The Spanish health system has a good reputation, and the Costa Brava is well equipped. How you access it depends mainly on one thing: whether you are visiting or moving here. Here are the main rules, to be checked with your health insurance fund for your situation.
For your stays: the European card
If you remain covered in France, ask your health insurance fund for the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), free of charge. It gives you access to medically necessary care in the Spanish public system, on the same terms as local patients. It does not cover private clinics or repatriation: travel insurance or your top-up health insurance usefully fills the gap.
If you retire here
A retiree receiving a French pension who moves to Spain can, in principle, be covered by the Spanish system through form S1, issued by their French insurance fund. After registering with Spanish social security, you get a Catalan health card and a GP. This usually requires being registered with the town hall.
Other situations
If you work in Spain, you are covered by the Spanish system through your job. If you move here with no job and no pension, private health insurance is usually needed, in particular to register as an EU resident.
Healthcare facilities in the area
The Costa Brava has several hospitals and local health centres, and Girona University Hospital is the reference for specialist care. Many private clinics and pharmacies complete the picture. For a retirement project, distance to healthcare is one of our criteria, as we explain in the article depending on your project.
And your French top-up insurance?
Check its terms: some cover care abroad, others don't, and moving to Spain can change your entitlements.
Visiting or moving here, the rule is the same: sort out healthcare before you leave, not at your first medical appointment.
