Health insurance in Andorra

Andorra has two sides to its healthcare system. Public CASS reimburses 75% outpatient and 90% hospitalization for contributors. Non-residents and tourists pay 100% out of pocket at tourist rates and must hold private cover. Quality is high but Andorra has only one main hospital (Hospital Nostra Senyora de Meritxell); complex cases referred to Barcelona or Toulouse

Nomads and expats typically use private clinics in Andorra la Vella (capital, main coworking incl. Hive Five and Ingeni). With an international long-term plan, you choose the clinic yourself and, where possible, the insurer pays the hospital directly so you do not have to cover a large bill on the spot.

Visa and residency rules in Andorra matter for two reasons: which permit lets you stay long enough, and whether private health cover is required as proof.

No formal tourist visa for most; Andorra only reachable by land via France or Spain, so Schengen rules (and ETIAS from late 2026) apply before entering. Stays count against Schengen 90/180

These rules apply to: Most non-EU do not need an Andorran visa but must satisfy Schengen entry at French or Spanish border; from late 2026 most visa-exempt need ETIAS to enter France or Spain. EU/EEA/Swiss may enter with ID card. Visa rules change often and depend on your passport, so always confirm with the official immigration service before you apply.

Yes. Your home-country public health insurance will not pay abroad for long, and the public system in Andorra is rarely a real option for foreigners. Without private cover you pay every bill yourself, from a GP visit to a flight home.

For a stay of three months or more, an international long-term plan is the only thing that really works. It is permanent, it covers ongoing and chronic treatment after the waiting period, and you can choose any clinic in the country.

The biggest real risks in Andorra are concrete and country-specific, not abstract.

Avalanches and off-piste skiing accidents in winter (Dec-Mar), winter road conditions and chain requirements on mountain passes, rockfall and closures on RN20 France access, altitude (Andorra la Vella ~1,020m, ski areas >2,000m), limited specialist medical capacity requiring cross-border transfer

Risk level: Very low (US Level 1; Numbeo Safety Index ~85, among safest in Europe). Main hazards mountain-related: avalanches off-piste, winter driving on mountain roads, rockfall on RN20 access from France. Good cover pays for both the treatment and the transfer to a specialist clinic.