Health insurance

We use DKV.

But it's not just about cost. Accessibility and quality are the important factors. For a period of time, your PHI will be your only route to healthcare.

My wife became seriously ill last year, and DKV have been absolutely fantastic. 

BUT we have had to travel to obtain treatment and tests, mostly to the Quiron Hospital in Murcia. We have also used (I think) 8 other medical facilities in Murcia, Elche and Torrevieja. 

This seems to be quite normal. We have met numerous other people "doing the rounds" - each having different insurers.

Into the detail .... insurers may quote the various clinics and hospitals that they use, but in reality, they pick and choose exactly what services they contract for at which hospital. So if your insurer's brochure says that they use (say) Quiron or IMED hospitals/clinics, the city you have to go to depends on the medical service you need.   

We use a GP in our village (not the health centre) and she acts as the gateway into the DKV system - and she is very good at it. 

Our local GP works with DKV (which may be why our local insurance broker recommended DKV). So it seems that the most important thing is to have an insurer who works with your local GP.

We have a neighbour who uses a different insurer. Her nearest insurer-affiliated GP is 50 minutes away by car.

At age 60, DKV charge around 1000 Euros/person/year (assuming no awkward pre-existing conditions) for a Residency-qualifying non-copay policy. This seems to be about the going rate.

Thank you for your kind response. I will make some enquiries with this company. 
Kind regards

Sue

Bear in mind that if this health insurance is to satisfy Residencia requirements, it must be fully comprehensive and also cover all existing conditions.

Although we both have SIP cards, I tried to apply for DKV insurance a little while ago as we would have liked the additional option. We were refused, not on grounds of age, but for pre-existing conditions, none of which were anything other than those usually experienced by older men and which are perfectly well controlled by drug regime. They would have covered me, but omitting a couple of conditions from several years ago and unlikely to have any repercussions.

Many people on this forum have recommended Alfonso from Gran Alacant insurance who advertise on their forum, May be worth you contacting them.