Healthcare in Portugal | Advice for Expats
Portugal's healthcare system is highly regarded, ranking 12th globally in 2022, as per the World Health Organisation.
The ecosystem consists of two parts, public and private.
The Serviço Nacional de Saúde (SNS), is responsible for delivering healthcare to all residents through the public system. Through the SNS all healthcare is subsidized with certain groups being wholly funded by the scheme. Children under 12, the unemployed, and those with a disability receive full coverage at no cost.
The cost of care in the public system can vary based on factors such as the doctor's experience, level of speciality and location of the facility. As an example, you can expect to pay around €5 for a GP visit and about €8 for a specialist. Other costs like an overnight stay in a hospital or special medical exams can range between €25 a night and €40 per exam.
Private Healthcare in Portugal
Private care in Portugal is relatively affordable when compared to other European countries and there are various options for your consideration. Names you might come across are Fidelidade, AXA and Médis as medical insurers and Hospital da Luz, Grupo HPA Saúde and Hospital CUF as healthcare facilities.
Your premium will be dependent on various factors such as age, preexisting conditions and level of cover bought. A couple in their 60’s could reasonably expect to pay in the range of about €300 per month for comprehensive cover.
As for what it might cost for a GP visit in a private facility, bargain on about €80 without a private medical plan and as low as €15 with a comprehensive plan. An overnight stay without cover could see you paying in the region of €200 -€400 per night, with that being dramatically lower with cover.
The question now becomes, does one need private cover in Portugal?
The answer comes down to a mixture of preference, personal medical circumstances, and your cost considerations. Most expats do however opt to take some form of private health care.
Healthcare in Portugal for Expats
Some of the questions you might want to think about are:
What are your unique medical circumstances and requirements?
If you have a chronic illness and need to see a specialist regularly, private cover would avoid you having to wait in long ques for care.What is the medical infrastructure in the area you plan on living?
Living in a small town in central Portugal may be your dream. However, it also means that you'll have to travel further for specialised and private healthcare. Bigger cities and towns like Lisbon, Porto and those in the Algarve will have plenty of options for both public and private care options.Are the doctors and staff in the facility I plan on going to able to speak English?
If you are going to use the public system especially in more rural areas, you’ll need to sharpen up your Portuguese. In the private system most staff and doctors will speak a reasonable level of English.Is it affordable long term?
Plans will offer different levels of cover at different premium levels. Higher premiums may take more out of your budget on a monthly basis but save you money over time by lowering the out of pocket costs of care.
Wealth Management Portugal
For any queries related to life insurance policies, financial advice or general planning, please feel free to contact us using the form below.
The Wealth Genesis provides regulated and independent expat financial advice in Portugal. We have advisers in Faro, Lisbon and Madeira.
