Sanitas vs DKV vs Adeslas: Best Expat Health Insurance Valencia 2026

Michael BastinFondateur, ValenciaMove

Résident à Valencia depuis 2016. Fondateur de BeTranslated. 25 ans d'expérience en traduction, interprétation et SEO multilingue.

Mis à jour le 9 mai 2026 par Michael Bastin

I have held all three of these insurers across nine years in Valencia. Sanitas first (2017-2020) on the basic plan. Adeslas next (2020-2023) when I switched for the dental coverage. DKV since 2023 because their app finally caught up. Each one has solved a problem the other one could not, and the brochure pages do not tell you which is which. This is what I tell every client during their first relocation call - which insurer fits which use case, what 2026 monthly costs actually look like, and when paying private is overkill versus when it is the only thing standing between you and a 3-month wait at Hospital Clinico.

The bottom line: If you are on a Digital Nomad Visa or Beckham Law setup, you must hold private insurance with no copay and full coverage in Spain - that narrows the choice. Sanitas wins on English-speaking doctor density, DKV on app and price, Adeslas on dental and breadth. The right answer depends on your visa and family setup, not on which brochure looks the prettiest.

The visa-driven split most newcomers do not see

Before comparing plans, decide which bucket you are in:

• Digital Nomad Visa or Non-Lucrative Visa: consulates require full coverage, no copay, valid in Spain, equivalent to Spanish public system. Sanitas Mas 200, DKV Mundisalud Elite, Adeslas Plena Total all qualify. Cheaper plans with copays do NOT.
• Beckham Law fiscal regime: technically you can also enrol in Spanish Social Security since you are a regular employee, BUT many Beckhamites add private insurance on top for English-speaking doctors and shorter wait times.
• EU citizen or settled resident: you can use the Spanish public health system (SS) for free after registering. Private becomes optional - you buy it for convenience, not access.
• Tourist or non-resident traveller: you do NOT need any of these. A travel insurance policy from your home country is enough.

Skip to the right section based on your bucket.

The visa requirements that decide which plan tier you need are spelled out in the Digital Nomad Visa Spain pillar and on our wider Health Insurance Spain guide, which compares public, private, and EHIC coverage.

Real monthly costs in 2026 (Valencia, 30-50 year old, no pre-existing conditions)

These figures come from quotes I pulled or my own renewals in early 2026. Your number will vary by age, smoker status, and any add-ons.

Children typically run around 40-60 EUR per month on family plans. Couples often qualify for a 5-10% combined discount.

Sanitas: the English-speaking doctor network leader

What it is best for: newcomers whose Spanish is still wobbly and who want a doctor who speaks English natively or near-natively, every visit.

Why I started here: in 2017 I had no Spanish at all. Sanitas Quironsalud network in Valencia included around 50 English-speaking GPs and specialists, with their language skill flagged on the Sanitas search interface. I never had to gesture about what hurt.

Strengths in 2026:

• Densest English-speaking specialist network in Valencia (Hospital 9 de Octubre, Hospital Quironsalud Valencia, plus a network of small clinics in Eixample and Ruzafa)
• Strong app for booking - typically 2-3 day wait for a GP, 1-3 weeks for specialists
• Maternity coverage is solid (waiting period typically around 10 months from policy start)
• 24/7 nurse phone line in English

Weaknesses:

• Most expensive of the three at equivalent coverage tier
• Customer service for plan changes is slow
• Some specialist add-ons are charged per visit even on no-copay plans
• Limited dental at the standard tier - upgrade required

Use Sanitas when your Spanish is shaky, you want maternity-grade pregnancy support, you value speed-to-appointment over price.

DKV: the app-and-price winner in 2026

What it is best for: settled expats whose Spanish is functional, who want a clean digital experience, and who prefer to spend less without losing coverage quality.

Why I switched in 2023: their app rebuilt from scratch in 2022 with chat-based GP consultations, instant prescription renewals, and integration with Spanish electronic prescriptions (the receta electronica). Bookings happen in seconds, not phone calls.

Strengths in 2026:

• Best digital experience of the three (chat consultations, video GP visits, instant prescription pickup at any pharmacy)
• Mundisalud Elite plan fully covers all visa requirements at around 60-80 EUR per month - cheapest visa-grade option
• Network includes Hospital de la Ribera, Hospital Casa de Salud Valencia, plus the IMED Valencia tier
• Clean pricing - no surprise add-ons in the standard tiers

Weaknesses:

• Smaller English-speaking GP pool than Sanitas (you can find one but the search is harder)
• Maternity has a 10-12 month waiting period from policy start
• Customer service in English is decent but not as polished as Sanitas

Use DKV when you can hold a basic conversation in Spanish, you live with your phone, and you want visa-eligible coverage at the best price.

Adeslas: the broadest network and dental king

What it is best for: families wanting one plan to cover everyone with strong dental and breadth across Spain.

Why I held Adeslas 2020-2023: dental. They include real dental cleanings and basic procedures in the standard plan, where Sanitas and DKV require an add-on or separate dental policy.

Strengths in 2026:

• Largest Spanish private network (well over a thousand hospitals and clinics across Spain)
• Dental coverage is the best of the three at the same tier
• Strong family discount - couple plus child can be around 30% cheaper combined than three individual policies
• Broad geographic coverage means you can use it across Spain (handy if you travel)

Weaknesses:

• English-speaking specialist density is lower than Sanitas
• App is functional but not as polished as DKV
• Some 2026 customer service complaints about wait times when escalating

Use Adeslas when you have kids, you want strong dental, or you travel a lot within Spain.

The hidden plays

• Cigna Global Health: not Spanish-issued but accepted by some consulates. Higher cost (often 150-300 EUR per month) but truly global coverage. Use case: you split your year between Spain and another country.
• Asisa: a fourth Spanish player. Slightly cheaper than Adeslas, smaller network. Worth a quote if you are on a tight budget.
• Sanitas plus Adeslas combo: some long-term residents hold a basic Adeslas family plan plus a personal Sanitas top-up. Costs more than one plan but solves family-and-language needs simultaneously.

Switching providers without losing waiting periods

A common trap: if you switch insurers, your new provider often imposes a new waiting period for maternity, surgery, and pre-existing conditions. To avoid this:

1. Get a carencias certificate from your current insurer documenting how long you have been continuously insured
2. Submit it to the new provider during enrolment
3. They typically waive or shorten the waiting period if you have been continuously covered for around 12 months or more

Time the switch carefully. If you are planning a pregnancy or surgery, do it BEFORE switching, not after.

When you should NOT bother with private

• You are an EU citizen with a job and Spanish Social Security registration - public is excellent in Valencia, especially Hospital Clinico and Hospital La Fe
• You have only basic medical needs and Spanish fluent enough to navigate public
• You are on a tight budget and not on a visa requiring private

The Spanish public system (SAS / GVA Salut) provides high-quality care. The private system buys you speed and language. Decide which you actually need.

For navigating the Spanish public system once you have it, see our walkthrough at Healthcare in Valencia for Expats. Most clients pair private and public from year two onward.

My personal stack in 2026

• DKV Mundisalud Elite - primary, daily-use, app-driven
• GVA Salut (Spanish public system) - backup, for emergencies and complex cases (the public hospitals have specialists private does not)
• No dental add-on currently - I see a private dentist out-of-pocket annually

Total monthly cost: around 70 EUR for DKV. Public is free.

Health insurance is one of the documents most clients struggle with during a DNV application. Our Valencia relocation services pack handles broker comparison plus enrolment so you do not pay for the wrong tier.