Healthcare in Andorra: Hospitals and Health Insurance
Healthcare in Andorra
With a population of 70,000 in 2015, Andorra ranks 204th in the world by population and 200th by total area. The official language of Andorra is Catalan, with other recognized languages being Spanish, Portuguese, and French. The currency is the euro.
Andorra ranks 4th in world health ranking per WHO. In 2014, the total expenditure on health per person was $4,273, which is 8.1% of the GDP. Andorran males have a life expectancy at birth of 80 years, and females can expect to live 85 years. There are 3.91 physicians per 1,000 people in Andorra as compared with 2.56 physicians per 1,000 people in the United States.
Hospitals in Andorra
Andorra has only one hospital (200 beds), which is state-owned and managed by the National Health Service (SAAS). It is located in the capital city of Andorra la Vella, and is used by both public and private doctors. The private doctors can perform surgery and other treatments in exchange for being on-call for emergency procedures.
There are also 10 state funded health centers, a private geriatric center (50 beds), 54 pharmacies, and many doctors with private offices.
Health Insurance in Andorra
CASS is available to all those employed by an Andorran company. Depending on their salary, employees pay 6-9% of their wages and employers pay 13%. Those who are unemployed and self-employed make voluntary contributions of 200-400 euros a month. Coverage includes routine dental care as well as 75% of outpatient expenses, 90% of hospital costs, and 100% of work related accidents. Emergency medical care is also free to everyone. Over 90% of the population participate in this system.
About 25% of the population carries private health insurance in addition to their CASS insurance.
Travel (International) Health Insurance in Andorra
Many European countries offer European Health Insurance card (EHIC ) which offers coverage for emergency medical coverage when traveling to participating European countries. Travel, or international, health insurance provides comprehensive medical coverage when traveling outside of one’s home country. Travel health insurance is different from travel insurance, as the latter may provide only emergency coverage but not full medical coverage.
Travelers should check with their health insurance provider, as they may already have an option of international health coverage. If they do not, they can purchase travel health insurance from their home country or the destination country.
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