Private Healthcare in Spain for Retirees
Why nearly every retiree on the Costa Blanca carries some private cover alongside SNS — what it buys, the main hospital groups, English-speaking specialists and realistic costs.
Why nearly every retiree on the Costa Blanca carries some private cover alongside SNS — what it buys, the main hospital groups, English-speaking specialists and realistic costs.
Why retirees go private (on top of SNS)
- ✦Specialist appointments in days, not months
- ✦Choice of doctor — pick by language, reputation, gender
- ✦Modern private hospitals with single rooms
- ✦Direct access — no GP gatekeeping for most specialists
- ✦Elective surgery (knee/hip replacement, cataracts) without waiting lists
- ✦English/German/Dutch front desk and clinical staff in expat areas
The main private hospital groups
| Group | Costa Blanca presence | Strengths |
|---|---|---|
| Quirónsalud | Alicante, Torrevieja, Murcia | Largest network, oncology, cardiology |
| HLA / Asisa | Vistahermosa (Alicante), San Carlos (Dénia) | Maternity, surgery, ER |
| Vithas | Medimar (Alicante), 9 d'Octubre (Valencia) | Orthopaedics, neurology |
| HCB (Hospital Clínica Benidorm) | Benidorm, Calpe, Jávea, Albir | Expat-focused, multilingual |
| IMED | Elche, Levante (Benidorm) | Cardiology, ER |
Typical out-of-pocket prices without insurance
| Service | Private price (€) |
|---|---|
| GP consultation | 60–90 |
| Specialist consultation | 80–150 |
| MRI scan | 300–500 |
| Cataract surgery (per eye) | 1,800–2,800 |
| Hip replacement | 8,500–13,000 |
| Knee replacement | 8,000–12,500 |
| A&E visit (no admission) | 150–250 |
| Overnight ward stay | 350–600 |
Insured patients pay €0–€20 co-pay per visit. Self-pay is reasonable for one-off consultations but ruinous for surgery — which is why every retiree we know carries at least a basic policy.
Finding English-speaking specialists
HCB, Quirón Torrevieja and HLA Vistahermosa publish multilingual doctor lists on their websites. The unofficial best routes are: (1) ask your insurance company for the multilingual cuadro médico, (2) Facebook groups for your town, (3) consulates publish vetted English-speaking GP and specialist lists for their citizens.
Private vs public — when each wins
Most retirees use SNS for serious medicine — oncology, cardiac surgery, ICU — where Spanish public hospitals genuinely lead. They use private for speed and language: blood tests, scans, dermatology, gynaecology, orthopaedics, mental health. Hybrid is the norm; pure-private is rare and expensive after 70.
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