Visa-ready plans from $721 per adult, billed annually · see your exact price by age.
The rule in writing
“Spain requires health insurance “contracted with an insurance entity authorized to operate in Spain” for the non-lucrative and digital-nomad visas — with no deductible, no copayment, no waiting period and no coverage limit. Most international policies fail this rule on registration grounds.”
Official source: Consulates General of Spain (Los Angeles & London) — official visa requirements — Last verified:
Why your US coverage stops at the border
Medicare does not cover routine care once you leave the United States. If you are counting on Medicare during your move, our Medicare abroad guide walks through exactly where the coverage stops.
US employer plans and marketplace plans have the same problem from a different angle. They are built around US networks and US residency, so they are not structured for daily life in Spain. And decisively for Spain, they fail the one rule that actually matters: the insurer has to be authorized to operate in Spain.
This is where Spain differs from most other destinations people consider. Even strong international expat policies that would satisfy other countries commonly fail Spain's registration line, which surprises Americans who researched other countries first and assumed the same policy would carry over.
Spain's rule, quoted
Spain's consulates are explicit about what counts as compliant cover for the non-lucrative and digital nomad visas: insurance "contracted with an insurance entity authorized to operate in Spain," with no deductible, no copayment, no waiting period, and no coverage limit. That wording comes from the Consulates General of Spain, verified in July 2026.
Those four "no"s are not fine print. They are the line that most international policies fail, because those policies are not written and registered the way Spain requires. Travel insurance is refused outright, however comprehensive it looks on paper. If you are applying for either visa, our non-lucrative visa insurance guide and digital nomad visa insurance guide cover what consulates check for, and our visa insurance trap guide covers how this catches people out.
What we arrange for Americans
We arrange cover through a Spain-compliant arrangement confirmed by our underwriting partner (confirmed July 2026). Plans carry annual limits between US$1,000,000 and US$2,000,000, start the same day with no medical exam, and include a 14-day cooling-off period. Children aged 0 to 17 are covered at a flat rate per plan, and new applicants are accepted to age 70, or age 80 on the Essential plan.
We are straight about what these plans do not do. Pre-existing conditions are excluded, and treatment received in the United States is not covered, which matters if you are planning trips home. Our US trips guide for expats covers how people handle that gap.
Before you buy, a person on our team checks the certificate wording against your consulate's checklist, and if your case doesn't fit the arrangement, we say so up front. Confirm the Spain-compliant arrangement on your quote call before you rely on it. Start with our visa insurance checklist or get a quote to see what applies to your situation.
Honest limits: Cover is worldwide but excludes treatment in the United States. Pre-existing conditions are excluded, including conditions you did not know about. We disclose this before you request a quote. Consulates keep discretion, and requirements can change. We show the published rule and its source; the final decision is the consulate’s. US domestic and Medicare cover does not travel with you — see the questions below.