Healthcare is the one area where "we'll sort it when we get there" can go badly wrong. Dubai and Spain both have excellent hospitals, but the way you get access to them works very differently, and neither looks much like the NHS.
Health cover in Dubai
Health insurance is compulsory for residents in Dubai. If you're employed, your employer must provide cover for you, although the basic plans can be fairly limited. Cover for your spouse and children is usually the responsibility of whoever sponsors their visas, which is often you.
- Check the level of cover: basic plans may limit which hospitals you can use and how much is paid for outpatient care.
- Look at maternity and dental: these are often excluded or capped, and maternity cover may have a waiting period.
- Consider topping up: many expats buy an international plan that also covers trips home.
Health cover in Spain
Spain has a strong public health system, and how you access it depends on your situation.
- Working in Spain: employees and the self-employed who pay into Spanish social security can use the public system.
- Retired on a UK state pension: you may be able to register an S1 form, which lets you use Spanish public healthcare at the UK's expense.
- On a visa: the non-lucrative and digital nomad visas usually require private health insurance from a Spanish provider, often with no co-payments.
- Later on: some regions offer a pay-in scheme, known as the convenio especial, once you've been registered locally for a while.
Plenty of people in Spain keep private cover even when they qualify for public healthcare, mainly for shorter waits and English-speaking doctors.
The gap nobody plans for
There is often a gap between leaving the UK and your new cover starting. A one-way travel policy can bridge it, but check it lasts long enough. The NHS isn't a fallback once you've moved: if you're no longer ordinarily resident in the UK, you may be charged for hospital treatment when you visit.
Pre-existing conditions
If you or a family member has an ongoing condition, check how it will be treated before you commit to a policy. Some insurers exclude it, some cover it after a waiting period and some charge more. Moving between policies later can make this harder, so it's worth getting right first time.
Next steps
Line up your health cover before you book flights, so there's no gap. Expat Confidant can introduce you to a vetted international health insurance broker who can compare plans for Dubai or Spain.
This guide is general information, not insurance or medical advice. Rules and policy terms vary, so check the details before you buy.