The residence year can include specified countries
The applicant must evidence a continuous year of effective residence immediately before applying. The Ministry of Health says that residence in Spain or in another EU or EEA state, Switzerland or the United Kingdom can count towards that year. The applicant must also be registered on the padrón in a Spanish municipality when applying.
No other public entitlement
The applicant must not have access to public healthcare under another title. This condition matters for pensioners and workers who may have entitlement through an S1, Spanish Social Security or another recognised arrangement. Check that position before treating the convenio as an available choice.
The national fees
Checked 12 August 2026
Real Decreto 576/2013 sets the monthly amount at €60 for a subscriber under 65 and €157 from age 65. Those national figures have stood since 2013. An autonomous community may add services or set an additional amount, so confirm the current regional terms before applying.
Care included through the agreement
The agreement gives access to the common basic portfolio of healthcare services under the applicable public system. This covers the relevant prevention, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation services as well as urgent healthcare transport. Regional administration and referral procedures still apply.
Several outpatient benefits remain payable
The agreement does not confer the supplementary pharmaceutical benefit. The Ministry states that outpatient prescriptions, outpatient orthoprosthetic provision, dietary products and non-urgent healthcare transport carry a 100% patient contribution. Regular medicine and equipment costs therefore belong in any comparison.
Why it can matter after private refusal
The national conditions do not impose medical underwriting or a maximum joining age. That can make the route important for someone unable to obtain suitable private cover, provided the residence, padrón and no-other-entitlement conditions are all met.