Healthcare in Spain: What You Need to Know if You Buy a Home on the Northern Costa Blanca
Living on the Northern Costa Blanca not only means enjoying the sun, the sea, and a relaxed lifestyle, it also means having access to a high-quality healthcare system. Whether you plan to move permanently or spend long periods here, it is essential to understand how healthcare in Spain works and which medical centers are nearby.
1. How the Spanish Healthcare System Works
Spain offers a mixed system: universal public healthcare and a complementary private network.
As a legal resident, you can access the public system through Social Security or the Special Agreement, or you can take out private health insurance for greater flexibility.
2. Public Hospitals between Dénia and Benidorm
- Regional reference hospital in the Marina Alta.
- General medical services, specialties, operating rooms, and 24-hour emergency care.
Hospital Marina Baixa (La Vila Joiosa)
- Public care for the entire Marina Baixa region.
- Reference hospital for residents in Altea, Benidorm, La Nucía, and Callosa.
Health Centers (CAP)
All municipalities have public health centers: Dénia, Jávea, Calpe, Benissa, Moraira, Altea…
You can find general information at: Sanidad Generalitat Valenciana – Atención Primaria
3. Private Medical Centers and Hospitals
HLA San Carlos (Dénia)
- Surgery, hospitalization, diagnostic imaging.
- Multilingual care and agreements with insurance companies.
- Family medicine, physiotherapy, specialists.
- Personalized care tailored to international patients.
IMED Teulada
- Modern outpatient center with specialties, laboratory, and diagnostics.
Hospital IMED Levante (Benidorm)
- Leading private hospital in the province of Alicante.
- Full-service hospital with 24-hour ER, ICU, and multilingual staff.
Hospital Clínica Benidorm (HCB)
- One of the most renowned private hospitals on the coast.
- International programs and personalized care in several languages.
- General medicine, specialists, and private emergency care.
- Highly valued by European residents in Altea and surrounding areas.
4. Popular Health Insurance among Foreign Residents
Some insurers with strong presence in the area and extensive experience with international clients:
5. Useful Tips if You Buy a Home in the Area
- Register as a resident (empadronamiento) in your new municipality to access public healthcare.
- Save emergency numbers: 112 (public) and the phone numbers of your nearest private center.
- Check whether your insurance covers medical transfers, repatriation, or second international opinions.
- Choose a center with care in your language and ask if they offer home healthcare services.
Buying a home on the Northern Costa Blanca also means investing in your health and well-being. The area has an excellent healthcare network, modern hospitals, and professionals who speak your language. Whether you choose public or private healthcare, here you will find safety, medical quality, and personalized care.