What a mutual insurer (mutua) is and which one to choose in Bizkaia
What it's for and why you have to choose one when you register.
In a nutshell
- The mutua is the body that looks after you and pays you when you're off sick or after an accident.
- When you register as self-employed you have to choose one. It costs nothing extra: it's included in your contribution.
- In Bizkaia the closest one is Mutualia, the Basque mutual insurer.
When you register with Social Security as self-employed, you're asked to choose a collaborating mutual insurer (mutua colaboradora). Many people don't know what it is, so here's the explanation.
What it's for
- It pays your benefit when you're off sick or after an accident.
- It looks after you if you have a work accident or an occupational illness.
- It handles loss-of-activity cover (cese de actividad), the self-employed "unemployment benefit".
- It handles other benefits, such as the one for risk during pregnancy.
You don't pay separately. The mutua isn't insurance you take out. It's included in your self-employed contribution, whichever one you choose.
Which one to choose
They all provide the same benefits, because they're set by law. What changes is the service: having centres nearby, being seen quickly and easy paperwork. In Bizkaia we recommend Mutualia, the Basque mutual insurer, for its network of centres in the Basque Country.
You can change mutua later, usually with effect from the following year.
Frequently asked questions
Can I not choose a mutua?
No. Choosing one is compulsory when you register as self-employed.