What a co-payment is
A co-payment is an amount — usually between €3 and €20 — that you pay every time you use the insurance: an appointment, a test, a physiotherapy session. The monthly premium is lower, but the real cost depends on how much private healthcare you use.
The practical rule: if you rarely see a doctor, a co-payment policy works out cheaper; if you have a family with children or frequent check-ups, co-payments add up fast and the no-co-payment policy ends up winning. There is a middle ground: capped co-payment policies, which set an annual ceiling on what you can end up paying.
What a waiting period is
The waiting period (carencia) is the time that must pass from when you sign up until you can use certain covers: typically 6 months for complex tests and surgery, and 8-10 months for childbirth. GP and paediatric appointments usually have no waiting period.
Important if you are switching from another insurer: many companies waive the waiting periods when you already had health insurance without interruption. It is one of the details we negotiate for you when you switch — changing insurer does not have to mean starting from scratch.
The fine print that really matters
Pre-existing conditions: illnesses you already have when you sign up are normally excluded, and hiding them on the health questionnaire can void the entire policy. Better to declare them and find the insurer that accepts them — they exist.
And mind your age: signing up before 55-60 is much easier and cheaper; beyond that, many insurers stop accepting new customers. If you are considering it, every year counts.
We work with the leading health insurers and will tell you, based on your age and real usage, whether a co-payment suits you and which company will waive your waiting periods. Free and with no obligation.