & how you pay
| Copago co-payment | A small fixed fee you pay each time you use a service — a specialist visit, a test. Con copago plans are cheaper monthly but cost more as you use them; sin copago plans have nothing to pay at the point of care. See no-copayment cover. |
| Sin copago no co-payment | A plan with no per-visit charges. Normally required for Spanish residency visas, because consulates treat co-payments as out-of-pocket costs. |
| Reembolso reimbursement | A plan where you use almost any private provider (sometimes abroad), pay the bill, and claim back a percentage. More freedom, more paperwork, higher premium. |
| Cuadro médico plan network plan | The common alternative to reembolso: you use the insurer's approved providers and pay little or nothing at the point of care. |
| Prima premium | The amount you pay for the policy, monthly or annually. Premiums in Spain are mainly age-based and rise at renewal — see costs. |
| Baremo fee schedule | On a reembolso plan, the table of maximum amounts the insurer will pay back for each treatment. |
| Franquicia deductible/excess | An amount you cover yourself before the insurer starts paying. Less common in Spanish health policies than co-payments. |
Cover, limits & the medical network
| Cuadro médico medical directory | The insurer's list of approved doctors, specialists, clinics and hospitals. Before buying, check it includes good hospitals and English-speaking doctors near you. Full guide: cuadro médico. |
| Carencia waiting period | The time after taking out a policy before certain cover (surgery, maternity, some complex tests) becomes usable. Consultations and emergencies are usually immediate. Switchers can often get no-carencia cover. |
| Preexistencia pre-existing condition | A condition you had before the policy started. May be excluded, face a carencia, or affect acceptance — always declare honestly. See pre-existing conditions. |
| Hospitalización hospitalisation | In-patient cover: admission, surgery, theatre and stay. Plans without hospitalisation are cheaper but cover only consultations, tests and treatments. |
| Asistencia en viaje travel/abroad cover | Cover for medical care during trips outside Spain — useful for digital nomads and frequent travellers; often an add-on. |
| Exclusión exclusion | A treatment or condition the policy does not cover. Always read the exclusions before buying. |
Documents, people & the public system
| Tomador / Asegurado policyholder / insured | The tomador holds and pays for the policy; the asegurado is the person covered. They are often, but not always, the same person. |
| Certificado de seguro insurance certificate | The document proving you hold compliant cover — what a consulate wants for a visa. See visa certificate. |
| Convenio especial special agreement | A pay-in scheme to access public healthcare if you are not covered through work. See convenio especial. |
| RETA self-employed scheme | The social security scheme for autónomos; paying into it gives public health cover. See cover for the self-employed. |
| Tarjeta sanitaria public health card | The card giving access to the public system once you are registered. |
| Seguro de decesos funeral cover | A separate Spanish product covering funeral costs — not health insurance, but commonly seen. |
Note: these are plain-English explanations to help you read policy documents — they are general guidance, not the legal definitions in any specific policy. Always check your own policy wording, and ask us if a term is unclear.
Not sure which terms apply to you?
Tell us your situation and we’ll translate it into the right cover — visa-compliant where you need it. English-speaking support, no obligation.