Expats will find that healthcare in Madrid is supported by numerous public facilities as well as a diverse private sector.

As is the case with all other regions in Spain, the national government provides basic coordination and legislation, and the regional administration is in charge of managing and planning public healthcare.

During a short-term visit, EU citizens can use their European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) to access state healthcare here. UK citizens can make use of their Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC), which replaced the EHIC for UK citizens post-Brexit.

Those moving to Madrid permanently can access free healthcare once they begin to pay into social security, a facility that can only be arranged by those expats with residence permits who have obtained an Empadronamiento, an NIE number and a health card. For working expats, this payment is usually arranged through an employer as an automatic deduction from the employee’s salary. Self-employed expats will have to pay into social security themselves to begin receiving free healthcare.

There is an impressive range of public hospitals in Madrid, and a large network of healthcare centres and pharmacies, but many expats prefer to utilise private healthcare in Madrid. This sector eliminates the long queues that often plague the public system and provides individuals with more choice when it comes to specialists and practitioners. Expats will need to have comprehensive private insurance if they wish to take advantage of these facilities.

Read more about healthcare and health insurance for expats in Spain. 

Hospitals in Madrid

Below are some of the most prominent hospitals in Madrid:

HM Universitario Madrid

Website: www.hmmadrid.com
Address: Plaza del Conde del Valle de Suchil 16, 28015

Hospital la Moraleja

Website: www.hospitallamoraleja.es
Address: Avd Francisco Pí Y Margall 81, 28050

MD Anderson Cancer Centre

Website: www.mdanderson.es
Address: Calle Arturo Soria 270, 28033

Unidad Médica Angloamericana

Website: www.unidadmedica.com
Address: Calle Conde de Aranda 1, 28001

Further reading

►Healthcare in Spain gives in-depth information on the country's medical services

►Getting Around in Madrid gives an overview of transport in the city

Expat interviews

"My experiences with the public healthcare system have been about the same as back home (both good and bad, so 4 out of 5 compared to the US) but the services are all paid for through universal healthcare, so you only ever have to pay for medical prescriptions." Find out more about Madrid with Canadian expat Mimi.

Are you an expat living in Madrid?

Expat Arrivals is looking for locals to contribute to this guide, and answer forum questions from others planning their move to Madrid. Please contact us if you'd like to contribute.