Retirement health insurance plans

As the years go by, many activities that were once completely natural and normal for us become, without us realising it, a chore. What do I mean? I am referring to actions like climbing the stairs at home, cleaning the house thoroughly, carrying the shopping bags, even going out at night and going to bed late. The years weigh heavy and the mirror proves us right. We keep fit, we try our best to delay the effects of the passing of time, but inevitably the time of retirement arrives.

We get older, and all that is weighing us down can become a real worry if it ends in an accident. An unresponsive knee going down the stairs, a fall while washing up in the kitchen, can lead to an unexpected fracture. That is why it is important to know the retirement health insurance plans available to us and how to choose the one that suits us best. In this article we will talk to you about insurance for the elderly in Spain, and give you a few tips so that you can make the best decision.

Health care for the elderly in Spain

As you may already know, all residents in Spain who have a DNI (National Identity Document) or a NIE (Foreigner's Identification Number) have access to public healthcare. In Spain, according to current regulations, the healthcare system has universal coverage for its residents. In addition, if you are a foreigner but a citizen of the European Union, you may also have access to public health assistance through the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). Note that the latter does not replace travel insurance, nor does it mean that all care is free. This will depend on the country or region you are in.

Thus, most Spaniards rely on their public healthcare system also after retirement. Currently, the usual age for retirement is 65 years old, but it is expected to rise to 67 years old in 2027. Despite the fact that the system offers such coverage, more and more Spaniards are deciding to take out private health insurance. If you are wondering why, the reasons are quite simple. Shorter waiting lists, quicker and easier access to services such as physiotherapy or a psychologist's consultation, and earlier diagnostic tests.

When is the best time to take out insurance?

Without exaggerating, we could say that the best time is now. Although it is possible to take out health insurance at any time, it is true that in Spain not all insurance companies allow adults over 65 to take out insurance. Many of these companies have plans especially aimed at people of retirement age, but you should not forget that the older you are, the more expensive the rate will be.

Once again, the best thing to do is to beat the clock by taking out insurance as soon as possible. Many plans increase their premiums from the age of 60 onwards, and of course it will also depend on the use you make of the insurance. Some insurers ask potential policyholders to complete a questionnaire beforehand to find out their current medical condition. Depending on your age and situation, they may accept or reject the contract.

To give you a rough idea, private health insurance in Spain can currently cost between €65 and €200 per month approximately, depending on the plan you choose, whether or not there are co-payments, age, etc.

Our recommendation for people over 60

If you are already 60 years old or older as you read this article, we have some good news for you. Caser now offers expat health insurance for seniors over 60, 75, and 80 years old. It's called Salud +60 and you can take it out with no age limit, something that is particularly difficult to find in the world of healthcare insurance for seniors. This Caser's senior healthcare insurance offers basic coverage such as access to primary medicine, 24-hour emergency assistance, diagnostic tests and dental health services. But the coverage doesn't stop there.

This insurance also covers annual check-ups, which are so important in the early detection of illnesses and help to prevent common problems in adulthood such as heart attacks and anaemia. Conditions that you can avoid with a visit to the doctor, a complete blood test or an electrocardiogram, for example.

And if you have surgery and you are hospitalised for 3 days or more, you also have the right to request home care. If you are interested and want to know more about this Salud +60 insurance, take a look at its website to find out the details of its coverage. And just as happens with all Caser insurance policies, you can find out the price of your health insurance in just a few minutes by consulting the online price calculator.

Prevention is the best choice

Beyond retirement health insurance plans, it is important to remember that, in both youth and adulthood, prevention is the best thing to do. Maintaining healthy practices and a good lifestyle is essential for older adults who want to take care of their health.

Among the basic practices, please remember to:

• Practice regular physical activity. Avoiding a sedentary lifestyle will be basic to avoiding physical and/or mental health problems. There are many different activities, many of them low-impact, such as walking or swimming.
• Maintain a rich and healthy diet. In this regard, you can take advantage of the Mediterranean diet, so popular in Spain, based on fruit, vegetables and healthy fats (such as those contained in oily fish and olive oil).
• Rest, your body will thank you for it. To do this, it will be important to maintain a sleep routine and limit naps to avoid getting up at night. An extra tip: maintain a good temperature in your bedroom. The ideal sleeping temperature is around 18°C.
  
  

Now you know that your good health will be your best ally, also when it comes to finding a good healthcare insurance plan with an affordable premium. I hope this article has helped you understand a little more about the world of retirement healthcare insurance plans and, as always, you can contact us if you have any questions. See you next time!