Healthcare in Spain for Erasmus students: what do you need to know about the EHIC?

If you are coming to Spain on an Erasmus exchange, preparing your healthcare coverage is just as important as organising your accommodation, university enrolment or transport. Even if you hope you will not need medical attention during your stay, it is worth knowing which documents you should bring and what to do if you need to see a doctor.

If you are insured in a European Union country and meet the requirements, the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) may allow you to access the public healthcare you need during a temporary stay in Spain.

However, the card does not cover every situation and is not a substitute for comprehensive health insurance. Coverage depends on the conditions of the healthcare system and your personal circumstances.

In this guide, we explain how the EHIC works in Spain, which services it may cover, what to do if you need medical attention in Barcelona and what alternatives you can consider if you are not eligible to use it.

The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), known in Spain as the Tarjeta Sanitaria Europea (TSE), is a free personal card that proves your right to receive medically necessary public healthcare during a temporary stay in another participating country.

This includes stays for study purposes, provided you meet the relevant coverage requirements. The card allows you to receive treatment that, considering your health condition and the expected length of your stay, cannot wait until you return home.

For example, during your Erasmus stay in Barcelona, you may need medical attention for a sudden illness, an injury or a health problem that requires medical assessment before you return to your country.

The EHIC gives you access to covered healthcare under the same conditions and at the same cost as people insured in the destination country. This means that it does not guarantee that all services will be free of charge.

You can find more details on the official European Union website about the EHIC.

The EHIC gives you access to public healthcare that is medically necessary during your temporary stay, in accordance with the rules of the Spanish healthcare system.

Depending on the circumstances, this may include:

• Medical care at public healthcare centres.
• Primary care for health problems that require medical assessment.
• Public hospital care when necessary.
• Emergency care within the public healthcare system.
• Necessary treatment related to chronic illnesses or medical conditions that cannot wait until your return, according to the healthcare professional's assessment.

The card can also be used in Catalonia, where the public healthcare system is managed by the Servei Català de la Salut (CatSalut).

It is important to remember that coverage is provided according to the rules of the country where you receive care. If a service involves a charge for people insured in Spain, you may also have to pay for it.

To find out about the specific conditions for receiving healthcare with the EHIC in Spain, consult the official European Commission information.

Although the EHIC is useful during an Erasmus stay, it has limitations that you should be aware of before travelling.

The card does not cover:

• Private healthcare: consultations and treatments at private centres are not covered by the EHIC.
• Planned medical treatment intended to receive healthcare in another country: this may require prior authorisation or a specific procedure.
• Medical repatriation: if you need to return to your country for medical reasons, the EHIC does not automatically cover this transport.
• Lost or stolen belongings: these risks are covered by other types of insurance.
• All medical expenses in every circumstance: co-payments may apply depending on the service and the relevant regulations.

For this reason, before leaving your country, check the conditions of your coverage and consider whether you need additional insurance that includes private healthcare, medical transport or other situations that are not covered.

The EHIC is not travel insurance and should not be considered a substitute for all the coverage you may need during your exchange.

The EHIC is issued by each country's health insurance provider. If you are insured under the public healthcare system of a European Union country, you can contact your insurance provider to check whether you are eligible to apply for it.

The card is also valid in other participating countries, such as Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland, subject to the applicable conditions.

If you are coming from an EU country and plan to study in Spain for a semester or an academic year, check with your insurance provider whether the card will cover the entire duration of your stay.

If you are not an EU citizen, do not assume that you can apply for or use the EHIC. Eligibility depends on your healthcare coverage and the applicable regulations. Some citizens of non-EU countries who are insured under a European public healthcare system may be eligible for it, but there are exceptions.

If you cannot use the EHIC, you will need to check which health insurance or other healthcare coverage you need to study in Spain.

You can start by consulting the official information about healthcare coverage during temporary stays in the EU.

The EHIC is issued by each country's health insurance provider. If you are insured under the public healthcare system of a European Union country, you can contact your insurance provider to check whether you are eligible to apply for it.

The card is also valid in other participating countries, such as Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland, subject to the applicable conditions.

If you are coming from an EU country and plan to study in Spain for a semester or an academic year, check with your insurance provider whether the card will cover the entire duration of your stay.

If you are not an EU citizen, do not assume that you can apply for or use the EHIC. Eligibility depends on your healthcare coverage and the applicable regulations. Some citizens of non-EU countries who are insured under a European public healthcare system may be eligible for it, but there are exceptions.

If you cannot use the EHIC, you will need to check which health insurance or other healthcare coverage you need to study in Spain.

You can start by consulting the official information about healthcare coverage during temporary stays in the EU.

If you are eligible for the card, it is best to apply for it before leaving your country. The procedure depends on the healthcare organisation that provides your insurance.

In general, these are the steps you should follow:

1. Contact your health insurance provider: Check whether you are eligible for the EHIC and how to apply for it in your country.
2. Check the expiry date: Make sure the card will be valid throughout your stay in Spain.
3. Check the duration of your coverage: Some healthcare systems may apply specific conditions or limits.
4. Take your card with you: Keep your physical card and, if your organisation issues a Provisional Replacement Certificate (PRC), keep that document as well.
5. Keep a copy of your documents: Have your identity document and your insurance provider's contact details readily available.

The EHIC is free of charge. Be wary of websites that charge you to process it on behalf of your insurance provider: apply for the card directly through the relevant official organisation.

If you are travelling soon and do not have your card, contact your insurance provider to ask whether they can issue a Provisional Replacement Certificate to prove your entitlement to healthcare.

If Barcelona is your Erasmus destination, you can access Catalonia's public healthcare system by presenting the documents that prove your entitlement to receive medical care.

For a temporary stay, CatSalut states that people from the European Union, the European Economic Area or Switzerland can receive public healthcare by presenting their EHIC or Provisional Replacement Certificate together with an identity document.

If you need medical attention, these are the steps you can follow:

The Centre d'Atenció Primària (CAP) is a primary healthcare centre. It is the main point of contact for many common health problems and for an initial medical assessment.

Before going, you can check which centre corresponds to your area and ask which documents you need to present. Acceptance of the card and the specific procedure may depend on your circumstances.

If you have a medical problem that requires urgent attention but you do not know which centre to go to, you can call 061 Salut Respon in Catalonia for healthcare advice.

In an emergency, call 112.

You can find out how access to healthcare works in Catalonia on the official CatSalut website.

Not all international students are entitled to use the European Health Insurance Card. If you are coming from outside the EU or your healthcare coverage does not allow you to apply for one, it is important to arrange an alternative before travelling.

Here are some options you can consider:

• Private health insurance: Check whether your policy covers consultations, hospitalisation, emergencies and the entire period of your stay.
• Healthcare coverage in your home country: Ask your insurance provider whether it offers international coverage and which services are included.
• Visa or study permit requirements: If you need authorisation to study in Spain, check what type of health insurance is required.
• University information: The international office can guide you on the requirements you need to meet as an exchange student.

Not all insurance policies offer the same coverage. Before taking out a policy, check the exclusions, financial limits, waiting periods and whether you will have to pay for a consultation upfront.

If you are staying in Barcelona, you can also contact CatSalut to find out which healthcare access options apply to your situation. Do not assume that the requirements for a European student are the same as those for someone coming from another country.

In addition to checking your coverage, there are a few simple steps that can help you arrive in Spain feeling more prepared.

• Bring your healthcare documents: Keep your EHIC, the Provisional Replacement Certificate if applicable, your insurance details and an identity document.
• Prepare information about your regular medication: If you take medication regularly, check before travelling how you can legally obtain it in Spain and bring any medical documentation you may need.
• Check coverage for pre-existing conditions: If you need medical follow-up during your stay, ask your insurance provider which treatments are considered necessary and whether you need to arrange any care in advance.
• Save important phone numbers: Keep the contact details of your insurance provider, your university and the emergency healthcare services close at hand.
• Do not wait until you have a problem to check your insurance: Resolving any questions before leaving will help you know where to go and which documents to present if you need medical attention.

Organising your healthcare coverage is an important part of preparing for your exchange. If you are eligible for the EHIC, apply for the card before travelling and check that it will be valid throughout your stay. If you cannot use it, find out which health insurance you need based on your nationality, your circumstances and the requirements of your study programme.

With your documents ready, you will be able to focus on enjoying the experience, discovering the city and adapting to your new life as an international student.

And if you are still looking for accommodation for your exchange, you can explore Unihabit's student accommodation options to organise your stay in Barcelona.

No. The EHIC does not cover private healthcare. If you want to visit a private centre, check whether your health insurance includes this type of care.

The EHIC is not a substitute for travel insurance and does not cover every risk. Although taking out additional insurance is not always compulsory, it can be useful for covering situations such as private healthcare or repatriation. Also check whether your programme or immigration status requires specific coverage.

Contact your health insurance provider to report the loss and ask how to obtain a new card or a Provisional Replacement Certificate. Keep your insurance provider's contact details before travelling so you can resolve the issue more easily.

The EHIC is intended for medically necessary healthcare during a temporary stay, not for travelling to another country with the purpose of receiving planned treatment. If you need to arrange treatment in advance, check the applicable procedures and authorisations with your insurance provider and the healthcare authorities.