Healthcare in Spain — My Recent Experience as a New Resident
Does it work?
Unequivocally, yes!
A brief personal history. If I may.
Just this month, I had a heart attack. My wife called for an ambulance, and I was taken to the local hospital in our area that specializes in cardiac care, CHUAC, University Hospital of A Coruña.
From what I’ve been told, it is one of the best in Spain.
Once the ambulance personnel arrived, diagnosed my condition, and administered a quick pain relief medication, I was promptly transported to the facility.
The total time elapsed from Becky’s call till ER room arrival, prep, and initial procedure was no more than an hour.
We have private health insurance in Spain.
It is full coverage for both of us, and the present cost is 4,300 euros per year.
Other than providing the medical personnel my Spanish I.D. card and proof of insurance when the ambulance picked me up, I’ve never since talked to anyone about hospital stay or treatment costs.
It’s that simple and hassle-free.
A similar experience in the US? Do you sincerely wish to know? Okay.
Over my week’s stay in the hospital, I received two cardiac artery stents, numerous scans and X-rays, blood tests, evaluations, and consultations.
If we still lived in the US?
Average Cost of Heart Stent — Private Insurance
The angioplasty stent costs around $15,000 up to $50,000, with a national average of about $28,000 to $30,000, depending on several factors like the hospital where the procedure is performed, the type of stent used, among others. SpendOnHealth.Com
In non-emergency cases, a thorough consultation is necessary prior to deciding to undergo any medical procedure, be it invasive or non-invasive. This is to determine whether you really need it or not. A trip to your cardiologist may cost around $200 to $400.
Additional Expenses
Several diagnostics tests may be required to check your exact condition. These may include the following:
- Chest X-ray — $200 to $400
- Electrocardiogram (EKG) — $400 to $500
- Stress Test — $1,000
- Blood tests — Troponin tests $45 to $95, Lipid profile $50 to $100
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) — $1,000 to $5,000
- Angiogram — $5,000 to $10,000
- Cardiac Calcium Scoring — $99 to $399
- Nuclear Stress Test — $4,000 or more
Aftercare is also important when you have undergone any heart procedure. Some of these may include the following:
- Cardiac rehabilitation — $150 to $300 per session
- Medications — may include Aspirin, Clopidogrel, Prasugrel, Ticagrelor, or Ticlopidine
Since Becky and I are of Medicare age, how much of the above cost would have been covered?
With Part A, you will pay an inpatient deductible of $1,600 in 2023 for each hospitalization, with additional coinsurance payments for each day after 60 days. With Part B, in addition to the minimum monthly premium of $164.90 and the annual deductible of $226, you pay a coinsurance of 20% of the Medicare-approved amount for all doctor-related services while you are staying in the hospital following a procedure. This includes food, physician fees, nursing care, laboratory tests, medications, the use of a hospital bed, and more.
Although the hospital cannot charge you more than the inpatient deductible for any one service, your overall Medicare Part B costs add up quickly, often costing you more in out-of-pocket costs than Part A costs. It is in your best interest to ask your healthcare provider about inpatient coverage when you stay overnight in the hospital. VeryWellHealth.Com
So, deciphering the above, for one hospital stay (I’ve had two this month, and Becky’s had one this past year), she and I would be out-of-pocket for $4,800 plus $1,980 (12 months x $165) plus 20% of the Medicare-approved amount. That number is unknown at this time and is based on individual cases.
This conservative estimate may not accurately figure in any additional costs that Medicare does not cover.
The bottom line cost is more than $6.7K plus.
Reminder: Our total annual premiums are 4,300 euros or approximately USD 4,600.
Savings: $2K plus.
Was it worth moving to Spain? Without a doubt.
Visiting the hospital in the US with private health insurance was always a crapshoot because you never knew up front what the cost you would incur when all was said and done. Becky had both of her hips replaced in 2013, and we ended up out of pocket over $50K with private insurance.
And some people wonder why the US has so many yearly medical expense-related bankruptcies. This is one example.
To wrap this up.
Not only has the overall experience of receiving emergency and routine care been hassle-free and affordable here in Spain, but we are not stressed over deciding whether to take out a loan to cover any out-of-pocket expenses or break out the credit cards.
In the US, it would have been a default position.
Again, the primary reason we left the US was affordable healthcare. We have never regretted the move.
By the way, we were recently told that we can opt for public health insurance anytime. The cost for that is less than 2K euros per year.
And I haven’t even touched on the other challenges of living Stateside. Those of you who still live there know what they are.
My appreciation for all of you is never-ending.
AI use here? Nope. Move along; there’s nothing to see.
For another American perspective on healthcare across the border in Portugal: