TaviraTrog

Sounds good to me. So basically when I'm forcing down a glass of wine I'll tell myself and anybody else who'll listen that it's purely medicinal.

Thank you for your words of wisdom

CHOPPER

I am 56 my wife 44 and the 2 of us are in the Portuguese health system and we were never asked if we have PMI. Went to the social security office filled in the form there and then, they took a copy of our passport and residencia and it was as simple as that.

Joao

I wasn't asked to produce a private health insurance policy when I went to register with the Portuguese national health system. I suggest you contact the main office in Lisbon to gain correct information from the horses mouth.
Joao

contrada

thanks for the advice - i will contact Lisbon and get the official position

cheers all

derbyflan

Can you let us know what they said please?

Ta

Redlippie

Always.

contrada

response from Br Embassy in Lisbon on health care rights for EU citizens

15. Health Service

Under EU legislation and the Protocol on Medical Treatment that was signed between Portugal and the UK on 15 November 1978, British citizens who are legally resident in Portugal are entitled to state medical treatment on the same terms as any Portuguese national who is covered by the National Health service. Non-resident British visitors to Portugal are entitled to emergency medical treatment at state facilities on production of their British passport or European Health Insurance Card.

In order to benefit from state-funded health care as a resident, you should apply for a national health service “user card” (cartão de utente) at your local health centre (centro de saúde) producing your passport as evidence of national status, and your registration certificate (see paragraph 1 above). Until such a time as a registration certificate has been issued, you will only be entitled to emergency treatment from state facilities. Routine consultations, complementary exams, such as x-rays and blood tests, and prescriptions for existing illnesses only become available on national health service terms once a registration certificate has been issued and a user card has been applied for.

There is, however, one exception to this rule. If you are retired and are in receipt of a UK state retirement pension, you may apply for a user card and enrol with a state GP immediately on arrival, simply on the production of your passport and pension receipts. Though not obligatory, it is also advisable to obtain Form 121 from the Department for Work and Pensions before leaving the UK. This confirms your status as a UK pensioner to the Portuguese authorities, and speeds-up the issue of a Portuguese health service user card.

Please note that the only medicines that are available free-of-charge in Portugal, are those used to treat the sufferers of certain chronic illnesses. All other medicines have to be purchased, though many are subsidised to some extent when obtained on prescription and on presentation of a health service user card.

There are several good but extremely expensive private clinics in Portugal. If you are considering using private health facilities, you may wish to take out health insurance, either in the UK or locally on arrival.


hope this helps

cheers

chris101

We have residencia,and wasnt asked for anything to do with health cover to obtain it. (5 euros for both of us)
Chris

derbyflan

So basically.... PHI is not mandatory if you're planning on getting residency? Its only recommended for speedy and maybe more concentrated/dedicated healthcare like the PHI services offerred in the UK through organisatons such as BUPA?


Thanks for supplying the info Contrada

Basgooner

That I already knew, the reason I was asking is that my GF who is Portuguese believes it by far the best way to ensure so get quick effective treatment. This is somewhat backed up by my late mother who used to live in Estoril who often complained how long she had to wait for treatment at the local health centre and, invariably, she ended up going to private climnics and paying a fee at the door (expensive!) hence me asking about PMI.

Thanks to all anyway and, how impressed am I by the British Embassy inputting to the debate! Superb!