Sanitas vs Mapfre: Which is the Best Health Insurance in Alicante?
You're looking for health insurance and facing the big question: Sanitas or Mapfre? Both are leading companies in Spain, but when you live in Alicante, the answer isn't just in the general coverage of a policy. The real difference is on the street, in the hospitals you can go to, and in the person who helps you when you have a problem.
As a local Sanitas agency in Alicante, we know the terrain perfectly. We're not just going to talk about policies; we're going to talk about health in our province.
The Key Difference: The Medical Network in Alicante
Online comparators will tell you one policy has a 10-month waiting period and the other 6, or that one covers €12,000 abroad and the other €15,000. Those are important details, but the fundamental question is: If you have an emergency, which hospital in Alicante can you go to?
This is where the choice becomes clearer for a resident of the province.
The Sanitas Hospital Network in Alicante
Sanitas has built a network with preferential access to the most important private hospital groups in the province of Alicante. This means that with your Sanitas policy, you have direct access to top-tier centers such as:
- Vithas Alicante Hospital (Vithas Medimar)
- The entire IMED Hospitals network (Benidorm, Elche, Torrevieja)
- Quirónsalud Torrevieja Hospital
- HLA San Carlos in Denia
- Plus hundreds of clinics and specialists throughout the province.
Mapfre's Approach in Alicante
Mapfre also has a good medical network, but its strategy is different. They have an excellent Mapfre Salud Medical Center in Alicante for many specialties, but at the hospital level, the capillarity and agreements with major groups may vary.
The real question is: Is your trusted doctor or the reference hospital you want to go to in the Sanitas network or the Mapfre network? We help you check instantly.
Why Contract with a Local Sanitas Agency in Alicante?
This is the second major difference. You can buy online and be a policy number, or you can contract at our Alicante office and have a personal advisor.
- Personalized Management: If you have a problem with an authorization, a question about a reimbursement, or don't understand a co-payment, you don't call an 800-number platform. You call us, your advisor in Alicante, and we solve it for you.
- Local Expertise: We know the system. We know which specialists have the best reviews, which hospitals are fastest for a diagnostic test, or how to speed up your paperwork.
- Physical Office: We are here. You can come see us for a coffee and review your policy face-to-face. This closeness is the greatest guarantee of trust.
Technical Comparison: Sanitas vs Mapfre
So you have all the information, here we compare the key points that usually generate the most doubts between the flagship products of both companies (e.g., Sanitas Más Salud and Mapfre Asistencia Completa).
| Feature | Sanitas (e.g., Más Salud) | Mapfre (e.g., Asistencia Completa) |
|---|---|---|
| Dental Coverage | Included as standard (Dental 21), with over 30 free services. | Optional. Must be contracted as a separate supplement. |
| Age Limit | Very flexible. Allows contracting up to age 75. | Generally more restrictive, with contracting limits at 65 years. |
| Waiting Periods | Industry standard. (e.g., 8 months for pregnancy, 10 for hospitalization). | Often slightly shorter for some guarantees (e.g., 6 months). |
| Travel Assistance | €12,000 coverage included in most policies. | Very similar, with coverage also around €12,000. |
| Psychology | 15 sessions per year. | 20 sessions per year (expandable in cases like eating disorders). |
| Own Centers | Extensive network of Milenium Centers (many with integrated dental service). | Network of Mapfre Salud Medical Centers. |
Frequently Asked Questions about Sanitas and Mapfre
Is Sanitas more expensive than Mapfre?
Prices are very competitive and depend on many factors: age, whether you include co-payments, the city (Alicante has competitive prices), and promotions. Sometimes Sanitas will be more affordable, and sometimes Mapfre will. Therefore, the best thing is to do a personalized comparison. The dental coverage included as standard in Sanitas often makes the policy more cost-effective in the long run.
Which company has better reviews?
Both have millions of customers and reviews of all kinds. Nationally, Sanitas often stands out for its digital innovation (app, video consultation) and Mapfre for its reliability.
However, in Alicante, reviews focus on real-world use. Customer satisfaction almost always depends on whether their hospital (Vithas, Quirónsalud, IMED) is in the policy and whether their problems are resolved quickly. And that's where a local agency makes the difference.
Sanitas or Mapfre for You in Alicante?
If you are looking for a policy that gives you access to the broadest private hospital network in the province of Alicante (Vithas, IMED, Quirónsalud) and you value having a personal advisor to help you from a local office, Sanitas Alicante is your best option.
If your priorities are slightly shorter waiting periods for some interventions and you don't mind managing everything through online or telephone platforms, Mapfre is also an excellent company.
Talk to an Expert Advisor in Alicante, No Obligation
Still have doubts? It's normal. Choosing a health insurance policy is an important decision.
Come to our office in Alicante or give us a call. Without any commitment, we will put the Sanitas and Mapfre medical networks side by side, look for your trusted doctors, and give you a personalized quote.
At Sanitas Alicante, we don't just sell policies; we take care of the health.
