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 Serviço Nacional de Saúde (SNS) 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.

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 your home country 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 your home country? 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.

When you take out private health insurance, each insured person receives an insurance card. This card gives access to the doctors, clinics and hospitals included in your insurer’s network and allows you to benefit from the conditions of your policy (direct billing or negotiated rates, depending on the plan). Depending on the contract, it may also include benefits such as a private room in case of hospitalisation. For temporary trips outside Portugal, some policies also include travel assistance or repatriation services, depending on the cover selected.

Yes, for certain types of visas and residence permits in Portugal, private health insurance is mandatory if you are not registered with the Serviço Nacional de Saúde (SNS), the Portuguese public healthcare system. It is required for the D7 visa, the student visa, and for European citizens applying for residency without professional activity. The insurance must be contracted with a licensed company in Portugal, and must cover hospitalization, specialist consultations, and routine care. In some cases, a plan without waiting periods is also required. It is requested when submitting the application to the AIMA (the Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum) (formerly SEF). Registration with the municipal residence registry (registo de residência) does not replace health coverage.

For a D7 residence visa in Portugal, health insurance must be comprehensive and equivalent to the Portuguese public system. It must be contracted with a licensed company in Portugal, without copayments (copagamento), and must cover hospitalization, specialist consultations, and routine care. Some administrative procedures also require insurance without waiting periods. Not all plans are therefore accepted for this type of application.

Private health insurance in Portugal allows direct access to a network of private doctors and hospitals without going through the SNS. You pay a monthly premium and can see a specialist without a referral. There are two main types of plans: network plan (no upfront payment) and reimbursement plan (pay upfront, then get reimbursed). Unlike France, this is not a complementary plan but runs parallel to the SNS.

The SNS is a public system accessed through employment, social contributions, or the S1 form for European retirees. You rely on a public health center and must go through a family doctor to see a specialist. Private insurance operates independently: free choice of specialists, shorter waiting times, and private hospitalization rooms. The two systems do not fully complement each other but can be used simultaneously depending on your situation.

The cost depends mainly on age, city of residence, and coverage chosen. On average, an adult under 40 pays between €30 and €65 per month. Prices increase gradually after 50 and can exceed €100 per month. Plans with copayment reduce the premium but include a fee per consultation. Families often benefit from discounts when two or more people are on the same contract.

There is no single best health insurance for all expats in Portugal. Most companies offer different plans depending on age, city of residence, budget, coverage level, and administrative requirements linked to visas or residency. The best insurance is therefore the one that fits your personal situation and relocation project.

A retired expat living in Portugal may, depending on their situation, benefit from the SNS via the S1 form. Many retirees also choose to take out private health insurance for faster access to specialists, private clinics, and better comfort during hospitalization. The choice mainly depends on your SNS entitlements, age, and the level of service you want.

In many cases, health insurance in Portugal can be subscribed quickly. This mainly depends on the outcome of the medical questionnaire reviewed by the insurance company. Even if the contract can start immediately, some coverage may still be subject to waiting periods as specified in the general conditions.

Waiting periods are the time you must wait before certain costly treatments are covered. Generally, hospitalization and some medical exams have a 3–6 month waiting period. Maternity may require 8–10 months of continuous cover. Vital emergencies, however, are always covered from day one. If you were previously insured, it is possible to remove all or part of the waiting periods by providing a valid previous insurance certificate.

In Portugal, the rede de prestadores is the official list of doctors, specialists, clinics, and hospitals partnered with your health insurance. With a network plan, you must consult a professional on this list for your care to be covered. Insurers offer online directories to search by specialty, location, or language spoken.

Yes, you can freely choose your doctors within the network provided in your contract. With a rede de prestadores plan, you consult any specialist on the insurer’s list. With a reimbursement plan, you can consult any doctor, even outside the network, and be partially or fully reimbursed after paying upfront. In all cases, you can book directly with a specialist without going through a GP.