Generali Health Insurance Spain

Generali combines a top-three Spanish health network with bilingual operations specifically designed for British, Irish and other expat clients. The English-language EXPAT Medcare range solves the documentation problem most other Spanish insurers have. Generali España is registered with the DGS (Dirección General de Seguros) and meets all visa requirements. The Marina Alta hospital network — HCB Dénia, HLA Vistahermosa, Clínica Benidorm — is fully integrated.

EXPAT Medcare is the English-language product line — all documentation, the app, the customer service line and the medical certificates are available in English. It comes in three tiers (Standard, Prime, Top). Salud Opción Premium is the original Spanish-language equivalent of Standard — same cover, same provider network, but Spanish-only documentation. Salud Opción Premium is sometimes a few euros cheaper but usually only suits clients fluent enough in Spanish to manage policy admin in Spanish.

All EXPAT Medcare tiers (Standard, Prime, Top) and Salud Opción Premium are fully visa-compliant:

• No co-payments
• Full Spain coverage
• DGS-registered insurer. Each plan generates a consulate-ready certificate in Spanish (and English on EXPAT Medcare). Standard and Salud Opción Premium are the most cost-effective for visa applicants
• Prime and Top are typically chosen for ongoing residence rather than purely for visa compliance

Standard turnaround for a healthy applicant is 24-48 hours from completed application. Applicants with pre-existing conditions may need 5-10 working days while medical underwriting is completed. We handle all the paperwork in-house and routinely issue same-day certificates for emergency consulate appointments — get your documentation in by mid-morning and the certificate is delivered before close of business.

Yes. Generali has full network agreements with all the main Costa Blanca private hospitals: HCB Hospital Dénia, HLA Vistahermosa Calpe, Clínica Benidorm (HCB), the Quirónsalud network across Alicante and Valencia, and IMED Hospitales. Smaller clinics in towns like Javea, Moraira and Benissa are also network providers. Public hospitals (SVS) are used through the standard pay-and-claim back route in emergencies.

Pre-existing conditions are assessed individually at application. Most stable conditions are accepted, sometimes with a small premium loading or with the condition specifically excluded from cover. Severe active conditions (current cancer treatment, dialysis) may be declined. Honest declaration is essential — non-disclosure voids the entire policy at first claim. We work through the medical questionnaire with each client.

Standard waiting periods: GP visits, specialists, diagnostics and emergency care — no waiting period (covered from day 1). Hospitalisation and non-emergency surgery — 6 months. Childbirth — 8 months. Some specific procedures (assisted reproduction, certain orthopaedic surgeries) — 12-24 months. For visa applicants on EXPAT Medcare, waiting periods can be waived to make the policy fully compliant from day 1; this is confirmed by the certificate.

Generali network providers bill the insurer directly — you show your policy card at the hospital/clinic and pay nothing at the point of treatment (no co-payment plans). For non-network providers, you pay first and submit a reimbursement claim (the EXPAT Medcare Top tier reimburses 80% worldwide). Pharmacy claims work on a discount-card basis with partner pharmacies. We open and chase claims in Spanish on behalf of any of our clients.

Yes — family policies are standard on Generali, and significantly cheaper than separate individual policies. All family members appear on a single contract with one renewal date. Each life has its own certificate and access to the network. Newborns can be added immediately (typically free for the first 30 days). Older children can usually stay on the family policy until age 25 if they are still students.

Yes — tiers can be upgraded at annual renewal. Mid-year upgrades are sometimes possible (subject to underwriting). Continuity of cover applies, so any waiting periods you have served on the lower tier carry over to the upgrade. Many clients start on Standard for visa purposes and upgrade to Prime once they decide to settle long-term and want broader hospital access.

All four are major Spanish health insurers with similar core products. Sanitas and Adeslas have larger networks but Spanish-only documentation. DKV has English-language elements. Generali EXPAT Medcare's specific value is the fully English-language operation combined with a top-tier Spain network. Pricing is typically within 10-15% of competitors at most ages, with Generali becoming more competitive for visa applicants and English-language priority clients.

Yes — many clients hold Generali alongside Spanish public healthcare (SNS). The two complement each other: SNS for routine GP and emergencies, Generali for faster specialist access and English-language treatment. UK state pensioners with Form S1 access the public system but typically keep Generali for the private benefits. We advise on the right balance based on your residency status.