There is a common misconception among Spaniards who have been living in Switzerland for some time. Many people still keep the health insurance card they were given in Spain in their wallets, believing it is still valid when they go on holiday or visit family. It is not.
From the moment you became a resident in Switzerland, your primary health cover became LAMal, the compulsory Swiss health insurance scheme. Spanish National Health Service no longer covers you. The card you had from your health centre in Spain ceased to be valid for you on the day you changed your residence, even though the card itself remains the same.
What you can do – and should do before travelling – is to apply for the European Health Insurance Card directly from your Swiss health insurance provider. Your LAMal insurer will issue it free of charge, usually within a few days and online. This card gives you access to the necessary public healthcare during temporary stays in any country within the European Union or the European Economic Area, including Spain. It covers emergencies and whatever the country’s public healthcare system would provide to its own residents.
What it does not cover is medical repatriation to Switzerland, scheduled treatments, or private doctors or clinics. If you’re going to Spain in August and need to go to A&E, you’ll be covered with your Swiss health insurance card. Without it, the hospital may charge you as a tourist from outside Europe. It takes just five minutes to sort out. It’s well worth doing.