How do I find a doctor in the cuadro médico in Tenerife?

In the insurer's directory you can filter doctors by province (Santa Cruz de Tenerife) and specialty. Before buying, it is worth checking that the clinics and specialists you need are nearby.

How does a network policy differ from a reimbursement one?

With a network policy you only see doctors from the list, but usually pay nothing on the spot. With reimbursement you choose any doctor, but pay first and are refunded afterwards.

What Is the Cuadro Médico in Spain and How to Use It in Tenerife

Q: What is the cuadro médico?

It is the list of doctors, specialists and clinics included in your policy. You book directly with any of them, and the visit is usually with no payment on the spot (or a small copay, if your policy has one).

When you take out private health insurance in Spain, it most often works through the cuadro médico — the insurer’s network of doctors and clinics. For new residents in Tenerife this is a key concept, because it decides which doctors you can see. Let us look at it in plain terms.

What the cuadro médico is

The cuadro médico is the list of doctors, specialists and clinics included in your policy. You choose any of them and book directly. The visit is usually with no payment on the spot — or with a small copay if your policy has one.

Essentially it is the “map” of your healthcare: GPs, specialists, labs and hospitals available through the insurance.

How to use it

Open your insurer’s cuadro médico directory.
Filter by province (for Tenerife, Santa Cruz de Tenerife) and specialty.
Choose a doctor or clinic and book.
At the visit show your policy — payment goes through the insurer.

What to check in Tenerife

Whether there are enough clinics nearby — so you do not cross the whole island.
The specialists you need — cardiologist, paediatrician, gynaecologist, etc. within reach.
Language — whether there are doctors who speak your language.
Hospitals — which clinics are available for hospitalisation.

Tip: check the cuadro médico before buying the policy. That is where the difference between two seemingly identical policies lies — one has a rich network in Tenerife, the other almost empty.

Network or reimbursement

Network policy (cuadro médico): only doctors from the list, but the visit is with no payment on the spot.
Reimbursement policy (reembolso): any doctor, but you pay first and are refunded afterwards.

Many policies combine both formats — you can use the network and reimbursement.

How much it costs

Network policies are usually more affordable than reimbursement ones. The exact price is calculated individually — by age, cover and family. The estimate is free and commits you to nothing.

Want to check how convenient your network of doctors will be in Tenerife? Just ask in the chat — we will help you make sense of it and prepare a free estimate with a manager.