Health Insurance in Spain for Over 75: Which Providers Still Accept You in 2026
Most Spanish health insurers stop accepting new members at 70 or 75. But options do exist — including one provider with no upper age limit at all. Here is exactly who covers you, what it costs, and what the visa rules require.
Finding health insurance in Spain when you are over 75 is harder than most people expect. The standard advice — "just get Sanitas or Asisa" — stops working the moment you hit certain age thresholds. Sanitas cuts off at 75. Asisa at 69. Adeslas at 70. If you are already 75 or older and planning to move to Spain on a non-lucrative visa, you are working with a much shorter list of options than younger applicants.
The good news: that shorter list still contains solid options. ASSSA covers new applicants up to 79 with fixed lifetime premiums. Cigna has no upper age limit at all. DKV has specialist plans for older applicants. And through a broker like Innoinsure — who I work with directly — pre-existing conditions can often be covered where standard applications would be rejected.
This post covers who covers you, what it costs, what the visa compliance rules require, and what to do if you have pre-existing conditions or have already been turned down elsewhere. All pricing is approximate — exact quotes depend on your age, health history, and the region of Spain you are moving to.
Why finding health insurance over 75 is harder — and why it matters
Spanish private health insurers price and accept applications based on age and health risk. Most mainstream providers draw the line somewhere between 69 and 75 for new applicants. This is not a legal restriction — it is a commercial decision by each insurer. Once you exceed their maximum new-member age, they will not issue you a policy regardless of how healthy you are.
This matters because private health insurance is not optional if you are moving to Spain on a non-lucrative visa. It is a legal requirement. Your policy must meet strict visa compliance rules — and not just any policy will do. A cheaper plan you find on a comparison site may fail the visa requirements entirely, leaving you with a rejected application and a wasted premium.
The other issue specific to older applicants: pre-existing conditions. Most standard Spanish health insurance policies exclude pre-existing conditions entirely or require a long medical questionnaire that leads to rejection. If you have diabetes, a history of cardiac issues, previous cancer treatment, or any other significant medical history, navigating this requires specialist help — not a direct online application.
The visa compliance rules: what your policy must include
Whether you are applying for a non-lucrative visa, renewing your residency, or applying for long-term residency, your health insurance policy must meet all five of these requirements. These rules apply regardless of which provider you choose — they are set by the Spanish government, not by the insurer.
| RULE | WHAT IT MEANS FOR YOU |
|---|---|
| Full Spanish territory coverage | Your policy must cover the entire country, not just the region you live in. |
| Zero co-payments | You must not pay anything when you visit a doctor. Plans with co-payments are strictly rejected for visa applications. |
| Zero waiting periods | Coverage must begin from day one. No delays for surgeries, emergencies or hospitalisations. |
| Comprehensive care | Must explicitly cover hospitalisation, surgeries, inpatient and outpatient specialist visits with no exclusions. |
| One-year minimum duration | Policy must cover your full intended residency period. A 12-month policy starting on your arrival date is standard. |
| Insurer licensed in Spain | Must be a health insurance company authorised to operate in Spain — Sanitas, Adeslas, Asisa, ASSSA, DKV and Cigna all qualify. |
Which providers accept new applicants over 75 in 2026
Here is the full picture across the main providers — including those who do not accept over-75 applicants, so you know exactly where you stand before spending time requesting quotes.
Green rows are viable options for applicants who are 75 or older. Grey rows are included for context — they may be relevant if you are 73 or 74 and planning ahead.
| Provider | Max age | Approx cost/mo | Pre-existing | Key note for over 75 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ASSSA | 79 | €250–€450 | Minor conditions | Highest age limit available. Fixed lifetime premium — price won't rise with age. Best all-round option for 75+. Not available in Balearics, Basque Country, Seville or Cádiz. |
| Cigna | No limit | €300–€600+ | Case by case | Only provider with no upper age limit. More expensive than local insurers. Strong if you also want international or home-country coverage. |
| DKV | Over 75 | €300–€500 | Limited | Accepts over 75 — confirm current age cap when requesting quote. Strongest provider network in Spain. |
| Sanitas | Up to 75 | €250–€550 | Yes (Mas Salud Complete) | Accepts applicants up to their 75th birthday only. If you are already 75 or over, Sanitas is not an option. |
| Feather | 74 | €250–€450 | No | Upper age limit of 74. Not suitable if you are 75 or over. |
| Asisa | 69 | €200–€400 | Yes (via Innoinsure) | Upper age limit of 69. Not suitable for this age group. |
| Adeslas | 70 | €200–€400 | Limited | Upper age limit of 70. Not suitable for this age group. |
Green rows = viable options for applicants aged 75 or older. Grey rows included for context only.
ASSSA: the best all-round option for most applicants over 75
ASSSA is the provider I recommend first for most applicants in this age group. It has the highest standard age limit of any mainstream Spanish insurer — 79 years old — and one feature that matters enormously at this age: a fixed lifetime premium. Once you are accepted, your premium will not increase as you get older. This is unusual in the Spanish market, where most providers increase premiums annually based on age.
Age limit: up to 79 years old for new applicants
Monthly cost: approximately €250–€450 depending on age and plan (ballpark — request a quote for your specific situation)
Visa compliance: yes, full visa-compliant plans available with zero co-payments and zero waiting periods
Pre-existing conditions: minor conditions covered — more complex conditions on a case by case basis through Innoinsure
Travel assistance: €15,000 for stays up to 90 days
Coverage area: not available in the Balearic Islands, Basque Country, Seville or Cádiz — if you are planning to live in these areas, Cigna or DKV are your alternatives
English support: yes
ASSSA has physical offices along the Spanish coast, which many older applicants prefer for documentation and ongoing queries. This is a meaningful practical advantage over fully digital providers.
Cigna: the only provider with no upper age limit
Cigna is the only major health insurer operating in Spain with no maximum age for new applicants. If you are 80, 85, or older, Cigna will still consider your application. This makes it the fallback option for anyone who has been turned down elsewhere based on age alone.
Age limit: none
Monthly cost: approximately €300–€600+ depending on age and plan — Cigna is generally more expensive than local Spanish insurers
Visa compliance: yes — recognised by Spanish consulates
Pre-existing conditions: case by case — confirm coverage specifics when requesting your quote
Travel assistance: worldwide emergency coverage (limits vary by plan)
Coverage area: Spain-wide
International coverage: available as an add-on — Cigna is the strongest option if you also want coverage in your home country or while travelling internationally
Cigna's higher price point reflects its international structure and the fact that it accepts all ages. If budget is a primary concern and you are under 79, ASSSA is likely to offer better value. If you have been rejected elsewhere or are over 79, Cigna is your most reliable route to visa-compliant coverage.
Pre-existing conditions: what you need to know
This is the question that creates the most anxiety for applicants over 75 — and understandably so. Most people in this age group have at least one significant item in their medical history.
The standard position with most Spanish health insurers is that pre-existing conditions are either excluded from coverage or lead to rejection of the application. However, the situation is more nuanced than a blanket "no" — and through the right broker, more is possible than most people realise.
What Innoinsure can cover
Ciarán at Innoinsure — who I work with directly and who presented at our health insurance webinar — explained the position clearly: "Our insurance policies can cover pre-existing conditions on a case by case basis, which is extremely rare in Spain. Whether it is diabetes, previous surgeries, a history of cardiac issues, or previous cancer treatment — we complete a full medical review and confirm the exact quote and coverage."
This does not mean every condition will be covered at standard rates. But it means that a rejection from a standard online application is not necessarily the end of the road. The process involves completing a detailed medical questionnaire, which Innoinsure submits to the insurer on your behalf, and the insurer confirms what will and will not be covered and at what premium.
The 2023 cancer exemption
A legal exemption introduced in Spain in 2023 means that if you have been completely cancer-free for five years, Spanish insurance companies cannot ask about or discriminate against you based on that cancer history. For policies through Innoinsure, a medical review is still required, but once accepted, the condition will be covered.
If you have been rejected elsewhere
Being rejected by one insurer does not bar you from applying to others. Different insurers have different risk appetites and different underwriting criteria. If you have been rejected for a pre-existing condition, the next step is to work with a broker who has access to specialist plans — not to apply directly to another mainstream insurer and face the same outcome.
What your health insurance does and doesn't cover in Spain
This catches a lot of people off guard. Spanish private health insurance works differently from what most US, UK, and Australian expats are used to.
What is covered
GP and primary care visits — same day or next day appointments in most cases
Specialist visits — direct access without needing a GP referral first
Hospitalisation and surgeries — fully covered under visa-compliant plans
Emergency care — covered from day one with zero waiting period under compliant plans
Diagnostic tests — included under comprehensive plans
Basic dental — one annual check-up and clean, simple extractions. More comprehensive dental available as an optional add-on
Eye doctor visits — covered for eye health appointments. Glasses and contact lenses are not covered and paid out of pocket
What is not covered
Prescriptions and medications — paid out of pocket at the pharmacy. Bring a three-month supply of essential medications from your home country when you first move — this gives you time to establish a local doctor and get Spanish prescriptions
Glasses and contact lenses — not covered by any Spanish health insurance policy. Paid out of pocket at an optician
Comprehensive dental beyond basic — crowns, implants, orthodontics are generally not covered unless you purchase an optional dental add-on
Vaccinations — not covered. Administered at pharmacies or clinics at your own cost
How it works in practice
With Spanish private health insurance you do not pay and claim back later. You show your insurance card and ID at a clinic, hospital or medical centre within your insurer's network and you are seen without paying anything. Ciarán put it clearly in our webinar: "Show your insurance card and your ID and you'll be covered without paying a penny. If you visit a centre outside the network, you will pay out of pocket and will not be reimbursed." Always check that your preferred local doctors and hospitals are in your insurer's network when you arrive.
Can you switch to the public health system after year one?
Yes — there is a legal route into Spain's public healthcare system for non-EU expats after the first year of residency. It is called the Convenio Especial.
The cost is €60 per month if you are under 65, and €160 per month if you are over 65. The public system accepts all pre-existing conditions with no exclusions, and prescription costs are subsidised.
The important caveat: there is often a waiting list and bureaucratic delays in being accepted. Ciarán's advice from the webinar: "You do not want a gap in coverage. If your private insurance ends and you have not yet been accepted onto the public system, you have a gap — and that gap can affect your visa renewal." Keep your private insurance active until you have written confirmation that your Convenio Especial application has been accepted.
For most applicants over 75, the Convenio Especial is worth understanding as a long-term option but private insurance remains the right starting point — both for the visa application and for the quality and speed of care
Summary: the three things to do next
Request a personalised quote before assuming you are uninsurable. ASSSA covers up to 79, Cigna has no age limit, and through Innoinsure pre-existing conditions can often be covered where standard applications would fail. Your specific situation may be more manageable than you think.
Do not buy a plan with co-payments or waiting periods for your visa application. It will be rejected. The five visa compliance rules above are non-negotiable — confirm your policy meets all of them before you pay.
If you have a complex medical history or have already been rejected, reach out through the contact page. I will connect you with Ciarán at Innoinsure who specialises in exactly this situation and has helped clients with diabetes, cardiac history, and previous cancer treatment find compliant coverage.
This article is for informational purposes only. Health insurance eligibility, pricing, and coverage terms change regularly. All costs shown are approximate ballpark figures — request a personalised quote for your specific situation. Always confirm that your chosen policy meets Spanish visa requirements before purchasing.
Can a Retiree in Spain Obtain Access to the Public (Provincial) Health Insurance System?
Yes, a retiree in Spain can access the public health insurance system (Seguridad Social) under certain conditions. For retirees from the EU, EEA, or Switzerland, it’s often possible to transfer healthcare rights from their home country to Spain using the S1 form.
For non-EU retirees, the process can be more complex, and private health insurance is usually required, especially for those on a non-lucrative visa. However, after obtaining residency and meeting certain criteria, non-EU retirees might also gain access to the public healthcare system.
👉 Read more about Spain expat health insurance
Health Insurance for Foreigners in Spain: Your Comprehensive Guide
How Much Does Private Health Insurance Cost in Spain in 2025?
Sanitas vs Asisa: Which Insurance is Better For Expats
ASSSA Health Insurance Spain Reviews for Expats (2025 update)
Health Insurance in Spain for UK Citizens: Your Post-Brexit Guide
Best Health Insurance for Spain Student Visa (2024 Guide)
Best Health Insurance for Expat Families in Spain (2025)
Asisa Health Insurance Spain Reviews for Expats (2025 updates)
SafetyWing Insurance Reviews: Is It Worth it for Expats Moving to Spain?
Feather Insurance Reviews for Expats (Spanish Edition)
Your Guide to Spanish Health Insurance for Residency
Best Health Insurance for Non-Lucrative Visa Spain in 2024
Best Health Insurance for Spain’s Digital Nomad Visa (2024 update)
