Public care. Primary care is provided at the Las Lagunas health centre (Calle La Unión) and the La Cala de Mijas health centre (Avenida Sierra de las Nieves 4), both open Monday to Friday from 8am to 8pm, and at the Mijas Pueblo clinic (Plaza de la Paz), open weekday mornings from 8am to 3pm (SAS, Las Lagunas (opens in a new tab); La Cala (opens in a new tab); Mijas Pueblo (opens in a new tab)). CARE Mijas, in Las Lagunas (Avenida de las Margaritas), provides specialist outpatient appointments and diagnostics within the Hospital Universitario Costa del Sol network, including cardiology, dermatology, respiratory medicine, ophthalmology, gynaecology, urology and radiology (Hospital Costa del Sol (opens in a new tab)). For urgent public care, use the Las Lagunas service details published by SAS. The network’s hospital is in Marbella, about 30 km and 27 minutes away by road (Rome2Rio, October 2026). In January 2026 the Andalusian health service announced plans for a 12,365 m² healthcare centre in Las Lagunas, bringing together specialist services and round-the-clock urgent care (SAS (opens in a new tab)).
Private care. Vithas Xanit International Hospital, in neighbouring Benalmádena, provides round-the-clock adult and paediatric emergency care (Vithas (opens in a new tab)), and Hospital Quirónsalud Marbella has 24-hour emergency services (Quirónsalud (opens in a new tab)). In Fuengirola, Centro Médico Quirónsalud lists 24-hour general urgent care (Quirónsalud (opens in a new tab)).
How international residents get cover
Eligible pensioners may register an S1 form issued by the country responsible for their healthcare, after which they are treated on the same terms as someone insured in Spain. This can include EU, EEA and Swiss pensioners and people receiving a UK State Pension; eligibility depends on your circumstances, so check with the issuing authority before moving (Your Europe, European Commission (opens in a new tab); GOV.UK (opens in a new tab)).
The EHIC is not the route for a permanent move: it covers medically necessary treatment during temporary stays. This is one of the most common misunderstandings among people moving abroad.
Non-lucrative residence holders need qualifying public or private health insurance with an insurer authorised in Spain (Ministerio de Inclusión (opens in a new tab)). Check the detailed requirements published by your Spanish consulate before you apply.
Private premiums depend on age, family composition, pre-existing conditions and level of cover, so ask insurers for quotes for your own profile.
