One of the main advantages of living in Portugal is its exceptional healthcare system. Offering attainable and high-quality care, the country ensures that both citizens and foreign residents have access to the finest healthcare services. This comprehensive guide is designed for expats and foreigners, providing essential information about the Portuguese healthcare system: how it works, who can benefit from it, and what you need to know before moving to Portugal.
Portugal Healthcare System
Portugal’s healthcare system is one of the best in Europe, featuring in Statista’s Top 40 of the 2023 Health Index Score. Its benefits extend to expats who have established Residency, making Portugal an attractive destination.
In Portugal, you can enrol in the National Healthcare System (SNS) and obtain primary care from family doctors, and specialised and urgent care from hospitals. Private medical insurance plans are available at extremely affordable rates, and there are plenty of healthcare providers, private hospitals, and clinics that accept them. On average, a private healthcare plan has an average cost of €30 to €60 for an adult male around 40 years old.*
The Portuguese public healthcare system is universal and tax-funded. This system spans the majority of the population – though sometimes patients are required to pay for minimal fees, depending on the circumstances. For instance, an x-ray at a public hospital might be completely free, if you called ahead on the Linha Saúde 24. Otherwise, you might have to pay for the exam.
The access to pharmaceutical services, the possibility of deducting medical expenses in the yearly tax declaration, the ease of access to the systems, affordable medications, and the variety of options for private healthcare and insurance must also be highlighted.
*The prices may vary according to the chosen plan and the age of the beneficiary.
Does Portugal Have Good Medical Care?
Through the years healthcare in Portugal has undergone significant transformations. It was only during the 1970s that the country implemented policies that led to the establishment of a national healthcare system, guaranteeing universal access to healthcare services. Since then, the government has invested in healthcare infrastructure and services, resulting in a well-developed system known for its efficiency and effectiveness.
Portugal's healthcare system stands out as one of the country's prime advantages for foreigners and expats considering a move to this beautiful nation. With its universal coverage and emphasis on accessible, high-quality medical care, the healthcare system in Portugal offers peace of mind and reassurance to those seeking wellness services and programs.
According to Eurostat, the European Union’s official statistical agency, the life expectancy in the EU averaged at 81.5 years. Portugal surpassed the EU average, with 82.4 - a testament not only to the high quality of the healthcare systems in Portugal, but also to the healthy lifestyle led by the Portuguese, which promotes longevity.
Does Portugal Have Good Hospitals & Doctors?
The country is home to reputable hospitals and highly skilled doctors, ensuring quality healthcare services for residents and expats alike, and therefore excellent medical care with a well-developed health management system. Portugal also has a well-developed network of hospitals, both public and private, that provide specialised medical services.
Expats can benefit from the following features of the hospital network: a wide range of specialized medical services, including cardiology, oncology, orthopaedics, neurology, and more. These services are delivered by multidisciplinary teams of highly-skilled healthcare professionals; advanced medical technology and state-of-the-art facilities, enabling accurate diagnoses, innovative treatments, and better patient outcomes; comprehensive treatment plans and efficient management of complex medical conditions.
Family doctors, the everyday term for primary care physician or general practitioner, typically undergo an additional 4-year internship after graduation, where they are supervised by experienced specialists. Family doctors typically are the first doctor you see whenever a health issue arises and are the doctors that accompany you throughout your life. As the name implies, a family doctor serves the entire family, providing another layer of reassurance, since you are already familiar with them.
Portugal has also a prosperous private sector which offers additional options for those seeking personalised care and a higher degree of convenience. Private healthcare facilities and services in Portugal are known for their quality and accessibility.
In general, Portugal displays a healthcare system which provides a range of choices to cater to diverse needs and preferences for people looking to move into a new country, remote workers, and retired people but not only. In conclusion, foreigners and expats can choose between public or private sectors, being assured that both options cater to quality medical care, good hospitals, and excellent doctors.
What are the Healthcare Costs in Portugal?
Portugal offers accessible options when it comes to healthcare costs. With a public universal system, residents and citizens can access it at minimum-to-free costs, depending on a variety of factors, as the system is supported through taxes. Private healthcare options are also available for those seeking additional benefits such as faster appointments, and non-medical treatments through paid consultations, considering many doctors work in both private and public clinics.
Private plans have an average cost of €30 to €60, depending on the specific circumstances. A family with children can expect to pay slightly more, of up to €150. In addition, most primary care providers and specialists are proficient in English, facilitating communication for expats and foreigners.
Essentially, the public Portuguese healthcare system operates on a co-payment system. By becoming residents, expats can expect to pay a minimal portion of the treatment cost or the prescribed medication, but subsidies and exemptions can also be applied, depending on the situation at hand.
What's the Difference Between Public and Private Healthcare Systems?
It is important to clarify Portugal’s National Healthcare System (Sistema Nacional de Saúde, or SNS) is universal, funded through general taxation, and accessible to every resident and citizen, including expats who have settled in Portugal. A co-payment might be necessary when purchasing prescribed medication or undergoing a standard treatment, but these costs are very affordable when compared with the United States and the United Kingdom.
The Portuguese Healthcare System acts through three main channels: local health centres (the equivalent of a primary care provider’s office in the US or a general practice in the UK), public hospitals, and partnerships with private institutions.
Health Centres are the primary healthcare hubs, where routine check-ups, diagnosis and treatment of common illnesses are performed, as well as nursing services, including vaccinations, wound care, health education, general therapy and psychology, and support for chronic disease management, among others.
Public hospitals in Portugal provide high-quality care with experienced healthcare professionals and modern facilities, targeting different areas of the medical field: cardiology, pulmonology, general surgery, family medicine, among countless others.
Partnerships with private healthcare institutions are also common, especially if a treatment or surgery cannot be performed at a public hospital, patients are often referred to a private one, at no extra cost.
Due to its affordability, it is an excellent idea to consider private insurance as a backup plan, especially when considering the competitive rates offered in Portugal. Private medical insurance enables access to private healthcare infrastructures, such as hospitals and clinics at a lower cost, and often offer flexible payment plans.
How Can Foreigners Benefit from Portuguese Healthcare?
One of the advantages of the Portuguese healthcare system is its accessibility. Expats and foreigners who become legal residents of Portugal are entitled to the same healthcare benefits as Portuguese citizens.
To access healthcare services, individuals must register with their local health centre and obtain a National Health Service (NHS) user number, which grants them access to a wide range of medical services.
The National Health Service Card serves as proof of identity for individuals accessing healthcare services within the Portuguese National Health Service (NHS). This card is essential for receiving healthcare treatment, obtaining prescribed medications, and requesting necessary diagnostic and therapeutic procedures.
All foreigners having residency authorisation can obtain the NHS card. And for the process to be initiated, they must show in the health services of their area of residence, bringing documentation proving their residence authorisation in the national territory, according to the situation.
Private Health Insurance in Portugal
If you are keen on moving to Portugal, and you come from a third-country (e.g.: any country not within the European Union or the Schengen Zone), you will need to first have health insurance. This will be a requirement for most Residency Visa applications. Once you become a resident, it is advisable to keep your plan until you have found a new private health insurance plan in Portugal.
Health insurance in Portugal is extremely affordable. Prices will vary depending on specific circumstances, including company providing the coverage, age, sex, level of activity, health history, and how comprehensive you wish the policy to be. The cost of health insurance for an expat family of 4 is around 300€ to 400€ a month, which covers everyone, and have a more robust coverage, which typically means a more affordable copay.
There are multiple companies operating health insurance plans in Portugal. The most famous ones are Allianz, Fidelidade (through its Multicare subsidiary), Tranquilidade, Medis, MGEN, and AdvanceCare. Most banks in Portugal also offer private health insurance to their foreign clients. More affordable options also exist within more limited health insurance plans provided by certain supermarkets brands, like Continente and its KeepWells services.
How Does Healthcare and the High-Quality of Life in Portugal Stand Out from Other Countries?
Moving to a new country involves considering numerous factors, and one crucial aspect is the healthcare system. When it comes to healthcare in Portugal, expats and foreign residents can rest assured knowing that the country offers a reliable healthcare system that provides accessible, high-quality medical care.
While the healthcare systems play a crucial role in keeping the population healthy, the lifestyle led by the Portuguese also contribute immensely. There is a heavier focus on work-life balance and social relationships, with friends and family as the number one priority. The Portuguese diet, reminiscent of the Mediterranean, has a wide variety of healthy meat and fish dishes, with the use of olive oil at its centre.
Retiring in Portugal: Which are the Healthcare Benefits?
After a lifetime of hard work, it is time for some much needed and deserved rest and relaxation. While Portugal may be renowned for its healthcare system and facilities, which are a boon for any retiree, the country goes the extra mile in promoting and encouraging healthy habits and longevity. So, what are the benefits of retiring in Portugal?
Why does Portugal have a higher average than the EUs when it comes to longevity? There are certainly lots of factors playing into this, and while we cannot say with certainty nail down every single aspect, we can identify a few key reasons that make Portugal an overall excellent destination for retirees to spend their golden years.
First – the Portuguese lead a naturally slower, relaxed pace of life, where friends and family come first. Work is left at work for most of the times. This leaves the Portuguese more time to socialise, hang out, have dinner together, and just spend more time with the loved ones, adding in to a warmer, typically stress-free environment. With stress playing such a critical role nowadays in people dying prematurely, retiring to Portugal is all but a guarantee that you will live longer.
Second – the fresh and clean air quality. According to a recent report by IQAir, Portugal ranked as the 7th European country with the cleanest air quality. As the air pollution takes over entire cities in certain parts of the world, it is nice to know this isn’t an issue that directly affects Portugal.
Third – a healthier diet is also a major contributor. While there are some fattier and heavier foods to be had and tasted in Portugal, as in any other country, a great part of traditional dishes are centred around fish, meat, vegetables, and the extensive use of olive oil – one of the healthiest oils to cook with.
With low crime rates, contributing it to making Portugal the 7th Safest Country in the World and the Portuguese’s high levels of English proficiency, what more could a person want in a retirement destination? Not to mention, the countless, sunny beaches and more than 300 days of sunlight per year.
Portugal is a mirror of a high-quality lifestyle either for living with your family or for retiring always with the certainty that you are backed up by an excellent healthcare system that will attend to all your needs 24/7.
Healthcare and the Portuguese Residency by Investment Programmes
In recent years, Portugal has truly opened itself to the world, introducing significant amendments to its Foreigners Law, revolutionising the country’s immigration landscape. Most recently, the Portuguese government disbanded SEF (Immigration and Borders Control) and reshaped its administrative duties to AIMA (Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum), which reflects the country’s commitment to fostering a welcoming environment and attracting qualified immigration that adds to the nation’s diversity and cultural fabric.
All the changes in the law have established an easier path for expats to interact with public administrations, facilitating their integration into Portuguese society. The focus is on providing support, resources, and guidance to expats to help them adapt to their new situation and access the necessary services and opportunities, including the country’s healthcare system. Expats are even set to further have their life facilitated, according to the new government’s plan.
Portuguese Residency by Investment programmes such as the D2 Visa and the Golden Visa are perfect examples of this. Among many benefits, the programmes enable foreign investors to directly become residents and access the healthcare system through an investment in the country’s economy, letting them become key players in the national economic scenario.
The Portugal D2 Visa offers the fastest path to Portuguese Residency, achievable in 3 months, and to the country's healthcare system, which is renowned for its universal coverage and advanced medical technologies, accessible to those who choose to make Portugal their home.
