ASSSA vs Sanitas: at a glance
| Feature | ASSSA | Sanitas |
|---|---|---|
| Plan name | ASSSA Standard / Plus | Residents Visa / Platinum Visa |
| From price | ~€53/month (quote required) | €67.76/month |
| Contract length | 12 months | 12 months ✓ |
| Max joining age | 74 | 75 ✓ |
| Age-based premium increases | No increases ✓ | Confirm at quote |
| No copayments | ✓ | ✓ |
| Repatriation | ✓ | ✓ |
| Dental cover | Not included | Included — 45+ free services ✓ |
| Certificate | 48–72 hrs via agent | Auto-sent on payment ✓ |
| Advance contracting | ~90 days max | Up to 6 months ✓ |
| Payment options | Full upfront only | Full upfront or 50/50 split ✓ |
| Digital health app | No equivalent to BLUA | BLUA — English 24/7 ✓ |
| Multilingual support | Multilingual (key feature) ✓ | English 24/7 (BLUA + support) ✓ |
| Quirónsalud hospitals | No longer included ✗ | Not applicable (owned hospitals) |
| Geographic focus | SE Spain (Alicante, Valencia, Murcia, Málaga) | Nationwide ✓ |
| Owned hospitals | None | 5 hospitals (Madrid + Barcelona) ✓ |
| Worldwide cover option | No | Platinum plan ✓ |
| DGSFP authorised | ✓ | ✓ |
The Quirónsalud loss: what it means for ASSSA policyholders
ASSSA no longer works with Quirónsalud — read this before purchasing
ASSSA has ended its relationship with Quirónsalud, Spain's largest private hospital group. Quirónsalud operates major hospitals across the country, including facilities in the Alicante, Murcia, Valencia, and Málaga areas where ASSSA's network has historically been strongest. For any applicant who expected Quirónsalud access through ASSSA, that access is no longer available. This is the single most significant change affecting the ASSSA product today. Before purchasing ASSSA, confirm in writing which hospitals are available in your specific destination and what replaces Quirónsalud in the network.
Quirónsalud is Spain's largest private hospital group by size and breadth. It operates dozens of hospitals across the country, including major facilities in many of the coastal and urban areas where ASSSA policyholders have historically been most concentrated. The loss of Quirónsalud from ASSSA's network is not a minor administrative change — it is a substantial reduction in the hospitals available to ASSSA policyholders for inpatient and surgical care.
For any applicant who has previously used ASSSA, or who has been recommended ASSSA by an expat community in the Costa Blanca, Costa del Sol, or Valencia area, you must re-verify the current network before renewing or purchasing. The hospitals that were previously available may no longer be included in your cover.
Sanitas owns and operates its own hospitals — Hospital Universitario Sanitas La Zarzuela and others in Madrid, Hospital Universitario Sanitas CIMA in Barcelona, plus Sanitas Milenium clinics nationally. The Sanitas network does not depend on relationships with third-party groups like Quirónsalud — it is infrastructure Sanitas controls directly, and changes to third-party hospital group affiliations do not affect it.
ASSSA's genuine strengths — before the network caveat
To be fair to ASSSA, the insurer has real differentiators that matter for a specific type of applicant. Before the Quirónsalud loss, ASSSA was a credible specialist option for expats in south-east Spain. Those underlying strengths remain:
Multilingual support. ASSSA was founded to serve expat communities and provides customer service in multiple languages — not just English. For applicants whose first language is not Spanish or English (German, Dutch, and Nordic policyholders form a significant part of the ASSSA customer base in the Costa Blanca and Costa del Sol), ASSSA's multilingual provision is a genuine advantage. Sanitas provides English-language support through BLUA and customer service, but ASSSA's broader language range has historically been a differentiator.
No age-based premium increases. ASSSA does not apply automatic age-based premium increases. For older policyholders on fixed incomes, this provides more predictable annual costs. Sanitas premiums are set at the time of underwriting; applicants should confirm renewal terms directly with Sanitas for their specific situation.
Local expat community knowledge. In Alicante, Valencia, Murcia, and Málaga, ASSSA has long-standing relationships with local providers, GP practices, and specialists who serve the expat community. This local knowledge can translate into smoother day-to-day healthcare navigation for applicants settling in these specific areas.
Network: SE Spain focus vs Sanitas's national owned infrastructure
ASSSA's network has always been strongest in south-east Spain — Alicante, Valencia, Murcia, and Málaga. Outside these areas, ASSSA's coverage is significantly less comprehensive. For applicants moving to Madrid, Barcelona, the Canary Islands, the Balearics, Galicia, the Basque Country, Catalonia outside Barcelona, or most other regions of Spain, ASSSA's network will be materially weaker than Sanitas or other national insurers.
Sanitas provides genuinely national coverage through its owned hospitals (Madrid and Barcelona), Sanitas Milenium clinics, 216+ owned dental centres, and its broader contracted provider network of 58,000+ professionals. For applicants who do not yet know exactly where in Spain they will be living, or who may move region after their first year, Sanitas's national footprint is significantly more flexible.
Price: ASSSA has no fixed published from-price
Unlike Sanitas, Adeslas, ASISA, and Caser, ASSSA does not publish a fixed public from-price for its Standard or Plus plans. The benchmark figure commonly used is approximately €53/month, but this is an indicative market benchmark — you must obtain a personalised quote from ASSSA or an authorised agent to confirm your actual premium for your age, province, and plan type.
At the benchmark, ASSSA is cheaper than Sanitas from €67.76/month — but as with all insurers in this comparison, the headline price does not include dental (which Sanitas does include), and a full cost comparison should account for that. ASSSA's no-age-based-increases feature may make the product more cost-predictable over time for older policyholders.
Certificate & process: 48–72 hours vs automatic
Sanitas sends the certificate automatically once the policy is activated and payment received — the fastest and most reliable process among all insurers reviewed on this site. ASSSA issues the certificate within 48–72 hours via your agent, which is standard for the market but requires comfortable lead time before your consulate appointment.
Advance contracting: Sanitas 6 months, ASSSA ~90 days
Sanitas allows contracting up to 6 months before the policy start date. ASSSA can normally be contracted approximately 90 days in advance. For applicants planning well ahead, Sanitas's 6-month window provides materially more flexibility.
Sanitas provides national coverage, dental included, and BLUA English digital health from day one. Get a personalised quote and confirm certificate timing before your consulate appointment.
Get a quote →Sanitas optional add-ons — not available through ASSSA
Sanitas policyholders can extend their cover with ten optional add-on modules. None are available on ASSSA Standard or Plus:
| Add-on | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Pharmacy & Home Services | 50% pharmacy reimbursement (up to €300/year), medication delivery, home blood tests, home physiotherapy |
| Optical Cover | 50% reimbursement on prescription glasses and contact lenses, up to €600/year per insured person |
| Family Assistance | Qualified home help during hospitalisation — childcare, school accompaniment, household tasks, medication delivery |
| Reimbursement Cover | Access any specialist or hospital outside the Sanitas network — Sanitas reimburses a high percentage of costs |
| Pharmacy Cover | 50% medication reimbursement from day one, up to €200/year per insured person |
| Genomic Health | Advanced preventive medicine based on your genome — for future health planning |
| Sanitas Renta | €60/day cash benefit during any hospitalisation for illness, surgery, or accident |
| USA Cover | 100% reimbursement for treatment at world-leading US centres — Sanitas handles all administration |
| Accident Cover | Lump-sum payment (€30,000 or €60,000) on death or permanent disability through accident |
| Enhanced Dental Add-ons | Additional dental coverage beyond the 45+ free services already included in the base policy |
Who should choose Sanitas?
- Applicants relocating outside south-east Spain — ASSSA's network is weaker outside its core region
- Anyone who expected Quirónsalud access through ASSSA — ASSSA no longer works with Quirónsalud
- Anyone who wants dental included from day one — 45+ free services, no waiting periods
- Anyone who needs a 24/7 English-language digital GP — BLUA has no ASSSA equivalent
- Applicants aged 75 — ASSSA's cutoff is 74; only Sanitas accepts this age
- Applicants with a tight consulate deadline — automatic certificate on payment, no 48–72 hr wait
- Planning 3–6 months ahead — only Sanitas allows contracting this far in advance
Who might still consider ASSSA?
- Relocating specifically to Alicante, Valencia, Murcia, or Málaga — after verifying the current hospital network in your destination
- Applicants who prioritise multilingual customer service in a language other than English
- Older policyholders for whom ASSSA's no-age-based-increases feature provides predictable costs over multiple renewal years
Our verdict
ASSSA has historically been a credible specialist insurer for expats in south-east Spain, with genuine strengths in multilingual support, local provider relationships, and no age-based premium increases. For the right applicant in the right region, those attributes were meaningful.
The Quirónsalud loss changes the calculation significantly. ASSSA no longer works with Quirónsalud — Spain's largest private hospital group, with major facilities in the Costa Blanca, Murcia, Valencia, and Málaga areas that formed the backbone of inpatient care for many ASSSA policyholders. Any applicant considering ASSSA must verify in writing which hospitals are now available in their destination province before committing. This is not a hypothetical concern — it is the most important current fact about the ASSSA product.
Sanitas offers national coverage through owned infrastructure (five hospitals, Milenium clinics, 216+ dental centres), dental included from day one, the BLUA 24/7 English digital health app, automatic certificate delivery, 6-month advance contracting, split payment, and a maximum joining age of 75. For applicants relocating anywhere in Spain outside of ASSSA's traditional south-east stronghold, Sanitas is the straightforwardly stronger choice. Even within ASSSA's traditional region, the Quirónsalud loss means ASSSA's network advantage is materially weaker than it was.
Frequently asked questions
Sanitas is the stronger overall choice for most applicants. ASSSA has genuine strengths for expats in south-east Spain — multilingual support, no age-based premium increases, and local expat community focus. But ASSSA no longer works with Quirónsalud hospitals (a major network reduction), its geographic coverage outside SE Spain is limited, it does not include dental, and it has no equivalent to BLUA. Sanitas covers all of Spain with owned infrastructure, dental included, automatic certificate delivery, and English digital health from day one.
No. ASSSA no longer works with Quirónsalud hospitals. This is a critical change — Quirónsalud is Spain's largest private hospital group and was a significant part of the ASSSA network in the Costa Blanca, Murcia, Valencia, and Málaga areas. Before purchasing ASSSA, verify the current hospital list for your destination province in writing with ASSSA or your agent.
No — ASSSA does not apply automatic age-based premium increases. This is a genuine differentiator for older policyholders on fixed incomes. Sanitas premiums are set at underwriting; confirm renewal terms directly with Sanitas for your specific situation.
ASSSA has a maximum joining age of 74. Sanitas accepts applicants up to age 75. The difference is one year at the upper end, but if you are 75 or approaching that age, only Sanitas provides certainty of acceptance.
Yes — multilingual support is one of ASSSA's key differentiators. ASSSA serves expat communities in multiple languages beyond English (including German, Dutch, and others common in SE Spain expat communities). Sanitas provides full English support through BLUA and customer service, but ASSSA's broader multilingual range is a genuine distinction for non-English speakers.
ASSSA's network has historically been strongest in south-east Spain — Alicante, Valencia, Murcia, and Málaga. Outside these regions, coverage is significantly less comprehensive. For applicants moving to Madrid, Barcelona, Catalonia, the Canary Islands, Galicia, or other regions, Sanitas's national network is a much stronger option.
No. ASSSA Standard and Plus plans do not include dental cover. Sanitas includes dental from day one — 45+ free services and 20%+ discounts, with no waiting periods, across 216+ owned Sanitas dental clinics.
Sanitas sends the certificate automatically once activated and payment received — no manual step. ASSSA issues within 48–72 hours via your agent. For tight consulate deadlines, Sanitas is the safer choice.
ASSSA does not publish a fixed public from-price. The market benchmark commonly used is approximately €53/month, but you must obtain a personalised quote from ASSSA or an authorised agent to confirm your actual premium for your age, province, and plan type. Sanitas is publicly from €67.76/month.
Get an accurate quote for your age and situation
From-prices are a starting point. Your actual premium depends on your age, province, and underwriting outcome. Get a personalised comparison across Sanitas, ASSSA, and all other insurers.
Pricing shown is sourced from each insurer's own published pages and is accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication. Premiums are individually underwritten and confirmed at quote stage. The ASSSA–Quirónsalud network change reflects information current as of May 2026. Always verify current terms and network coverage directly with the insurer or your specialist before purchasing.