Health care in Spain is run by the Seguridad Social. This is the social security, which also covers numerous payments relevant to sick employees, as well as, unemployment pay and your state pension.
As an employee, it is your employer who automatically signs you and your family up at de Seguridad Social. Normally, the company you work at will have a contract with the Mutua, a collective insurance contract for all employees. The Mutua and de Seguridad Social are partnered and work together. This organization is also held responsible for payment when an employee is on sick leave, or at an accident at the workplace. As a self-employer you’ll have to handle this yourself.
Once you’re signed up, you’ll receive a number and an insurance card. With these, you’ll be able to go to your general practitioner, the hospital and other institutions to receive medical care. Dental care however, is very minimal in Spain. If you do want to get good dental care, we suggest you sign up for a private health insurance company where supplementary services are compensated for as well.
Evidently, alternative health care is available in Spain too. There are plenty good therapists in various fields, and homeopathic products are for sale at the Spanish pharmacies at very reasonable prices.
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