Critical update: ASSSA no longer works with Quirónsalud hospitals
ASSSA has ended its working relationship with Quirónsalud hospitals — one of Spain's largest private hospital groups, with sites across Madrid, Barcelona, Marbella, Bilbao, Seville, and beyond. If you need or want access to Quirónsalud facilities, ASSSA is not the right insurer for you. You should choose Sanitas, Adeslas, or another insurer whose network includes Quirónsalud. This is the single most important fact to understand before purchasing ASSSA health insurance.
Sanitas vs ASSSA: at a glance
| Feature | Sanitas | ASSSA |
|---|---|---|
| Plan name | Residents Visa / Platinum Visa | ASSSA Standard / ASSSA Plus |
| From price | €67.76/month | ~€53/month (benchmark — quote required) ✓ |
| Contract length | 12 months, renewable | 12 months, renewable |
| Max joining age | 75 ✓ | 74 |
| Age-based premium increases | Standard age-banding applies | No age-based increases ✓ |
| No copayments | ✓ | ✓ |
| No waiting periods | ✓ | ✓ |
| Repatriation | ✓ | ✓ |
| Dental cover | Included — 45+ free services ✓ | Not included |
| Certificate | Auto-sent on payment ✓ | 48–72 hrs via agent |
| Advance contracting | Up to 6 months ✓ | ~90 days max |
| Payment options | Full upfront or 50/50 split ✓ | Full upfront only |
| Digital health app | BLUA — English 24/7 ✓ | No equivalent |
| Multilingual support | Full English (BLUA + service + app) ✓ | Multilingual (expat-focused) ✓ |
| Network model | Owned (hospitals, clinics, dental) ✓ | Contracted — strongest in SE Spain |
| Quirónsalud access | Verify at quote stage | NOT AVAILABLE — ASSSA no longer works with Quirónsalud |
| Worldwide cover option | Platinum plan ✓ | No |
| DGSFP authorised | ✓ | ✓ |
Price: ASSSA benchmarks lower — but does not publish a fixed from-price
Unlike most insurers on this comparison, ASSSA does not publish a fixed from-price. A personalised quote is required to confirm your actual premium, as pricing depends on your age, province, and specific circumstances. Based on market benchmarks, ASSSA Standard typically starts at around ~€53/month for applicants in standard age groups — meaningfully lower than Sanitas from €67.76/month.
However, this headline price comparison requires context. Sanitas includes dental cover as standard on both its visa plans — 45+ free dental services, 20%+ discounts on all other treatments, no waiting periods, from day one. ASSSA does not include dental. Applicants who arrange dental separately will see the effective price gap narrow. Sanitas also includes the BLUA app — 24/7 English-language GP access, video consultations, digital physiotherapy, and mental health programmes — which has no equivalent through ASSSA.
ASSSA's most notable pricing advantage, however, is not the headline from-price — it is the fact that ASSSA does not apply age-based premium increases. Most insurers reprice at renewal as you move into older age bands, which means the gap between an entry-level from-price and what you actually pay in later years can be substantial. ASSSA's no-age-increases policy is a genuine long-term financial planning advantage for applicants who intend to stay in Spain for many years.
Sanitas optional add-ons — not available through ASSSA
Sanitas offers 10 optional add-ons that can be built on to the base policy. None of these exist through ASSSA:
| Add-on | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Pharmacy & Home Services | 50% pharmacy reimbursement (up to €300/year), medication delivery (6/year), home blood tests (2/year), home physiotherapy (6 sessions/year) |
| Optical Cover | 50% reimbursement on prescription glasses and contact lenses, up to €600/year per insured person |
| Family Assistance | Qualified home help during hospitalisation or illness — household tasks, childcare (under 16), school accompaniment, 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) in the event of death or permanent disability through accident |
| Enhanced Dental Add-ons | Additional dental coverage beyond the standard 45+ free services already included in the base policy |
Network: regional focus vs national infrastructure
ASSSA's network is built primarily around south-east Spain — Alicante, Valencia, Murcia, and Málaga provinces. These are areas with large and established expat communities, and ASSSA has historically served these communities well. Within those regions, the network is well-developed and ASSSA's long-standing presence means strong relationships with local providers.
However, ASSSA's coverage thins significantly outside south-east Spain. Applicants planning to relocate to Madrid, Barcelona, the Canary Islands, the Basque Country, or northern Spain should verify the contracted network quality in their specific destination carefully before choosing ASSSA. Outside the Costa Blanca, Costa del Sol, and Valencia region, you may find a smaller panel of specialists, fewer hospital options, and greater dependence on the contracted provider network — which varies in quality and completeness by region.
The Quirónsalud situation makes this more significant. Quirónsalud is one of Spain's largest private hospital groups with major sites in Madrid, Barcelona, Marbella, Bilbao, Seville, Málaga, Valencia, and many other cities. ASSSA's network no longer includes these hospitals. For applicants who want access to a major national private hospital group as part of their policy, this is a meaningful gap that Sanitas does not have.
Sanitas's network is anchored by five owned hospitals in Madrid and Barcelona, a national chain of Sanitas Milenium outpatient clinics, and 216+ owned dental centres. The owned infrastructure is the most reliable part of the network — Sanitas controls standards and operations directly. For complex inpatient care, the integrated pathway from GP through to hospital and aftercare within Sanitas's own facilities is a genuine quality advantage.
Dental: Sanitas includes it, ASSSA does not
Both Sanitas Residents Visa and Platinum Visa include dental cover as standard with no waiting periods. The dental benefit covers more than 45 free services — consultations, X-rays, extractions, fillings, and preventive treatments — plus 20%+ discounts on all other procedures. Sanitas operates 216+ owned dental clinics across Spain. Dental is part of the same integrated Sanitas infrastructure, not a separate network relationship.
ASSSA does not include dental as standard on either the Standard or Plus plan. Applicants who need dental access will need a separate arrangement — which adds cost and removes the convenience of having everything through a single insurer.
ASSSA's genuine advantages — where it stands out
ASSSA has real strengths that deserve honest coverage. The most significant is its no age-based premium increases policy. With most insurers, including Sanitas, your premium will increase as you move into older age bands at renewal. With ASSSA, this does not happen — your premium is not automatically increased just because you are a year older. For applicants who are planning to remain in Spain for 10, 15, or 20 years, this can translate into meaningful long-term savings. Applicants in their early 50s choosing between Sanitas and ASSSA should specifically ask both insurers to model expected renewal costs over a 10-year period, not just the year-one premium.
ASSSA's multilingual customer support is also a genuine differentiator versus insurers like Adeslas, DKV, and ASISA, which are primarily Spanish-language operations. ASSSA explicitly serves expat communities and invests in multilingual support — this matters for applicants who need to communicate with their insurer in English or another European language. Sanitas's BLUA app and English customer service provide a more comprehensive English-language digital experience, but for those who value human multilingual telephone support, ASSSA delivers.
Certificate & process: Sanitas is faster
Sanitas sends the visa certificate automatically once the policy is activated and payment is received. No manual step, no agent delay — the certificate arrives as soon as the transaction completes. For applicants with a tight consulate deadline, this is the safest process available.
ASSSA issues the certificate within 48–72 hours via your agent. For most applicants this timeline works — but if your consulate appointment is within 48 hours of payment being confirmed, the delay is a real consideration.
Advance contracting: Sanitas gives you 6 months
Sanitas allows you to contract up to 6 months before the required start date. ASSSA can normally be contracted approximately 90 days in advance. For applicants planning a move 4–6 months ahead, only Sanitas provides this level of advance flexibility. If you want to lock in your health insurance and certificate well before your visa application is submitted, Sanitas is the clear choice.
English and multilingual support: a more nuanced comparison
Both Sanitas and ASSSA have genuine English-language credentials — but they differ in how that support is delivered. Sanitas's English experience is primarily digital: the BLUA app operates entirely in English, provides 24/7 GP access in English, handles appointments and prescriptions in English, and the Mi Sanitas platform lets you filter doctors by the language they speak. Customer service is also available in English. This is a comprehensive integrated English-language platform.
ASSSA's multilingual support is more traditional — telephone-based customer service delivered in multiple European languages, reflecting ASSSA's heritage serving expat communities across the Costa Blanca, Costa del Sol, and Valencia. For applicants who prefer speaking to a human in their own language rather than using a digital platform, ASSSA's approach has its own value. ASSSA does not have an English-language digital GP service equivalent to BLUA.
Sanitas provides full English support from day one — BLUA 24/7 digital GP, English customer service, and doctor network filtering. Get a quote and confirm certificate timing before your consulate appointment.
Get a quote →Who should choose Sanitas?
- Applicants who want or need access to Quirónsalud hospitals — Sanitas's network is not subject to the same restriction
- Applicants aged 75 — only Sanitas and DKV reach this age; ASSSA caps at 74
- Anyone who wants dental included — 45+ free services, no waiting periods, 216+ owned clinics
- Applicants who want 24/7 English-language digital GP access — BLUA has no equivalent at ASSSA
- Applicants relocating outside south-east Spain — Sanitas's national network is more consistently strong
- Applicants with a tight consulate deadline — certificate auto-sent on payment
- Planning 3–6 months ahead — only Sanitas allows contracting this far in advance
- Applicants who prefer flexible payment — 50/50 split option not available through ASSSA
Who should choose ASSSA?
- Applicants relocating to the Costa Blanca, Costa del Sol, Valencia, or Murcia — ASSSA's heartland where network coverage is strongest
- Long-term residents who want no age-based premium increases at renewal — a significant financial advantage over 10+ years
- Applicants who prefer telephone-based multilingual customer service over a digital platform, and who do not require access to Quirónsalud
- Price-sensitive applicants in south-east Spain who have confirmed via quote that ASSSA's premium is meaningfully lower than Sanitas for their specific age and circumstances
Our verdict
ASSSA is a genuinely good insurer for the right applicant — primarily those relocating to south-east Spain who value multilingual telephone support and want to lock in a policy with no age-based premium increases. These are real and meaningful advantages. ASSSA has served expat communities in Alicante, Valencia, Murcia, and Málaga for decades, and its heritage in these communities is a genuine positive.
However, the loss of Quirónsalud from ASSSA's network is a significant development. Quirónsalud is one of Spain's largest and most respected private hospital groups — with major sites not just in expat coastal areas but in Madrid, Barcelona, Bilbao, Seville, and beyond. For any applicant who values access to a nationally recognised private hospital group, this is a material limitation that was not present previously. Applicants must verify the current ASSSA network against their specific destination and medical preferences before purchasing.
Sanitas is the stronger overall choice. It includes dental from day one, the BLUA 24/7 English-language digital GP app (a level of accessible English healthcare that ASSSA cannot match), five owned hospitals in Madrid and Barcelona, automatic certificate delivery on payment, 6-month advance contracting, and a flexible 50/50 payment option. The maximum joining age of 75 is also one year higher than ASSSA's 74. For applicants making a long-term move anywhere in Spain — not just south-east Spain — Sanitas provides a more nationally reliable and fully-featured product.
Important note on ASSSA pricing: ASSSA does not publish a fixed from-price — a personalised quote is required to confirm your actual premium. The benchmark figure of ~€53/month is for general comparison purposes only. Your actual quote may differ significantly based on your age, health profile, and province. Always compare actual quotes side by side before making a decision.
Frequently asked questions
Sanitas is the stronger overall choice for most applicants. It includes dental from day one, the BLUA 24/7 English-language digital GP app, automatic certificate delivery on payment, owned hospital infrastructure, 6-month advance contracting, and a maximum joining age of 75 (one year higher than ASSSA's 74). ASSSA has genuine advantages — no age-based premium increases and strong multilingual support — but no longer works with Quirónsalud hospitals, and its network is most reliable in south-east Spain. Both are DGSFP-authorised.
No. ASSSA no longer works with Quirónsalud hospitals. Quirónsalud is one of Spain's largest private hospital groups with sites across the country. If access to Quirónsalud is important to you, ASSSA is not the right choice. Choose Sanitas, Adeslas, or another insurer whose network includes Quirónsalud facilities.
No. One of ASSSA's key advantages is that it does not apply age-based premium increases at renewal. Most insurers — including Sanitas — price using age bands that increase as you grow older. ASSSA does not do this. For long-term residents planning to stay in Spain for many years, this can represent meaningful financial savings over time. When comparing costs, ask both insurers to model projected renewal premiums over 5–10 years, not just year-one pricing.
ASSSA's network is strongest in south-east Spain — Alicante, Valencia, Murcia, and Málaga provinces. These are areas with large established expat communities that ASSSA has served for many years. Outside these regions, the contracted network is thinner. Applicants relocating to Madrid, Barcelona, the Basque Country, the Canary Islands, or other areas should verify the local network carefully before choosing ASSSA.
Yes. ASSSA explicitly serves expat communities and provides multilingual customer support — a genuine differentiator versus Adeslas, DKV, and ASISA, which are primarily Spanish-language operations. Sanitas provides a more comprehensive English-language digital experience through BLUA (24/7 GP access in English) and English-language customer service, but ASSSA's multilingual telephone support is valued by applicants who prefer speaking to a person.
ASSSA accepts applicants up to age 74. Sanitas accepts up to age 75. Both are among the more accessible options for older applicants. Applicants aged exactly 75 can only use Sanitas or DKV on this comparison — ASSSA, ASISA, and Caser all have lower maximum ages.
ASSSA does not publish a fixed from-price — a personalised quote is required. Market benchmarks suggest ASSSA Standard typically starts at around €53/month for applicants in standard age groups, which is meaningfully lower than Sanitas from €67.76/month. However, pricing varies by age and province, so a personalised quote is essential before drawing any price comparison conclusions.
Sanitas sends the certificate automatically once payment is received — no manual step. ASSSA normally issues within 48–72 hours via your agent. For very tight consulate deadlines, Sanitas's automatic issuance is the more reliable option.
No. Neither ASSSA Standard nor ASSSA Plus includes dental cover as standard. Sanitas includes dental on both its visa plans — 45+ free services, no waiting periods, from day one — with access to 216+ owned dental clinics across Spain. If dental is a priority, Sanitas is the stronger option.
Yes. Sanitas allows contracting up to 6 months before the required start date. ASSSA can typically be contracted approximately 90 days in advance. If you are planning your move more than 3 months ahead, Sanitas gives you significantly more flexibility to lock in cover early.
Get an accurate quote for your age and situation
From-prices are a starting point. ASSSA does not publish a fixed from-price — a personalised quote is essential. Compare Sanitas, ASSSA, and all other insurers side by side.
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. ASSSA does not publish a fixed from-price; the benchmark figure shown is for indicative comparison purposes. Premiums are individually underwritten and confirmed at quote stage. Always verify current terms directly with the insurer or your specialist before purchasing.