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The World Health Organization ranked the healthcare in Portugal as 12th in the world (ahead of the UK in 18th). There are three types of healthcare in Portugal: the National Health Service (NHS), special social health insurance schemes and voluntary private health insurance. Read on to find out more about the healthcare system before you move to Portugal!
Searching for a health insurance plan in Portugal? Even though private is not as common as the national health service (known as Serviço Nacional de Saúde, SNS), it can be useful to access faster to treatments.
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Médis stans one of Portugal’s largest healthcare companies, with over a million customers. They provide an extensive range of plans, adjusted to all the needs of Portuguese citizens, legal residents, and expats. The company also excels in its customer service.
William Russell is a top provider of international health insurance, life insurance, and income protection for expats. They offer a personal touch and outstanding customer service. Their value is in providing peace of mind to expats who need to know that they are covered in case of illness or injury.
The healthcare branch of the known insurance company provides international plans to provide peace of mind to people who live or work abroad. They cover medical expenses, including doctor’s visits, hospital stays, and prescription drugs. Allianz Care also offers a variety of add-on benefits, such as dental coverage and travel insurance.
If you are looking for a reliable and trustworthy health insurance company, Cigna is a great choice. They have a long history of providing excellent service, and they are committed to helping their customers stay healthy. Cigna’s international health insurance plans also offer a variety of other benefits, such as 24/7 access to customer service, travel assistance, and wellness programs.
Bupa’s international health insurance plans are designed to be flexible and adaptable to meet the needs of different individuals and families. For example, plans can be customized to cover specific countries or regions, or tailor them to meet the needs of people with pre-existing conditions.
Before buying a plan, it’s important to weigh the pros and cons, to see what suits best your needs. You can also request free quotes from our partner International Citizens and compare companies!
Like in the UK, the NHS is managed by the Ministry of Health and financed through taxation. Legal residents receive free healthcare in Portugal is free. Although there are the necessary amenities and services in places out of town specialist treatments and more facilities can be found in big cities.
Despite having some of the best healthcare in the world several problems exist when it comes to healthcare in Portugal. Most of them stem from the fact that Portuguese hospitals are understaffed due to a shortage of physicians which leads to overcrowded wards and long waiting lists, especially for free consultations and basic services.
Although it is possible to use a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) for short stays if you register as a resident of Portugal you will need to obtain an NHS user card (Cartão de Utente). For this, it is necessary to go to the local medical centre with your passport and residency card.
Private healthcare in Portugal is expensive, especially without insurance. Despite this, private healthcare in Portugal is growing in popularity and is broadly seen as the best option to avoid queues and have access to the best doctors.
Although uncommon, it is possible to have private insurance negotiated into employment packages, something which is also becoming more popular.
Pharmacies in Portugal are usually open from Monday to Friday, from 9:00 to 13:00, and from 15:00 to 19:00. Over weekends on both Saturdays and Sundays they are only open during morning hours. A list of 24-hour pharmacies can be found in any pharmacy.
Most prescriptions are subsidized by the government through social security meaning that they are very low cost. Without a prescription, it is very expensive for even the most basic medication.
After paying into your social security you and your dependents are entitled to free or subsidized dental care. It is important to bring your Cartão de Utente to ensure that you don’t pay full price for treatment. Children between 3 and 16 years of age, pregnant women and pensioners have the right to receive dental care for free.
Are you ready to continue preparing for your move to Portugal? We recommend that you take a look at the articles linked below –they will be of great help! 😉
