Health insurance in Portugal

Thanks to European healthcare coordination agreements, European expatriates can benefit from the same healthcare and reimbursement conditions as the Portuguese via the public healthcare system SNS (Servicio nacional de Saùde) which has various health centres throughout the country (Centros de Saúde). Registration with the SNS is mandatory as soon as you begin working in Portugal. In order to do so, you must go to your local healthcare centre with valid ID (passport or national identity card), a certificate of social security registration and a document proving your residency in Portugal: a health card (cartão de utente do SNS) and a “family” doctor will be assigned to you. In fact, with the Portuguese public healthcare system, no one chooses their doctor and pre-authorisation is needed to consult a specialist.

In the event of an emergency, patients may go the closest Serviço de Atendimento Permanente or hospital: the integrated medical emergency system may be contacted by calling 112 or the medical emergency number (+351) 808 242 424.

Portugal is ranked 14th by the HCP (Health Consumer Powerhouse), a Swedish organisation that assesses the healthcare systems in 35 European countries. Even if care in the Portuguese public health system is of quality, the constraint of an imposed primary care doctor and long waiting periods before being able to see a specialist or have an operation often forces people to turn to the private healthcare sector. The social security system in Portugal does not reimburse “private” medical costs: patients must pay all of these medical fees.

Therefore, health insurance allows patients to bear the costs of the private healthcare system by facilitating access to the best quality health services.

Depending on your needs, your health insurance in Portugal will either allow you access to a network of healthcare services or a “premium” option with free choice of doctors. In the first case, the insured chooses providers from the insurance company’s approved list (doctors, clinics, hospitals) to benefit from reduced rates while with the free-choice option, the insured pays all costs in advance which are later reimbursed at the percentage covered by the policy.

Keeping your insurance in UK with covers that extend to the country where you decide to move to seems like the simplest option in the beginning. Nonetheless, besides reimbursement conditions that poorly adapt to the local healthcare system and the longer reimbursement periods, this solution may prove to be rather costly in practice. Now then, although you may often choose automobile or home insurance based on the price, with health insurance, it’s best to consider the guarantees as well as speed of reimbursement above all else. Beyond the traditional covers (hospitalisation, care in the event of illness or an accident), you should verify whether the health insurance policy in Portugal actually corresponds to your needs: if you travel often, is the cover valid abroad? Would you like to continue seeing your habitual specialist in UK? How often do you go to the doctor (occasionally, frequently)?

We adapt your health insurance policy in Portugal to your needs. Don’t think twice about contacting us so we can present you with a health insurance solution that best adapts to your own needs.

The policies signed in the country of residence usually include cover abroad for periods of 60 to 180 days, depending on the contract. This guarantee is for emergencies or accidents only.

Upon signing a health insurance policy, you will be issued a health card: it covers all the members of your family for whom you pay the premium. With this card, you may access the hospitals and doctors approved by the chosen insurance company and benefit from single rooms in the event of hospitalisation, for example. Finally, if you have a need while traveling outside Portugal, your health card will allow you access to repatriation and travel assistance services.