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You are here: Home Finance & Business Pensions & Insurance Guide to insurance in Spain

05/05/2009Guide to insurance in Spain

It can be important to take out the appropriate level of insurance when living in Spain. Here are some of the policies available.

Homeowner's insurance

The homeowner's insurance (seguro del hogar) covers your house, the home itself and the things you keep in it against disasters: fire, flood, etc.

The premium of the policy will depend on the value of the house, the things you keep in it and the risks you wish to be covered.


While a house is rented, it may only be insured by the landlord, the tenant may insure its content.

There is no law that requires a homeowner to have insurance, however, if you borrow money to buy a house, the bank will normally require you to contract, at least, a fire insurance to protect its interest until the loan is repaid.

Life insurance

A contract of life insurance (seguro de vida) provides that, in consideration of the premium to be paid, the insurer promises to pay the beneficiary an agreed sum upon the death of the person whose life is to be insured.

The person whose life is insured is generally called the "insured". The person named in the policy to benefit from the death of that person is called the "beneficiary". Where the policy contains the identity of the beneficiaries, they will not have to wait for the estate partition to be made in order to perceive the indemnity.

The insurance company normally requires a medical exam from people who are applying for life insurance.

The company may specifically exclude certain coverage, such as the coverage of death by suicide.


Health insurance


In this case the insurer agrees to pay to the insured a stipulated sum in the event of illness or temporary disability, as well as cover the cost of medical assistance.

There are two types of health insurance:

    * Medical assistance: The insurance companies have a wide range of doctors who may assist you. The coverage will depend upon the terms agreed in the policy.
    * The reimbursement of expenses for medical assistance. In this case you are free to choose the doctor and the insurance company will reimburse the medical expenses to you within certain limits.

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