goins

Hello All, I will be in Portugal on February 26/2023, as a residence and I am looking for private health insurance and recommendations are welcome ty

wellinever

join AFPOP (expats group) ..............https://www.afpop.com/en/page?benefits=health-insurance
Then go online to `Medal` Portimao, and invest in the group Health insurance policy with Allianz, about as good as you will get

goins

So this is good until i get my Residence card Wellinever.... Thanks, a lot, much appreciated. After work i will check it out.

goins

This site asking for money and don't see the health INs I need

sportpix

I emailed them more than a year ago but didn’t even get a reply so decided they are not worth bothering with, in my humble opinion

Sunseeker1st

Once you have your Residence Card you are entitled to join thee Portuguese Health System which is virtually free.

Rambling archer

Goins - so perhaps you would be better looking at a cheaper insurance meanwhile such as Medis or if you have your Portuguese bank sorted now, see if they offer a medical insurance scheme ...?

Rambling archer

Or do it through a broker such as Abbeygate in Portugal or IBEX who are based on the Algarve but cover nationwide.

PiggyMalone

Anyone know what the private medical services are like and costs?

Rambling archer

Have a look at their websites and see the various grades of cover for differing premium prices. Another consideration can be, if you are going to actually need any of the services is to check on what is available in your area. For instance, Lisbon, and the Algarve and most of the bigger towns will have good coverage for general medical, dental, blood analysis and xrays/echgrams and a private clinic cum hospital. However if you are going to be out in the country or in a small town then things can get a bit limited. Example Medis in the Tomar area has two general medical doctors (GP equivalents) one dentist, no private hospital within their network but good blood and xray analyses. Also most insurances ask you to pay some contribution for each of your visits/treatments (in addition to the premiums) and the cover will be less if you have to use a services outside of their own network but local to your area ... It all needs investigating. If you get a free quote from one of the brokers, they will usually send you information on several, so you can see what is on offer and check on each one's website too for details. Costs vary wildly depending on how much cover you need, age can be a consideration and some will not take on people over a certain age, say 65 or 70 or 75 and some have no restriction on age, and then also some will not cover, or only at a reduced rate, any previously diagnosed disorders/diseases ... It is all in the small print !!

Sunseeker1st

https://www.grupohpa.com/en/

PiggyMalone

A comprehensive answer, thank you.

liveaboard

The original question is incomplete; are we talking about temporary cover for a few months until national health is available, or ongoing supplementary cover?

Then there seems to be some confusion between health providers and health insurance, which are separate. One provides, the other (hopefully) pays for it.
In the Algarve, there are 2 major private hospital groups, Lusiadas and HPA.
In Lisbon CUF seems dominant but there are many more.

There are many insurance plans too, who charge different amounts for different levels of cover and patient age.

Some people prefer the "free" government provided health care system. That's a different discussion that we've had a few times before.

So; to answer the question, we really need a more complete question.

goins

I am leaving on the 25 Feb and yes I got my Portuguese address sorted with the bank here in Toronto, and they can email the bank and give them all the info they should be able to set up my medical insurance my SEF appointment is a month later in Cavelha where I am staying thank you I will in the meantime get the cheapest medical insurance

wallya

Hi I was there this summer in (Lourinha Siver coast ) going to Immigration this March I took me 6 months to get the appoitment I have all of the documents they requiere ( Retired ) 1 of the documents they requiere is health insurance .and here is my take I do speak the lengauge been going to Portugal for 20 years finally Retired 3 years a go so I got a half decent Healt insurance for 180 Euros for a year deductible 15 EUROS and any big surgery only 500 euros deductible so i yhink i got a great deal alreary used twice and it was worth it OK here is the name of the company that insures our car and now my health (MULTICARE ) FILEDIDADE In Lourinha you can google and speak with the owner he also speak english very well So I hope that helps Thanks Wally