Incapacity Insurance for the Self-Employed in Spain

Why Self-Employed in Spain Need This Cover

Spanish employees benefit from a relatively generous public sick-pay regime: incapacity benefit pays roughly 60% of base salary from day 4 to day 20 of illness, rising to 75% thereafter, funded through the joint contributions of employee, employer and the social security system. For most salaried workers it is sufficient.

For self-employed Spaniards — autónomos, professional freelancers, digital nomads, sole traders and small business owners — the picture is fundamentally different. The standard autónomo sick-pay benefit is calculated on the minimum contribution base unless the autónomo has elected (and paid for) a higher base, which most have not.

The result for the majority of autónomos is a sick-pay benefit of around €15–€25 per day for routine illness — far below the income lost when the business stops generating fees.

Generali Subsidio para Autónomos closes this gap. It pays a fixed daily benefit, chosen by the policyholder between €30 and €300 per day, for every day of medically-certified incapacity to work — including illness, accident, surgery recovery and post-operative convalescence. Cover incepts on a chosen excess period (0, 3, 7, 15 or 30 days) and pays for up to 365 or 540 days per claim depending on the structure chosen.

Who Needs Incapacity Cover

Many expats in Spain benefit from this cover.

What Generali Subsidio para Autónomos Covers

• Daily benefit during incapacity — between €30 and €300 per day, paid for every day of medically-certified incapacity. Choice of daily amount allows you to match the benefit to your real income loss.
• Both illness and accident — most policies in this market separate the two with different excesses and benefit periods. Generali Subsidio writes them on a single product, with a single excess and benefit period.
• Surgery recovery and post-operative convalescence — including elective surgery where medically necessary, day-case procedures, and the recovery period certified by the treating physician.
• Hospitalisation supplement — optional add-on that doubles the daily benefit during any period of in-patient hospital stay.
• Surgery compensation — optional add-on that pays a lump sum of €1,000 to €10,000 per qualifying surgical procedure, on a published tariff.
• Income tax-free — payments under indemnity-style health insurance are not subject to Spanish income tax under current Hacienda guidance, though we recommend confirming this with your gestor for the specific policy structure.
• No occupational restriction during recovery — payments continue for the certified medical incapacity period regardless of whether you partially return to lighter duties (this varies by policy structure; specify the right variant at quote stage).

What Is NOT Covered

Here is what you need to know.

• Pre-existing conditions — declared at application and either excluded by name or accepted with a loaded premium. Honest declaration is essential.
• Mental health conditions — many policies in this market exclude or sublimit mental-health-related incapacity. Generali Subsidio writes mental health on standard terms with a 12-month waiting period.
• Pregnancy and childbirth — typically excluded; pregnancy-related complications causing genuine medical incapacity are covered.
• Self-inflicted injury and reckless behaviour — including injuries sustained while under the influence of drugs or alcohol, professional sports injuries (amateur participation is generally covered), and acts of war.
• Cosmetic surgery — and the recovery period for elective cosmetic procedures is excluded.
• Unemployment or contract loss — this is incapacity insurance, not unemployment insurance. Loss of clients or contracts does not trigger payment.
• The first day of an excess-period claim — payments begin from day [excess + 1]. A 7-day excess means benefit starts on day 8.

Cover Variants

Indicative Monthly Premiums

Disclaimer: All figures are indicative for 2026 and subject to underwriting at the time of application. Final premium depends on age, occupation, postcode, sums insured and individual risk profile. Contact us for a written quote.

Why Generali for Self-Employed Incapacity Cover

Generali Subsidio para Autónomos has been on the Spanish market for over twenty years and is one of the most-claimed-on personal-protection products in the Generali range. The claims process is administratively light — a medical certificate (parte de baja) from any treating physician (public or private) is typically sufficient, with payments issued within 14 working days of the claim being notified.

The product also addresses two specific Spanish autónomo problems that competitor products often handle poorly. First, the recurring problem of autónomos who alternate periods of self-employment with brief periods of employment: Generali's product accepts continuous cover across the gaps without requiring re-underwriting.

Second, the complication of autónomos with multiple income streams: the daily benefit is paid based on the chosen daily amount, not on a percentage of declared income, which avoids the income-verification disputes that delay many competitor claims.

For high-income professionals (medical, legal, financial sector). Generali offers the upgraded Profesional Plus tier which includes a lifetime renewal guarantee — once accepted onto the policy, you cannot be declined renewal regardless of subsequent health changes, subject to continuous payment of premium.