What did you pay for private treatment? What about insurance?
Dec 23rd 2020, 10:40 am
#16
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 475
Re: What did you pay for private treatment? What about insurance?
Jus t picking up this instead of starting a new thread...
I'm interested to know a bit more if anyone can offer input.
Liveabroad (#8) mentions MRI, which is my query- I have a knee problem, fluid or something, which an ultrasound in Italy (in August, before I left) showed up nothing.
Having got my NHS number here, I had a doctor's visit yesterday at Portimao health centre, explained everything, showed him scan from Italy etc, and he wrote out an MRI prescription.
The health centre receptionist gave me a list of clinics (including Lagoacentro, which has clinics in Portimao, Lagoa, Albufeira, and Alban Tomè Clinic also in Portimao)..). I called the former clinic (Health Centre receptionist advised it was the best,in terms of equipment ...(?) ) and receptionist at Lagoacentro advises that an MRI isn't included under their agreement with SNS... So it will mean payment; I have no private scheme.
Two questions, basically: Is there likely to be much variation in cost of an MRI among different clinics?
Also, is an MRI not available in the public system, if I'm prepared to wait..?
Thanks for any input.
I'm interested to know a bit more if anyone can offer input.
Liveabroad (#8) mentions MRI, which is my query- I have a knee problem, fluid or something, which an ultrasound in Italy (in August, before I left) showed up nothing.
Having got my NHS number here, I had a doctor's visit yesterday at Portimao health centre, explained everything, showed him scan from Italy etc, and he wrote out an MRI prescription.
The health centre receptionist gave me a list of clinics (including Lagoacentro, which has clinics in Portimao, Lagoa, Albufeira, and Alban Tomè Clinic also in Portimao)..). I called the former clinic (Health Centre receptionist advised it was the best,in terms of equipment ...(?) ) and receptionist at Lagoacentro advises that an MRI isn't included under their agreement with SNS... So it will mean payment; I have no private scheme.
Two questions, basically: Is there likely to be much variation in cost of an MRI among different clinics?
Also, is an MRI not available in the public system, if I'm prepared to wait..?
Thanks for any input.
Dec 23rd 2020, 10:49 am
#17
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Jul 2017
Location: Algarve
Posts: 569
Re: What did you pay for private treatment? What about insurance?
I cannot help you, but my GP in Portimao sent me to Alban Tome clinic for a colonoscopy. I went there with the papers I received from the centro de saude. I needed to pay 28 EUR for the whole exam including sedation. The rest will be paid by the SNS.
Did you receive only a list with clinics or did the GP gave you another paper?
Did you receive only a list with clinics or did the GP gave you another paper?
Dec 23rd 2020, 10:59 am
#18
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 475
Re: What did you pay for private treatment? What about insurance?
I cannot help you, but my GP in Portimao sent me to Alban Tome clinic for a colonoscopy. I went there with the papers I received from the centro de saude. I needed to pay 28 EUR for the whole exam including sedation. The rest will be paid by the SNS.
Did you receive only a list with clinics or did the GP gave you another paper?
Did you receive only a list with clinics or did the GP gave you another paper?
I understand MRIs are one of the pricier exams one can have....
Last edited by campos; Dec 23rd 2020 at 11:17 am.
Dec 23rd 2020, 12:49 pm
#19
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 866
Re: What did you pay for private treatment? What about insurance?
Campos said - " Is there likely to be much variation in cost of an MRI among different clinics?"
Probably not much variation in costs between clinics but is more accessibility. We are in Central area so things may be different on the Algarve, but as far as I know, most of the out-patient specialised x-rays, scans, MRIs in Portugal are done at "private" clinics, and the SNS has agreements with some, but not all of these, so one would imagine that if your Health Centre has given you a list, that all those on the list would do the procedure, but perhaps not ... ! So first thing to ask is WHICH are "agreed" with the SNS, and then you provide your SNS Utente number for the private clinic to be able to charge the SNS for the procedure. With one particular scan (during the Pandemic so staffing was apparently the problem) there was a delay, but could be done sooner IF one went privately, as they dealt with their private patients first and fitted in SNS patients when suited them. Another snag here was that the private clinic only sorted out their on-going appointments from a certain date in the month for the whole of the following month so the trick there was to ask when that date was and get on the phone very early in the morning to be sure of a slot on the specialist's list !!
Since these procedures are done in the private clinics anyway, there is no difference in standard of care or SNS price, just possibly in the timing/delay or otherwise.
Probably not much variation in costs between clinics but is more accessibility. We are in Central area so things may be different on the Algarve, but as far as I know, most of the out-patient specialised x-rays, scans, MRIs in Portugal are done at "private" clinics, and the SNS has agreements with some, but not all of these, so one would imagine that if your Health Centre has given you a list, that all those on the list would do the procedure, but perhaps not ... ! So first thing to ask is WHICH are "agreed" with the SNS, and then you provide your SNS Utente number for the private clinic to be able to charge the SNS for the procedure. With one particular scan (during the Pandemic so staffing was apparently the problem) there was a delay, but could be done sooner IF one went privately, as they dealt with their private patients first and fitted in SNS patients when suited them. Another snag here was that the private clinic only sorted out their on-going appointments from a certain date in the month for the whole of the following month so the trick there was to ask when that date was and get on the phone very early in the morning to be sure of a slot on the specialist's list !!
Since these procedures are done in the private clinics anyway, there is no difference in standard of care or SNS price, just possibly in the timing/delay or otherwise.
Dec 23rd 2020, 1:49 pm
#20
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Jul 2017
Location: Algarve
Posts: 569
Re: What did you pay for private treatment? What about insurance?
Dec 23rd 2020, 2:00 pm
#21
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 475
Re: What did you pay for private treatment? What about insurance?
I got a price for an MRI from the Lagoacentro clinic, in Portimao, for eu350. They say an MRI is not covered by public system (with them.?), so have banged off couple emails to other private clinics to ask same..
Dec 23rd 2020, 2:02 pm
#22
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Jul 2017
Location: Algarve
Posts: 569
Re: What did you pay for private treatment? What about insurance?
Dec 23rd 2020, 2:03 pm
#23
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 475
Re: What did you pay for private treatment? What about insurance?
Campos said - " Is there likely to be much variation in cost of an MRI among different clinics?"
Probably not much variation in costs between clinics but is more accessibility. We are in Central area so things may be different on the Algarve, but as far as I know, most of the out-patient specialised x-rays, scans, MRIs in Portugal are done at "private" clinics, and the SNS has agreements with some, but not all of these, so one would imagine that if your Health Centre has given you a list, that all those on the list would do the procedure, but perhaps not ... ! So first thing to ask is WHICH are "agreed" with the SNS, and then you provide your SNS Utente number for the private clinic to be able to charge the SNS for the procedure. With one particular scan (during the Pandemic so staffing was apparently the problem) there was a delay, but could be done sooner IF one went privately, as they dealt with their private patients first and fitted in SNS patients when suited them. Another snag here was that the private clinic only sorted out their on-going appointments from a certain date in the month for the whole of the following month so the trick there was to ask when that date was and get on the phone very early in the morning to be sure of a slot on the specialist's list !!
Since these procedures are done in the private clinics anyway, there is no difference in standard of care or SNS price, just possibly in the timing/delay or otherwise.
Probably not much variation in costs between clinics but is more accessibility. We are in Central area so things may be different on the Algarve, but as far as I know, most of the out-patient specialised x-rays, scans, MRIs in Portugal are done at "private" clinics, and the SNS has agreements with some, but not all of these, so one would imagine that if your Health Centre has given you a list, that all those on the list would do the procedure, but perhaps not ... ! So first thing to ask is WHICH are "agreed" with the SNS, and then you provide your SNS Utente number for the private clinic to be able to charge the SNS for the procedure. With one particular scan (during the Pandemic so staffing was apparently the problem) there was a delay, but could be done sooner IF one went privately, as they dealt with their private patients first and fitted in SNS patients when suited them. Another snag here was that the private clinic only sorted out their on-going appointments from a certain date in the month for the whole of the following month so the trick there was to ask when that date was and get on the phone very early in the morning to be sure of a slot on the specialist's list !!
Since these procedures are done in the private clinics anyway, there is no difference in standard of care or SNS price, just possibly in the timing/delay or otherwise.
Dec 23rd 2020, 2:05 pm
#24
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Jul 2017
Location: Algarve
Posts: 569
Re: What did you pay for private treatment? What about insurance?
Ok, my details aren't in the system here. Maybe they can be transferred from Italy...
I got a price for an MRI from the Lagoacentro clinic, in Portimao, for eu350. They say an MRI is not covered by public system (with them.?), so have banged off couple emails to other private clinics to ask same..
I got a price for an MRI from the Lagoacentro clinic, in Portimao, for eu350. They say an MRI is not covered by public system (with them.?), so have banged off couple emails to other private clinics to ask same..
Dec 23rd 2020, 3:04 pm
#25
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 475
Re: What did you pay for private treatment? What about insurance?
It seems there is some variation in prices and integration with the Health Service. Another quote I have just received is for eu120.
Dec 23rd 2020, 5:48 pm
#26
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,705
Re: What did you pay for private treatment? What about insurance?
call this lab in albufeira for prices of all tests, scans etc. Does work for private, personal and health service for the area. They will tell you price for non health service scans etc
www.radiologiadealbufeira.pt
www.radiologiadealbufeira.pt
Dec 24th 2020, 7:34 am
#27
Polished expat
Joined: Jul 2014
Location: Arcos de Valdevez "Onde Portugal se fez"
Posts: 16,829
Re: What did you pay for private treatment? What about insurance?
I've had a quick shufti and I haven't tracked down any reference to subsidised prices for MRI scans. I have come across an article which says they are not covered by the health service unless performed in public hospitals, so if you've not been referred to one of those (where, according to what Ive read elsewhere there are likely to be long waiting lists and not the best / latest equipment), you might have to pay the full whack. The article gives 300 euros as a ballpark figure for a scan.
Link here
Obviously worth double checking that either with the health centre or with the clinics you've been advised of (or both) but maybe useful background reading.
Dec 24th 2020, 8:23 am
#28
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 475
Re: What did you pay for private treatment? What about insurance?
I would be very surprised if there's that much variation for the same exam.
I've had a quick shufti and I haven't tracked down any reference to subsidised prices for MRI scans. I have come across an article which says they are not covered by the health service unless performed in public hospitals, so if you've not been referred to one of those (where, according to what Ive read elsewhere there are likely to be long waiting lists and not the best / latest equipment), you might have to pay the full whack. The article gives 300 euros as a ballpark figure for a scan.
Link here
Obviously worth double checking that either with the health centre or with the clinics you've been advised of (or both) but maybe useful background reading.
I've had a quick shufti and I haven't tracked down any reference to subsidised prices for MRI scans. I have come across an article which says they are not covered by the health service unless performed in public hospitals, so if you've not been referred to one of those (where, according to what Ive read elsewhere there are likely to be long waiting lists and not the best / latest equipment), you might have to pay the full whack. The article gives 300 euros as a ballpark figure for a scan.
Link here
Obviously worth double checking that either with the health centre or with the clinics you've been advised of (or both) but maybe useful background reading.
I'll check out the Albufeira place for reference. Thanks.
Dec 24th 2020, 8:37 am
#29
Polished expat
Joined: Jul 2014
Location: Arcos de Valdevez "Onde Portugal se fez"
Posts: 16,829
Re: What did you pay for private treatment? What about insurance?
Yes, you can get subsidised exams and treatment in private clinics here by referral from the public system but if it was subsidised in this way, the maximum cost to you of any exam would be 40€.
Dec 24th 2020, 8:47 am
#30
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 475
Re: What did you pay for private treatment? What about insurance?
Ah, OK. Good to know.