I was wondering what type of healthcare insurance is offered there?
How much is it? How much of your healthcare costs does it cover? How long does it take to get in to see a Doctor?
Thanks
@daniellamb397, there are several private health insurance providers, with several different plans (usually with co-payment, so you don’t have to pay everything in advance and then wait for a refund). However, many people don’t have private health insurance, because we have a reasonably good national health service available for everyone at low-to-zero costs. Also, since private healthcare costs are usually not nearly as absurd as in, say, the US, people might choose to just use private healthcare occasionally and bear the costs without feeling the need to have actual insurance.
Private healthcare is usually very fast and efficient for scheduled appointments and procedures, but for actual emergencies or complex cases, the public health system is often considered more robust. Many healthcare professionals work on both ‘sides’ simultaneously, anyway.
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How do you sign up for the national health service? What about drugs, are those available at a reasonable price?
Here’s the government info on how to get access to the national health service: Request the SNS’s user number - ePortugal.gov.pt
About the prices of drugs, I consider them generally affordable, but that’s subjective, depending, for example, on income and on how many different drugs a patient needs to acquire regularly. Most prescription drugs sold at regular pharmacies are partially subsidized, between 15% and 90%. Patients can always choose the cheapest available generic version for maximum saving. Specific drugs are exceptionally subsidized up to 100%. Drugs administered in hospitals to in- or outpatients, and drugs that must be dispensed exclusively at hospital pharmacies are free.
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I have been living in Portugal for five years and I have found state health care very good. I have a family Dr. with whom I have two general checkups a year. Blood and urine test are regularly done and are free. Heart and respiratory examinations are free too. Endoscapies colonoscopies are free but you may pay for the anesthetic 30€. Any issues you may have are always followed up with specialists. The system works well, a hospital will offer a translator if needed. But many staff speak English and are always helpful.
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I am an American with residency in Portugal. Most of my Portuguese friends only have the public healthcare and are very happy with it. You do need to be a resident to sign up for it, and with the current backlog for processing visas and residency permits I think there is some gray area on what you need. There is a company called Serenity that, to me, is worth hiring to help new residents navigate the healthcare system and insurance.
I agree with Joseph that the public system is excellent and even with private healthcare you will go through the public system for emergencies and specialty care for serious conditions like cardiac, cancer, etc.
One of my Portuguese friends had a heart attack a few years ago. He went directly to the public hospital and was seen in minutes. He was hospitalized for 3 weeks, had major surgery, and for all his part of the bill was 11 Euro, which I think he told me was more for the phone and internet than care.
I am retired but worked in US healthcare my whole career. What we pay in private insurance per month is less than one X-Ray copay or drug in the US - after insurance.
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