If you are researching Unión Madrileña health insurance for a Non-Lucrative Visa, you may have come across this insurer as one of the options available in Spain. This page explains how their visa-specific product works, what it includes, and the questions you should be asking before you decide whether it is the right policy for your circumstances.
Contents
- Is Union Madrilwña Premium accepted for the Visa?
- What does the policy cover?
- Waiting periods
- Pre-existing conditions
- The Medical network
- Using the policy day to day
- Renewal and Cancellation
- Is DKV the right choice for you?
Is Unión Madrileña accepted for the Non-Lucrative Visa?
Yes. Unión Madrileña offers a version of their Premium product that is specifically configured to meet Spanish Non-Lucrative Visa requirements. It carries no waiting periods, no copayments, and provides the level of comprehensive private medical cover that Spanish consulates require.
You can pay the first year’s premium by bank transfer, debit card, or credit card, which is particularly convenient if you are still based outside Spain at the time of application.
A very small number of consulates also require repatriation cover as part of the application. In our experience, neither UK nor US consulates currently ask for this. If you are applying through a different consulate, check whether your consulate requires it and let us know when you get in touch. Where it is required, we can arrange it separately and it will not prevent your application from proceeding.
For a full overview of what any NLV health insurance policy must include, see our Non-Lucrative Visa health insurance guide.
What does the policy cover?
We work specifically with the Premium tier of the Unión Madrileña product range — this is the version adapted for visa applicants and provides the most comprehensive level of cover available from this insurer.
Cover includes access to general medicine, specialist consultations, diagnostic tests, hospitalisation, surgery, emergency care, gynaecology, paediatrics, physiotherapy, and more. There are no copayments to make when you use the service, and cover begins from the policy start date with no waiting period.
What the policy does not cover is treatment arising from pre-existing conditions, cosmetic procedures, or the cost of prescription medicines. We explain pre-existing conditions in more detail below, as this is where individual circumstances vary considerably and where it is important to take advice.
No waiting periods — what this means in practice
Many standard Spanish health insurance policies include a waiting period when you first take out cover — a window during which certain treatments are not yet accessible. For Non-Lucrative Visa applicants, this matters because some consulates will not accept a policy that contains one.
The Unión Madrileña visa product has no waiting period. Cover is active from day one. This also means that if you need to see a doctor shortly after your policy starts, you can do so without delay.
For more background on how waiting periods work and why they matter for your visa application, see our waiting periods guide.
Pre-existing conditions
As with all private health insurers in Spain, Unión Madrileña does not cover pre-existing conditions. When you apply, you will complete a health questionnaire. Any condition that existed before your policy start date will be excluded from cover, and you will sign a document acknowledging those exclusions. This is standard practice across the Spanish market.
These exclusions do not typically appear in the documentation presented to Spanish consulates and embassies as part of your visa application — but it is important that you understand them fully before you commit to a policy.
One practical point that is often misunderstood: if you take regular medication for a pre-existing condition, your policy covers you to consult an associated doctor and obtain a repeat prescription. However, the policy does not cover further investigation or treatment of the underlying condition itself, and you pay for any prescription medicines directly. All Spanish private health insurers apply this same approach — it is not something specific to Unión Madrileña.
Where Unión Madrileña differs from some of the larger national insurers is in their approach to underwriting. They are currently more open to considering applications from people with a more complex medical history — cases that some larger companies might decline outright. They assess each application on its own merits.
If you have any health conditions, past or present, we would encourage you to speak with us before applying anywhere. We will give you an honest view of how different insurers are likely to respond to your situation, and we will approach the company we believe is most likely to offer you suitable cover.
Read our full guide to pre-existing conditions and the Non-Lucrative Visa
The medical network
Unión Madrileña operates through the HNA network of doctors, clinics, and hospitals, which provides coverage across Spain. 37,000 healthcare professionals, 840 medical centers and 250 affiliated hospitals. When you need to see a doctor or specialist, you use the app or the insurer’s website to find an associated professional in your area, book directly, and present your digital insurance card at the appointment. The clinic invoices the insurer directly — there is nothing for you to pay at the point of use.
Before we recommend this product to a client, we check that the HNA network has adequate coverage in the area of Spain where they intend to live. Network availability does vary by region and by specialty, and this is one of the factors we take into account when advising you.
Renewal and cancellation
Your policy renews automatically each year. You will receive notification of your renewal premium in advance of the renewal date. If you wish to cancel rather than renew, Spanish insurance law requires you to give written notice — including a copy of your ID — received by the insurer at least one month before the renewal date.
It is worth being aware that a lapse in cover can have implications for your visa renewal, so renewal is not something to leave to the last minute.
We can help you with obtaining the appropriate health insurance documentation you need at renewal — for example, if you require updated certificates for visa renewal purposes. If your circumstances have changed and you want to consider alternative providers, we can look at that too.
Read our renewal guide | Read our cancellation guide
Using your policy day to day
Once your policy is active, the Unión Madrileña mobile app is the easiest way to manage everything. The app is available in English, and through it you can access your digital insurance card, search for doctors and specialists, request authorisations for certain procedures, and view your policy details.
The app handles most routine queries and tasks without you needing to contact anyone. For anything more complex — or if you are unsure how to navigate a particular situation — we are available during office hours.
See our guide to using the Unión Madrileña app and client area
Is Unión Madrileña the right choice for you?
That depends on your age, where in Spain you plan to live, your medical history, and which consulate you are applying through. It is a strong option for many NLV applicants — but it is not automatically the right answer for everyone, and we would not tell you it was if we did not believe it.
If you would like to talk through your situation, we are happy to do that without any obligation. You can request a quote online, or book a time for us to call you.
For a full overview of health insurance requirements for the Spanish Non-Lucrative Visa, including timing, documentation, and what different consulates expect, visit our comprehensive NLV health insurance guide.