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Moving abroad can be daunting for even the best prepared traveller, and healthcare is often one of the first changes expats have to come to grips with. Although the NHS in the UK often comes under fire for long wait times and chockablock emergency departments, there is little doubt that Britons are offered a pretty good service in comparison to many other neighbouring countries.

 

According to UN data, 302,000 of the 1.3 million British expats living somewhere in the EU have chosen Spain as their home, so it should come as welcome news that this country has ranked highly in its treatment of poorly residents. The experts from Property Guides have examined the healthcare systems in the top ten “most popular countries” for foreigners to relocate to, and have found that Spain is comfortably in the top five “most affordable and comprehensive”.

 

Spain and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) came in joint third on the list, despite having very different healthcare systems to the UK. Spain has recently been voted the “healthiest country in the world,” a fact which Property Guides attribute to “its universal healthcare, which guarantees access to free healthcare for all Spanish nationals”.

 

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The experts added: “The good news is, those who are living and working in Spain can access their state healthcare system, but you will need to check the terms and conditions for your region.

 

“While GP visits are usually free with state health insurance, you will have to pay a proportion of your prescription fees, as well as pay for any ER visits, vaccinations, or any specialist treatment.

 

“For this reason, many Spanish citizens pay for private insurance alongside state insurance which will give them access to a wider treatment.”

 

The analysis from Property Guides places Italy at the top of the list for accessible healthcare services, followed by Germany and the Netherlands in joint second place.

 

Now read: Healthcare in Spain for expat residents: how to apply for state health coverage

 

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