UK holidaymakers heading to Spain now have to adhere to stringent entry requirements or could end up with fines of up to £5,900 if they don’t show the right travel insurance. The Spanish government has implemented this new regulation, which dictates that all visitors must provide evidence of extensive health insurance in Spain before crossing the border into Spain. The decision is part of a wider update to Spain’s border control measures that will also have an impact on those who are travelling by air and rail.

Until now, UK nationals traveling in the EU could use either the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) or the UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) for emergency medical treatment. Those cards carried the most basic health treatments in Spain and other European countries. But these cards no longer satisfy Spain’s updated requirement, putting travelers at risk of steep fines or even being refused entry if they’re not properly insured.

Spain Makes it Mandatory to Have Travel Insurance

The Spanish government has introduced new rules that stipulate that all visitors to Spain from the UK must provide evidence of a comprehensive health policy as part of their travel insurance. This full coverage is a prerequisite for passengers catching their flights or trains to Spain. The new regulation has been introduced by Spain’s border authorities, with the help of transport firms, confirming that passengers who don’t meet the criteria won’t be able to enter the country.

Michelle Cooper, director of travel insurance at Saga, commented on the update, describing the major change in how travellers are having to factor in their trips. After the UK left the EU, many UK holidaymakers used to travel with the EHIC or GHIC cards, but that is no longer enough for Spain, she pointed out. Cooper stressed that travel insurance meeting certain criteria is now a necessary item for anyone contemplating a trip to Spain.

Fines and Denial of Entry

Consequences could be dire for anybody trying to travel without proper coverage. The change means that, under Spain’s new rules, UK tourists could now face fines of up to €6,900 (approx £5,900) or even be turned away at the border. This adds an extra layer of hassle for Brits travelling to Spain, particularly as many won’t have known that they would need comprehensive travel insurance until the last minute.

Recent reports show that many Britons are continuing to go abroad with no insurance. According to a Saga survey, 16% of those questioned confessed to travelling without insurance. This lack of cover could cause a significant financial burden, particularly since the cost of medical treatment in Spain can be quite high, even being one of the most expensive in Europe.

Minimum Health Coverage for Spain

Spain’s government has not specified exactly how much cover is required, but experts have advised that those travelling take out policies with at least €30,000 if health-related incidents occur. That figure should pay for emergency medical treatments, hospital visits, and even repatriation if necessary. This minimum is based on the Schengen insurance coverage and rates that will give coverage for short stays in the Schengen territory.

Travelers will also want to take note that the new requirements state that policies need to cover pre-existing medical conditions. This is also an important note for many older travelers or travelers with chronic conditions. Insurance policies that do not cover these points will be considered as not covering new entry requirements in Spain. And the policy should have a modest excess figure, usually around £50 and £250, which will be down to personal circumstances.

What Travelers Need to Consider

When choosing travel insurance, carefully read the fine print. Some policies won’t be valid under Spain’s new rules. As Michelle Cooper mentioned, some of the policies may be only basic coverages and may not satisfy Spain. Travelers should verify that their insurance specifically covers Spain and offers medical coverage for emergencies, hospitalizations, and repatriations.

Especially for travelers with pre-existing conditions, it’s also important to make sure these are covered as well. Spain’s new regulations explicitly specify that these are conditions for inclusion in the travel insurance. That also means such travelers who have heart conditions, diabetes, or other chronic health conditions are going to have certain requirements that their insurance offers them the necessary protections.

Getting Full Coverage for Your Vacation

Included in the new requirements is also the need to examine the excess under the policy. The excess may be per person, per incident, or section of the policy. For instance, a traveler who required medical attention and was forced to leave early may be required to pay two different excesses. It’s also important for travelers to select a policy with an excess that they can afford (especially if they are traveling with family members who may be required to pay their excess).

Understanding Spain’s Medical Costs

As elsewhere, medical expenses here can be extremely high, particularly should you require private treatment or emergency evacuation. The cost of medical treatments in more outlying parts of mainland Spain or the Canaries, for example, should be higher as a result of their geographic distance. For that reason, travellers need to check that travel insurance will cover these areas in full. Those traveling to more remote spots need to make sure that their travel insurance covers these kinds of scenarios.

Conclusion on Spain Requiring Tests You take Random The post Restart:

Spain Requiring Tests You take Random appeared first on Miles to Memories. The new standards of comprehensive health insurance add a new layer of responsibility to UK travelers planning to travel to Spain. Because of penalties for non-compliance, travelers need to figure that out ahead of time and make sure they’re covered before they leave. Spain’s new entry requirements are designed to protect travelers’ health, as well as protect the Spanish healthcare system, providing safety for travelers and minimizing the burden on local medical facilities.

So if you are travelling to Spain, having the correct travel insurance is essential; it’s not just a nice-to-have, it’s mandatory. UK tourists can avoid hefty fines or even be refused entry by planning and reviewing the details of the policy by taking out travel insurance suitable for their needs.

(Source: UK Government, Spanish Government, Saga Travel Insurance)