Sanitas Health Insurance Spain - Covid-19 Information

At Sanitas we are working with the Spanish health authorities in a joint effort. Our team of more than 10,000 people in Spain is working tirelessly to face this emergency, together with the the government authorities. The healthcare system we have is excellent and by combining public and private resources, we make it even stronger. We offer our support, recognition and applause for the healthcare professionals who, every day, are providing a critical service. Together we will beat it.

WHAT ARE CORONAVIRUSES?

Coronaviruses are a family of viruses that usually affect only animals. Some have the ability to transmit from animals to people. They produce clinical reactions ranging from the common cold to some more serious but rare diseases. SARS-CoV-2 is a new type of coronavirus first detected in December 2019, which can affect people and causes COVID-19 disease.

This disease is called COVID-19, which comes from: corona, virus, disease and the year it was discovered.

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF COVID-19?

It looks a lot like other types of cold or flu that appear each year. The most common symptoms are:

FEVER COUGH FEELING OF LACK OF AIR

In some cases there may also be digestive symptoms like diarrhea and abdominal pain.

Less frequently, more serious cases can appear causing pneumonia, characterized by significant difficulty in breathing, kidney failure and even in exceptional cases, death. These more serious cases, usually appear in elderly people or those who suffer from other heart, lung or immune system conditions.

HOW IS IT SPREAD?

Much like other infections caused by viruses, transmission is usually through contact with infected animals or through close contact with a sick person's respiratory secretions such as coughing or sneezing. These secretions would infect another person by coming into contact with their nose, eyes, or mouth.

IS IT VERY CONTAGIOUS?

It depends on the amount of the virus in the airways. For contagion to occur, direct contact with the mucus from the respiratory system of an infected animal or an infected person must take place and this must enter the system via the nose, mouth or eyes. Transmission by air over distances greater than one or two meters seems unlikely.

WHAT CAN I DO TO PROTECT MYSELF?

Generic individual protection measures against respiratory diseases include:

wash hands

FREQUENT HAND HYGIENE (WASHING WITH SOAP AND WATER OR ALCOHOL SOLUTIONS), ESPECIALLY AFTER DIRECT CONTACT WITH SICK PEOPLE OR THEIR ENVIRONMENT.

Coughing

WHEN COUGHING OR SNEEZING, COVER YOUR MOUTH AND NOSE WITH YOUR ELBOW FLEXED.

Disposable Tissues

USE DISPOSABLE TISSUES, AND THROW THEM AWAY AFTER USE.

Keep your distance

IF RESPIRATORY SYMPTOMS OCCUR, AVOID CLOSE CONTACT (KEEPING A DISTANCE OF APPROXIMATELY 1-2 METERS) WITH OTHER PEOPLE.

Avoid touching face

AVOID TOUCHING YOUR EYES, NOSE AND MOUTH, AS THE HANDS FACILITATE TRANSMISSION.

DOES MY SANITAS INSURANCE COVER ME IF I HAVE SYMPTOMS OR HAVE A CORONAVIRUS?

Although the WHO has declared the coronavirus a pandemic, given the extraordinary situation we are facing, we currently confirm that Sanitas continues to provide COVID-19-related healthcare to people who need it.

We continue to analyze how the situation evolves, which changes very rapidly, to continue collaborating with health authorities in managing this emergency and to provide the best service to our clients and the rest of society.

If you think you may have the disease because you have compatible symptoms (fever, tiredness, dry cough or difficulty breathing) you should stay at home and contact health services. You can call the 24-hour medical advice telephone number of Sanitas which can be found on your membership card, or the authorized telephone number of your Autonomous Community. If your shortness of breath worsens or if you feel any symptoms are becoming severe you can call the Sanitas 24-hour medical emergency number so that an assessment can be undertaken and you will be informed of how you should proceed. As there is pressure on our hospitals that are treating patients with coronavirus, it is important to only go to hospital if your symptoms are severe, so as not to saturate the facilities.

Sanitas is constantly coordinating efforts with the Ministry of Health and the various health departments of the autonomous communities to provide care to people with symptoms of Covid-19 infection, in accordance with the healthcare protocol established by the authorities in Public Health.

ATTENTION NUMBERS OF EACH AUTONOMOUS COMMUNITY

ANDALUCÍA 955 545 060	EXTREMADURA saludextremadura.ses.es
ARAGÓN 061	GALICIA 900 400 116
ASTURIAS 112	ISLAS BALEARES 061
CANTABRIA 112 y 061	CANARIAS 900 112 061
CASTILLA LA MANCHA 900 122 112	LA RIOJA 061
CASTILLA Y LEÓN 900 222 000	MELILLA ingesa.mscbs.gob.es
CATALUÑA 061	MURCIA 900 121 212
CEUTA 900 720 692	NAVARRA 948 290 290
C. MADRID 900 102 112	PAÍS VASCO 900 203 050
C. VALENCIANA 900 300 555

ANDALUCÍA – 955 545 060

ARAGÓN – 061

ASTURIAS – 112

CANTABRIA – 112 y 061

CASTILLA LA MANCHA – 900 122 112

CASTILLA Y LEÓN – 900 222 000

CATALUÑA – 061

CEUTA – 900 720 692

C. MADRID – 900 102 112

C. VALENCIANA – 900 300 555

EXTREMADURA – saludextremadura.ses.es

GALICIA – 900 400 116

ISLAS BALEARES – 061

CANARIAS – 900 112 061

LA RIOJA – 061

MELILLA – ingesa.mscbs.gob.es

MURCIA – 900 121 212

NAVARRA – 948 290 290

PAÍS VASCO – 900 203 050

For other medical consultations or advice Information on prevention, contagion... Call the Sanitas 24-hour medical advice number which can be found on the back of your membership card

OTHER COMMON QUESTIONS

WHAT IS THE SITUATION IN SPAIN?

There is currently widespread sustained community transmission in Spain. You can check the updated situation at the following link:

Current Situation in Spain

AM I COVERED FOR ASSISTANCE ABROAD?

Although the WHO has decreed the coronavirus as a pandemic, given the extraordinary situation we are facing, we currently confirm that Sanitas continues to provide COVID-19 related healthcare to people who need it. We are continuing to analyze how the situation is evolving, which changes very rapidly, and are collaborating with health authorities in managing this emergency and to provide the best service to our clients and the rest of society. Therefore, our emergency assistance coverage abroad still includes cover for Covid-19, within the limits of the product. You can check the details in your contract via your Mi Sanitas online account or the Sanitas App.

IS THERE A TREATMENT FOR COVID-19?

There is currently no specific treatment for the new coronavirus, but some antivirals are being used that have shown some efficacy. These drugs require a prescription, so if necessary, your doctor will prescribe the medication. Self-medication is not advisable in any case.

ARE ANTIBIOTICS EFFECTIVE IN TREATING CORONAVIRUS?

No, antibiotics don't work against viruses, they only work against bacterial infections. This is a virus, and therefore antibiotics should not be used as a means of prevention or treatment.

IS THE USE OF IBUPROFEN INAPPROPRIATE?

The Ministry of Health has reported that there is currently no data to confirm that ibuprofen and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs cause an exacerbation of coronavirus or COVID19 infection, so there is no reason for patients who are under chronic treatment with these medications interrupt them.

I AM PREGNANT, AM I MORE AT RISK?

At the moment, it has not been scientifically proven that pregnant women are more susceptible to contagion with the coronavirus, so it is recommended to follow the same steps to prevent infection as those defined for the rest of the population.

ARE MASKS GOOD FOR ANYTHING?

The WHO warns that if you are healthy, you only need to wear a mask if you are going to care for someone who is suspected of being infected. In the case of coughing or sneezing, the mask can be used to prevent the spread of saliva droplets, but it must be used and disposed of correctly.

The WHO further recalls that masks are only effective if combined with frequent hand washing with a hydro-alcohol solution or with soap and water.

WHAT IS QUARANTINE AND WHAT ROLE DOES IT PLAY IN PREVENTING COVID-19?

It is the separation and restriction of movement imposed on a person who may have been in contact with a source of infection but who has no symptoms. The objective of the quarantine is to ensure that, in the event that the person has been infected, they do not transmit the infection to others. Quarantining only makes sense for those diseases that can be transmitted during the asymptomatic period, that is, before the person shows symptoms of disease. Based on the information currently available, a 14-day quarantine has been established for Covid-19.

HOW TO PUT ON, WEAR, TAKE OFF AND DISCARD A MASK

Remember that only healthcare workers, caregivers, and people with respiratory symptoms such as fever and cough should wear a mask.
Before touching the mask, wash your hands with an alcohol-based disinfectant or soap and water.
Inspect the mask for tears or holes.
Make sure that the the top of the mask is in the correct place (where the metal strip is located).
Be sure that the correct side of the mask faces outwards (the colored side).

Put the mask on your face. Pinch the metal strip or stiff edge of the mask so that it fits shape of your nose.
Pull down on the bottom of the mask to cover your mouth and chin.
After using it, remove the mask; remove the elastic straps from behind the ears keeping the mask away from the face and clothing, so as not to touch the potentially contaminated surfaces of the mask.
Dispose of the mask in a closed container immediately after use.
Wash your hands after touching or disposing of the mask. Use an alcohol-based disinfectant or, if they are visibly dirty, wash them with soap and water.

ARE TESTS BEING DONE TO DIAGNOSE THE INFECTION?

In the current scenario of sustained community transmission, tests have been prioritized for patients who have been hospitalised or who need to be hospitalised and also for health and socio-health professionals or other essential workers with symptoms, to avoid transmission of the virus. Testing may also be made available for especially vulnerable people who have acute respiratory infections.

All Sanitas hospitals are trained to carry out this test. The tests will be carried out according to the protocols established by the Ministry of Health.

HOW IS THE TEST UNDERTAKEN?

Physicians perform a test called PCR (polymerase chain reaction) in a microbiology laboratory. These are the steps:

A sample is taken from the upper or lower respiratory tract.

Primers are added, which are molecules designed to connect to the virus genome.

The primers are extended, generating a replica of the genetic material.

Using this technique, multiple replicas of the original genetic material are generated. This makes it easier to detect viral RNA.

To consider transmission, two positive PCR tests must be obtained from alternative genes.

A sample is taken from the upper or lower respiratory tract. (a)
Primers are added, which are molecules designed to connect to the virus genome. (b)
The primers are extended, generating a replica of the genetic material. (c)
Using this technique, multiple replicas of the original genetic material are generated. This makes it easier to detect viral RNA (d)
To consider transmission, two positive PCR tests must be obtained from alternative genes. (e)

WHAT DO I HAVE TO DO IF THEY CONFIRM THAT I HAVE COVID-19?

If you do not have symptoms or the symptoms are mild, the health authorities will prescribe home isolation and hygiene measures to avoid infecting caregivers, such as the use of masks and hand washing with soap and water or an alcohol-based disinfectant. Most people (about 80%) recover from the disease without needing any special treatment.

If symptoms are severe, they will recommend hospital admission. There is no specific antiviral medication to treat Covid-19. Most patients recover with the help of supportive measures to alleviate symptoms.

CAN I GET IT AGAIN?

There is no scientific evidence to show that a person who has been infected with SARS-CoV-2 can re-become infected once the disease is overcome. However, the WHO has warned that those infected with COVID-19 can continue to infect even when they have overcome the disease, so it is advised to keep patients in isolation for two weeks after the symptoms disappear.

DO ANIMALS TRANSMIT THE NEW CORONAVIRUS TO HUMANS?

There is a possibility that the initial source was an animal, since the first cases were detected in people who worked in a market where there were live animals. However if you have pets at home don't worry, although it is advisable to wash your hands with soap and water after touching animals and to avoid direct contact with the animal's respiratory secretions.

ARE THERE ANY SPECIAL MEASURES FOR GOODS RECEIVED FROM RISK AREAS?

The European Commission has not adopted any additional measures in relation to the official controls that are carried out on the different goods for human use or consumption from the areas where there is sustained transmission. Therefore, for the time being, the same recommendations will continue to apply as up to now, and there are no specific restrictions or recommendations regarding the movement of goods.

IS IT SAFE TO RECEIVE A PACKAGE FROM AN AREA WHERE COVID-19 CASES HAVE BEEN REPORTED?

Yes. The probability of an infected person contaminating commercial items is low, and the risk of contracting the virus that causes COVID-19 from contact with a package that has been handled, transported and exposed to different conditions and temperatures is also low.

WIN THE BATTLE TOGETHER. THE MISSION TO BEAT COVID 19

We have treated more than 1,000 patients with covid-19. We keep working