liveaboard

Yay!

DiDAN

After reading this thread I decided to apply for EHIC
Today I went to Loja de Cidadão and as I had no "marcação" (appointment) with SS I was just given a form to fill and an envelope with a tear-off coupon (with info on documents included and current date).
So I filled a form for me and added my wife to the same as a family member, included a copy of our ID's and dropped the envelope to the "mail box" on their table.
So no any temporary card.
Let's check if it works :-)
I'll keep you updated.

PS I've been provided with another piece of paper to fill in to make a "marcação", so I filled, dropped to the same magic box & voila received a message on my phone confirming date&time of appointment on the next week. I hardly believed it worked the same day.

AliceCaroline

We went to the citizens shop in Faro. No appointment needed there, they have a take a number and wait system.

DiDAN

In ours in Setubal you even need an appointment with a code to take a number... Probably they attend on wait system on other days and/or times.
Anyway it took far less than waiting in a que for hours...

DiDAN

No success.
Today my application was declined and I received this message via e-mail:
"Relativamente ao vosso contacto, informamos que não há lugar à emissão do Certificado Provisório do CESD.

O Sr.º ... e respetiva cônjuge, não exercem atividade profissional assalariada com períodos de seguro nesta instituição, pelo que não garante o direito à emissão do Cartão Europeu de Seguro de Doença (CESD). A cobertura de saúde na aplicação dos Regulamentos Comunitários está sujeita a condições especiais, nomeadamente ao estatuto profissional e de residência com registo ativo (trabalhadores, pensionistas ou membros de família)."

Kind of confused as of my understanding I don't need to be a worker in Portugal to benefit from EHIC.

Red Eric

According to the Social Security website (and assuming you are enrolled in the public health system) you are correct in that understanding :
Cartão Europeu de Seguro de Doença

AliceCaroline

The lady who served us thought we weren't eligible as we have no SS number. I do think this is a common misconception.

We were lucky that she decided to call someone to check. All I can suggest is that you go back and try again.

DiDAN

I was able to succeed with temporary EHIC for my wife as well (she's still waiting for her SS number) after a few e-mails. You never believe they replied to my e-mail and issued it within a day! With no need to visit them! :-)
Now we're waiting for the permanent EHIC cards sent to our address.

So the bottom line is
Everyone with Numero Utente can receive the EHIC card no matter if he/she works and has SS number.
You should pay attention of the clerk in SS that the card must be issued on base of SNS, not SS.
It costs nothing.

Red Eric

That's the ticket - good to know that understanding where you stood according to published documents helped you stand your ground in the face of a little local misinterpretation

mfesharne

I think you'll find the reason you were refused a Portuguese EHIC card is because you're in receipt of a UK state pension which means the UK has to pay the final bill not Portugal & you need to apply for a EHIC card from the UK.

DiDAN

Not in our case, we are not receiving a state pension and as it was mentioned anybody resident in Portugal can apply first for Numero Utente then for EHIC, no matter if he receives state pension anywhere or not.

mfesharne

Interesting......... In that case, I wonder if it's age related only in that you're over state pension age even if not in receipt of the pension......... Have you tried applying for a UK EHIC card to see what happens?

That said, Brexit might change things anyway

Red Eric

I think you might be labouring under a misapprehension DiDAN's sorted with a PT EHIC.

And under the circs as described above, Brexit won't change UK citizens' eligibility for EHIC if they're resident in PT, although who it is that issues them might.

DiDAN

You know what? We've received our EHIC cards...
Mine expiring on 2022, but my wife's expiring 10/2019
Nonsense!

RichardHenshall

Is that when she reaches state pension age or just Brexit Day?