A couple of quick health care questions
#16
Just Joined
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 18
Re: A couple of quick health care questions
Yes, I'm not willing to risk not getting it. It took me some time to get authorization here and only the university clinic could prescribe it and not get trouble from the health providers. Hopefully, I can get into contact with a doctor who knows the situation with this medicine in Portugal.
#17
Re: A couple of quick health care questions
Private insurance, the one I have at least, has very limited cover for medications.
When you get your government PT health card, and prescriptions are made with that number on it [even from private doctors or private hospital] you buy with a steep discount that varies with the medication, but for expensive meds the discount is usually very high.
Of course this depends on whether the med in question is available here for your condition.
When you get your government PT health card, and prescriptions are made with that number on it [even from private doctors or private hospital] you buy with a steep discount that varies with the medication, but for expensive meds the discount is usually very high.
Of course this depends on whether the med in question is available here for your condition.
#18
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 360
Re: A couple of quick health care questions
Yes, I'm not willing to risk not getting it. It took me some time to get authorization here and only the university clinic could prescribe it and not get trouble from the health providers. Hopefully, I can get into contact with a doctor who knows the situation with this medicine in Portugal.
On this forum, I have seen praise for the Portuguese pharmacies.
A visit to a couple of pharmacies, to ask about the medication you require, might be fruitful.
#19
Re: A couple of quick health care questions
Lista de medicamentos do Infarmed | Atlas da Saúde
#20
Just Joined
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 18
Re: A couple of quick health care questions
Thanks - I've checked Inframed already and it was marked as "Not Marketed" so I called the manufacturer and they told me yes it's available in Portugal but can only be obtained at a hospital and not at pharmacies. It could be because it has to be refrigerated but also could be because it is expensive too. Next step is to find a hospital doctor in Portugal to ask if they would prescribe it and if they have been successful in doing so.
#21
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Joined: Aug 2012
Location: Viana do Castelo
Posts: 1,385
Re: A couple of quick health care questions
Perhaps this info will help some people. We dumped our Allianz Medical Insurance and opted for state medical.
We got our SNS medical cards and saved us some €1 350,00 pa.
I then went to my "Family Doctor" and paid €2.50 for my script. Did not see the doctor but placed my script with the staff.
A few days later I got an SMS for the medication and showed it to the pharmacy staff.
Got my meds at 30% of the price I paid at the same pharmacy when I was on private med insurance. Never mind the €12,50 I had to pay per visit privately.
So I saved €10 for the appointment and about €8 for the medication. This equates to €54 every 3 months or €216 pa plus €1 350,00 to total of
€1 566 .00 pa savings. How good is that for a cheapskate and freeloader like me?
We got our SNS medical cards and saved us some €1 350,00 pa.
I then went to my "Family Doctor" and paid €2.50 for my script. Did not see the doctor but placed my script with the staff.
A few days later I got an SMS for the medication and showed it to the pharmacy staff.
Got my meds at 30% of the price I paid at the same pharmacy when I was on private med insurance. Never mind the €12,50 I had to pay per visit privately.
So I saved €10 for the appointment and about €8 for the medication. This equates to €54 every 3 months or €216 pa plus €1 350,00 to total of
€1 566 .00 pa savings. How good is that for a cheapskate and freeloader like me?
#22
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Joined: Jul 2017
Location: Algarve
Posts: 569
Re: A couple of quick health care questions
Perhaps this info will help some people. We dumped our Allianz Medical Insurance and opted for state medical.
We got our SNS medical cards and saved us some €1 350,00 pa.
I then went to my "Family Doctor" and paid €2.50 for my script. Did not see the doctor but placed my script with the staff.
A few days later I got an SMS for the medication and showed it to the pharmacy staff.
Got my meds at 30% of the price I paid at the same pharmacy when I was on private med insurance. Never mind the €12,50 I had to pay per visit privately.
So I saved €10 for the appointment and about €8 for the medication. This equates to €54 every 3 months or €216 pa plus €1 350,00 to total of
€1 566 .00 pa savings. How good is that for a cheapskate and freeloader like me?
We got our SNS medical cards and saved us some €1 350,00 pa.
I then went to my "Family Doctor" and paid €2.50 for my script. Did not see the doctor but placed my script with the staff.
A few days later I got an SMS for the medication and showed it to the pharmacy staff.
Got my meds at 30% of the price I paid at the same pharmacy when I was on private med insurance. Never mind the €12,50 I had to pay per visit privately.
So I saved €10 for the appointment and about €8 for the medication. This equates to €54 every 3 months or €216 pa plus €1 350,00 to total of
€1 566 .00 pa savings. How good is that for a cheapskate and freeloader like me?
I agree with you. For me the most frightening would be unnessesary check-ups within the private sector, so that they keep themselves busy. It is all about money money money.
The combination money and health is for me an unhealthy one ......
Another thing is that those expats who will leave Portugal several months yearly, will continue to pay for the private health insurance and get (almost) nothing in return.
Last edited by Pilou; Mar 21st 2018 at 9:15 pm.
#23
Re: A couple of quick health care questions
The insurance company bean counters don't allow unnecessary procedures. Every single test is queried. Indeed, people complain about it both ways!
Recently I was in for kidney stones; the specialist said he'll order just a few essential checks.
I told him order as many as he can; early detection of disease is a life saver. I'll cover the copay.
In any case, the private plans might not benefit the OP, as they cover little or no costs for medication.
However, in some cases at least, the private sector doctors can order procedures and meds to be administered at the public hospital. Of course the patient needs to have the pubic sector medical cover as well.
I think in this case, if the OP is serious about a move to Portugal, the only way is to come in person and inquire at the public hospital in the area of potential residence. Meet the actual specialist or assistant, with records in hand, and ask.
This is serious and costly stuff, if it turns out the required meds are not available then the move will have to be reversed.
#24
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Joined: Jul 2017
Location: Algarve
Posts: 569
Re: A couple of quick health care questions
Will I save time by doing this?
To see a skin doctor in the public sector, I need to wait more than 1 year. When the private doctor will tell me I have skin cancer, could I be treated in the public sector quickly?
Last edited by Pilou; Mar 22nd 2018 at 9:30 am.
#25
Just Joined
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 18
Re: A couple of quick health care questions
I think of it the other way around; more checkups are better, and the over stressed public sector is likely to avoid them.
The insurance company bean counters don't allow unnecessary procedures. Every single test is queried. Indeed, people complain about it both ways!
Recently I was in for kidney stones; the specialist said he'll order just a few essential checks.
I told him order as many as he can; early detection of disease is a life saver. I'll cover the copay.
In any case, the private plans might not benefit the OP, as they cover little or no costs for medication.
However, in some cases at least, the private sector doctors can order procedures and meds to be administered at the public hospital. Of course the patient needs to have the pubic sector medical cover as well.
I think in this case, if the OP is serious about a move to Portugal, the only way is to come in person and inquire at the public hospital in the area of potential residence. Meet the actual specialist or assistant, with records in hand, and ask.
This is serious and costly stuff, if it turns out the required meds are not available then the move will have to be reversed.
The insurance company bean counters don't allow unnecessary procedures. Every single test is queried. Indeed, people complain about it both ways!
Recently I was in for kidney stones; the specialist said he'll order just a few essential checks.
I told him order as many as he can; early detection of disease is a life saver. I'll cover the copay.
In any case, the private plans might not benefit the OP, as they cover little or no costs for medication.
However, in some cases at least, the private sector doctors can order procedures and meds to be administered at the public hospital. Of course the patient needs to have the pubic sector medical cover as well.
I think in this case, if the OP is serious about a move to Portugal, the only way is to come in person and inquire at the public hospital in the area of potential residence. Meet the actual specialist or assistant, with records in hand, and ask.
This is serious and costly stuff, if it turns out the required meds are not available then the move will have to be reversed.
#26
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Joined: Aug 2012
Location: Viana do Castelo
Posts: 1,385
Re: A couple of quick health care questions
If the private doctor would tell me I need surgery, he can oder a surgery in the state hospital and give the details of the check-up that shows I need it?
Will I save time by doing this?
To see a skin doctor in the public sector, I need to wait more than 1 year. When the private doctor will tell me I have skin cancer, could I be treated in the public sector quickly?
Will I save time by doing this?
To see a skin doctor in the public sector, I need to wait more than 1 year. When the private doctor will tell me I have skin cancer, could I be treated in the public sector quickly?
#29
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Joined: Jul 2017
Location: Algarve
Posts: 569
Re: A couple of quick health care questions
If that would be the case, I would not stay in Portugal!
#30
Re: A couple of quick health care questions
No, I wasn't talking about cancers specifically. I was talking about using private consultants for referrals to the public service in general.
For example, waiting lists for ophthalmology are quite long in my area and as a result my wife uses a private practitioner. I don't think it would have been an option - or not one that would have provided a short cut, anyway, even if it were possible - to have him refer her to the public service for the 3 operations she had to undergo last year.
For example, waiting lists for ophthalmology are quite long in my area and as a result my wife uses a private practitioner. I don't think it would have been an option - or not one that would have provided a short cut, anyway, even if it were possible - to have him refer her to the public service for the 3 operations she had to undergo last year.