Sanitas vs ASISA: Spanish Visa Health Insurance 2026

Sanitas vs ASISA: at a glance

Price: ASISA is significantly cheaper — but Sanitas includes much more

ASISA Health Residents is publicly priced from €42.88/month, making it one of the most affordable visa-compliant health insurance options available. Sanitas Residents Visa starts from €67.76/month — a difference of approximately €25/month or around €300/year at entry level. This is a real and meaningful price gap that deserves honest acknowledgement.

However, the two policies are not equivalent in what they provide. Sanitas includes dental cover as standard — 45+ free dental services, 20%+ discounts on all other treatments, no waiting periods, from day one. ASISA does not include dental. Applicants who need dental access through ASISA will need a separate arrangement, which narrows the effective price difference. Sanitas also includes the BLUA app — 24/7 English-language GP access, video consultations with specialists, digital physiotherapy, mental health programmes, nutrition coaching, and more — with no equivalent available through ASISA.

The 50/50 payment split available through Sanitas (50% now, 50% after 6 months) is also not available through ASISA, which requires full upfront payment. For applicants managing their initial outlay, this is a practical consideration beyond the headline monthly premium.

Sanitas optional add-ons — not available through ASISA

Sanitas offers 10 optional add-ons that can be built on to the base policy. None of these exist through ASISA Health Residents:

None of these add-ons are available through ASISA. For applicants who want a comprehensive, joined-up health package in Spain, Sanitas provides a level of flexibility and customisation that ASISA does not match.

Dental: Sanitas includes it, ASISA does not

Sanitas Residents Visa and Platinum Visa both include dental cover as standard — no waiting periods, from day one. The dental benefit covers more than 45 free services including consultations, X-rays, extractions, and fillings, plus discounts of over 20% on all other dental treatments. Platinum Visa includes a more comprehensive dental package than Residents Visa. Sanitas operates 216+ owned dental clinics across Spain, so dental is part of the same integrated infrastructure as the rest of your policy.

ASISA Health Residents does not include dental cover as standard. Applicants who need dental access will need a separate arrangement. Given that ASISA is already positioned as the budget option, adding dental separately will narrow the effective price gap with Sanitas considerably.

Network: two different types of owned infrastructure

ASISA's network is distinctive because — unlike DKV or Adeslas — it does have some owned hospital infrastructure through HLA Grupo Hospitalario: 18 hospitals and 20 owned medical centres. This is a genuine positive that sets ASISA apart from purely contracted-network insurers. However, it is important to understand where this network is strongest. HLA's hospital presence is concentrated in Madrid, Sevilla, Huelva, Cádiz, and Zaragoza. In many other parts of Spain — particularly along the Mediterranean coast, in the Canary Islands, or in northern Spain — ASISA relies on a contracted third-party network rather than its own facilities. If you are relocating to a region where HLA has a strong presence, ASISA's owned infrastructure is a genuine benefit. If you are heading to the Costa del Sol, Valencia, Alicante, or the Canary Islands, the network picture is more mixed.

Sanitas's owned infrastructure is anchored in Madrid and Barcelona — five owned hospitals including Hospital Universitario Sanitas La Zarzuela and Hospital Universitario Sanitas CIMA — with a national chain of Sanitas Milenium outpatient clinics and 216+ owned dental centres providing coverage across Spain. Sanitas's hospital presence is less geographically broad than HLA, but its Milenium clinic network extends its reach nationally for day-to-day care.

Certificate & process: Sanitas is faster

Sanitas sends the visa certificate automatically once the policy is activated and payment is received. There is no manual step — the certificate arrives as soon as the transaction completes. For applicants with an imminent consulate appointment, this is the most reliable option available.

ASISA issues the certificate within 48–72 hours via your agent after acceptance and payment are confirmed. For most applicants this timeline works comfortably, but if your consulate appointment is within 48 hours of paying, the delay is a real consideration.

Advance contracting: Sanitas gives you 6 months

Sanitas allows you to contract the policy up to 6 months before the required start date — a significant advantage for applicants planning a move well in advance. ASISA can normally be contracted approximately 90 days in advance. For applicants planning their visa application 4–6 months ahead, only Sanitas provides this level of flexibility.

English support: Sanitas has a clear advantage

Sanitas provides comprehensive English-language support throughout — the BLUA app operates in English with 24/7 GP access, customer service is available in English, and the Mi Sanitas app allows you to filter doctors by the language they speak. For a new arrival who does not speak Spanish, or for anyone managing a complex medical situation, this is a genuine practical advantage from day one.

ASISA's corporate customer service and online platforms are primarily in Spanish. English support through ASISA is limited. In regions with large expat populations — Costa del Sol, Madrid, Barcelona — many ASISA-affiliated doctors will speak English, but this depends on the individual provider and cannot be guaranteed from the insurer's end. For routine healthcare administration such as certificate queries, authorisations, and billing, you are dealing with a Spanish-language operation.

Who should choose Sanitas?

Who should choose ASISA?

Our verdict

ASISA Health Residents is the most affordable major visa-compliant policy on this comparison — from €42.88/month, it represents a genuine budget option for applicants under 70. ASISA also includes repatriation as standard, which DKV does not clearly confirm, and has some owned hospital infrastructure through HLA Grupo Hospitalario that is genuinely useful in the regions where it operates. For a cost-focused applicant relocating to Madrid, Sevilla, or Zaragoza who is comfortable navigating Spanish-language healthcare administration, ASISA is a legitimate option.

However, Sanitas is the stronger policy for most applicants making a long-term move to Spain. It accepts applicants up to age 75 — a 5-year wider window than ASISA's 70 cap. It includes dental from day one (45+ free services, no waiting periods, 216+ owned clinics). The BLUA app provides 24/7 English-language GP access, video consultations, and prescriptions without an appointment — something that makes a real practical difference for new arrivals who do not yet speak Spanish. The certificate is sent automatically on payment. You can contract 6 months in advance. The payment can be split 50/50.

The honest summary: if price is your primary driver and you are under 70 and comfortable in Spanish, ASISA is worth getting a quote for. If you are over 70, want dental included, want a 24/7 English app, or want the certificate on the same day as payment — Sanitas is the right choice. When you factor in the cost of dental separately (which most ASISA policyholders will need to arrange), the effective price difference between the two is smaller than the headline figures suggest.

Frequently asked questions

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. Always verify current terms directly with the insurer or your specialist before purchasing.