Health Insurance

Program fees paid by WIP students include a group health insurance policy that will cover a range of medical situations, including emergency medical evacuation. All students will be required to pay in cash immediately after all medical treatment and then apply for reimbursement from the U.S. insurance company. In some cases, students can contact the group health insurance provider for their university to arrange for a guarantee of payment, and only be required to show your insurance card when you go in for the doctor’s appointment. You will receive more information upon arrival.

Medical Care

Upon arrival, you will receive the WIP Madrid program manual. Inside there is a section on Medical Matters with the names and phone numbers of recommended doctors. The American Association of Programs in Spain (AAPS/APUNE) has negotiated reduced rates for its students with two well-known clinics; both have English-speaking general physicians and specialists. When hospitalization is required, all necessary medical services can be arranged. Similar arrangements can also be made for non-routine dental care and extractions. When you go to a clinic or physician, take along the necessary claim forms to be filled out for insurance reimbursement or consult the WIP Madrid program manual for the clinics that accept your group insurance without charge for the visit.

If you need a specialist while in Madrid for a chronic medical condition, let staff know prior to arrival so that they can assist you in finding an English-speaking specialist in Madrid. You should also check the list of recommended specialists that can be obtained from the group insurance provider for your home university.

If you regularly take a prescription medicine, you should bring a supply with you for the entire year or semester if possible. Spanish law prohibits prescription medicine to be shipped to Spain by mail and will be confiscated in customs. (See the Shipping section for more details on items that cannot be shipped to Spain.) If necessary, a Spanish doctor can prescribe your medicine to you here if you have the main ingredients of the medicine along with a prescription and diagnosis from your U.S. doctor.