Private Health Insurance can be a better option for Expats

Portugal has a good public healthcare system. However, many Portuguese and Expats choose to sign up for private health insurance as well. Health Insurance in Portugal is affordable and averages somewhere between €40 and €100 per month, depending on multiple factors like age and pre-existing conditions.

To visit a private Doctor in Portugal, you would typically pay around €50 to €100 per appointment. With insurance you can pay only a fraction of that. The benefit of using a private system is that you will see a doctor faster and in turn you will get referred to a specialist more rapidly. Private hospitals can be more modern and more importantly for Expats is the language factor: most doctors, nurses and attending personnel speak English (and other languages). In some private hospital chains, you can even select the Doctor based on the languages they speak.

If you purchase insurance, you will most likely use private hospitals for the majority of your needs, but it is important to realise that you will probably still use the public system from time to time. The private system is much smaller than the public system and if you need intensive treatment, you will possibly be referred to a doctor on the public system. Therefore, if you plan to stay in Portugal for a long period of time, it is always a smart decision to apply to the country’s public health care system (Sistema Nacional de Saúde). To enjoy your right to health public service, you must first register with the local council (Junta de Freguesia), where you must also ask for the proof of address, which you will need for your registration with the local healthcare centre (Centro de Saúde). You should bring your residency card (Cartão de Residência) and your visa as well.

A few things to consider when deciding which insurance product is the right one for you:

• International cover: if you plan to travel or spend a lot of time outside of Portugal, or plan to move within the next few years, you may want to consider a provider that has an international approach.
• Local hospitals and clinics – it would definitely be a good idea to check which insurances are accepted at the hospitals, dentists and other healthcare services you expect to visit.
• Age restrictions: many insurers will have age restrictions and will not insure those over 70. Therefore, you will need to start your policy before then or it would be advisable to search for an insurance that will.
• Pre-existing conditions: A health insurer cannot deny you coverage or raise rates for plans if you have a medical condition at the time of enrolment. However, there may be able to find health plans that are a better fit for you than others if you have a chronic, or pre-existing medical condition.
• Dental: Dental care is not usually covered on the public healthcare system and a visit to a dentist can be costly in Portugal. Health Insurance can significantly cut down the expenses to small co-pay.
• Pregnancy: pre-natal and birth care are free using the public system but many residents choose private hospitals where there is more privacy and they are likely to be more looked after.

Choosing and purchasing health insurance can be overwhelming, particularly if it is something you haven’t done before, and it can be difficult to know where to start. Banks in Portugal usually offer a discounted health insurance product and many expats even choose their bank based on this factor. Whilst this sounds like the easiest solution, it would be a good idea to browse around and see which other options you have available. A broker who can access the best options based on your needs might be useful or you can request individual quotes yourself.