If you are planning to move to Spain on a Non-Lucrative Visa (NLV) and you have diabetes, one of the first questions you are likely to ask is whether you can obtain Spanish private health insurance.
The short answer is yes, it is often possible, but there is much more to understand before you apply. Diabetes is considered a pre-existing medical condition by Spanish health insurers. This means your application will almost always be assessed by an underwriter rather than being accepted automatically.
The outcome depends on your individual circumstances. Understanding how insurers assess applications can help you plan your move to Spain with realistic expectations.
If you are still deciding which policy meets the Spanish visa requirements, our guide to Spanish Health Insurance for a Non-Lucrative Visa explains exactly what cover is required before you apply.
Contents
- Does diabetes mean I cannot get Spanish health insurance?
- What do the underwriter’s consider?
- What happens if you are accepted?
- Can you still obtain diabetes medication in Spain?
- Joining a diabetes association in Spain
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Need advice?
Diabetes does not automatically mean your application will be declined
Many people assume that having diabetes means they cannot obtain visa-compliant health insurance. Fortunately, this is not always the case.
Spanish insurers assess each application individually. Some applicants with diabetes are accepted, while others may be declined depending on their overall health profile. If an insurer accepts your application, it will normally exclude diabetes from the policy because it is a pre-existing condition.
Diabetes is considered a pre-existing condition by Spanish insurers. If you’re unfamiliar with how exclusions work, our article on Pre-Existing Medical Conditions and Spanish Health Insurance explains how underwriting decisions are made.
What do Spanish health insurance underwriters consider?
Diabetes is only one part of the assessment. Underwriters are interested in the overall level of health risk rather than focusing on a single condition.
They may consider factors such as whether you have Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes. Insurers will also look at how well your condition is controlled, your body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, cholesterol levels and lifestyle factors such as smoking. They will also consider whether there are any other medical conditions or diabetes-related complications, including cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, neuropathy or diabetic eye disease.
Someone with well-controlled diabetes and no other significant health issues may receive a very different underwriting decision from someone with several additional medical conditions.
Because every insurer applies different underwriting criteria, it’s often worth discussing your circumstances before submitting an application. We can advise which insurers are most likely to consider your medical history and help you find a policy that meets the requirements for a Spanish Non-Lucrative Visa.
What happens if you are accepted?
If your application is accepted, the insurer will usually issue a policy that meets the requirements for a Spanish Visa. However, with an exclusion relating to your diabetes as well as any other pre-existing conditions.
This means that investigations, treatment and ongoing management directly connected to your diabetes are generally not covered by the insurance policy.
However, the remainder of the policy may still provide comprehensive private healthcare for new illnesses and injuries that are unrelated to the excluded condition.
This is one reason why it is important to read the underwriting decision carefully before accepting a policy.
Once your policy is active, there are a few practical things you’ll need to know. These include how to find a doctor, obtain prescriptions and use your insurer’s services. We cover these in What to Do After You Buy Health Insurance in Spain.
Can you still obtain diabetes medication in Spain?
Yes.
Even where diabetes has been excluded from your private health insurance, it is still possible to obtain repeat prescriptions in Spain. You can often obtain a consultation with a doctor, on the approved list for your insurance company. They will then issue you with the appropriate prescription. You don’t pay for the consultation but you do have to pay for the medicine at the pharmacy. It is standard that prescriptions for pre-existing or new conditions are not covered by the insurance policy.
Having diabetes excluded from your insurance does not prevent you from accessing healthcare. It simply means that the insurer is not responsible for paying for treatment relating to that pre-existing condition.
The Convenio Especial may become an option later
Some people moving to Spain intend to rely on the Convenio Especial. This allows eligible residents to join the Spanish public healthcare system by paying a monthly contribution.
The big advantage of the Convenio Especial, is that it may not exclude pre-existing conditions.
However, this is not an immediate solution for most Non-Lucrative Visa applicants.
You must first have been legally resident and registered in Spain for at least one year before you become eligible to apply. This means the Convenio Especial cannot be used instead of private health insurance when applying for your initial visa.
The result is that you will end up having to purchase at least two years private health cover to ensure you have no gap in the appropriate level of health cover you have. This is really important to ensure you do not endanger the renewal of your visa. During your second year in Spain, you can apply to join the Convenio Especial. If your application is accepted, you can begin using the scheme.
Once accepted, some people choose to keep both systems, enjoying access to public healthcare through the Convenio Especial while maintaining private healthcare for faster access to specialists and diagnostic tests, as well as a private room in case of hospital stays. Others decide to switch to a lower-cost private policy with co-payments to complement their public healthcare. While co-payment policies are not accepted for visa applications and renewals, the Convenio Especial usually is. So you can adjust the level of private health cover you have.
We have experience helping people with diabetes obtain visa-compliant cover
Every insurer has different underwriting criteria, and every medical history is unique.
Over the years, we have successfully helped many clients with diabetes obtain health insurance that satisfied the requirements for their Spanish Non-Lucrative Visa. While we can never guarantee acceptance, we understand which insurers are more likely to consider individual circumstances and how to present applications accurately from the outset.
Our aim is to give you realistic advice before you apply. This helps you avoid unnecessary delays or applications that are unlikely to succeed.
Planning ahead makes all the difference
If you have diabetes and are planning your move to Spain, it is worth enquiring about your health insurance as early as possible. Underwriting can take longer than a standard application, particularly if the insurer requests additional medical information.
Starting the process early leaves time to answer any medical questions and, if necessary, consider alternative insurers.
Need advice?
If you have diabetes and are applying for a Spanish Non-Lucrative Visa, we would be happy to discuss your circumstances before you submit an application.
We’ll explain how underwriting works. Together, we’ll discuss insurers most likely to consider your application. Then we’ll help you find visa-compliant health insurance wherever possible.
Joining a diabetes association in Spain
Once you have settled in Spain, consider joining your local diabetes association. These organisations provide practical advice, educational events and support for people living with diabetes. Membership is generally open to residents regardless of nationality, making them a valuable source of local information and an opportunity to meet others managing diabetes in Spain. You can find your nearest association through the Federación Española de Diabetes (FEDE).
Questions We Are Frequently Asked
Can I get Spanish health insurance if I have Type 2 diabetes?
Yes, many people with Type 2 diabetes are able to obtain Spanish private health insurance. However, every application is individually assessed by the insurer’s underwriters. They will usually consider factors such as your age, weight, blood pressure, cholesterol, how well your diabetes is controlled and whether you have any other medical conditions. If your application is accepted, treatment relating to your diabetes will be excluded from cover because it is a pre-existing condition.
Can I get Spanish health insurance if I have Type 1 diabetes?
It may be possible, although Type 1 diabetes is often viewed as presenting a higher underwriting risk than Type 2 diabetes. Acceptance depends on the insurer and your individual medical history. Some insurers may decline an application, while others may offer visa-compliant cover with diabetes excluded. It is always worth obtaining professional advice before applying.
Will diabetes affect my Spanish Non-Lucrative Visa application?
Diabetes itself does not normally affect your visa application. The important requirement is that you have private health insurance which complies with the visa requirements. The challenge is obtaining an acceptable policy if you have a pre-existing medical condition. If an insurer agrees to provide visa-compliant cover, the fact that diabetes is excluded does not normally prevent the policy from being accepted for visa purposes.
Will insulin be covered by Spanish private health insurance?
Generally, no. If diabetes is excluded from your policy as a pre-existing condition, treatment relating to diabetes—including insulin, diabetic monitoring and specialist consultations—will usually not be covered by the insurer. You can still obtain insulin and other medication in Spain, but you should expect to pay for the medication yourself.
Can I still get repeat prescriptions in Spain?
Yes. Even if your diabetes is excluded by your insurer, you can still consult a doctor form the approved list of your insurer in Spain to obtain repeat prescriptions. The cost of the consultation to obtain the prescription is usually covered by the insurer but the cost of the medicine will not be covered by your insurer. The client will have to pay for the medicines dispensed by pharmacies.
What happens if my application is declined?
A decline from one insurer does not necessarily mean every insurer will decline your application. Each insurance company has its own underwriting criteria and appetite for risk. An experienced broker may be able to recommend another insurer that is more suitable for your medical history. It is generally better to discuss your circumstances before submitting multiple applications. There will be some situations that we will be unable to get a policy.
Can I use the Convenio Especial instead?
Not immediately. The Convenio Especial is generally only available after you have been legally resident and registered in Spain for a period of time. It cannot replace private health insurance when applying for your initial Non-Lucrative Visa. Many people therefore maintain private health insurance during their first two years in Spain applying to join the Convenio Especial in year two.
Should I apply directly to an insurer or use an intermediary?
If you have diabetes or another pre-existing condition, using an intermediary with experience of Spanish visa health insurance can often save time. An intermediary understands which insurers are more likely to consider your application and can explain your circumstances accurately before the underwriting process begins. This may improve your chances of finding suitable visa-compliant cover.