The South and European country, Portugal is one of the best-known countries in the world to provide expert and efficient healthcare services to all its residents.
Starting from free healthcare facilities for children and senior citizens to providing financial aid in case of critical or extreme emergency, the overall healthcare system and services offered in Portugal both by the government and by private organizations make it stand out and set high standards amongst its contenders.
So, in this article. let us find out more and explore the healthcare in Portugal available for the residents of Portugal.
Table of Contents
Does Portugal have universal health care?
Yes! Portugal is widely known for providing free healthcare facilities to youngsters and children who are under the age of 18 and also to senior citizens over the age of 65.
However, if a Portuguese citizen does not meet the age criteria, the NHS can offer them healthcare in Portugal at a very pocket-friendly cost.
In order to avail of this special service, the citizen should have valid proof of a need for urgent care and medication or a considerable unique situation.
According to trustworthy sources and data over the last few years, the average healthcare Insurance cost of a Portuguese citizen would be between $22 – $55 a month and it also depends on the age of the candidate availing the insurance. Will rounded insurance plan in Portugal can cost around $1100 per year.
Does Portugal have a high life expectancy?
Undoubtedly, the healthcare facilities and other medical aids give rise to a high level of life expectancy there. The average life expectancy of an individual residing in Portugal is 82.1 years.
For men, the average stands at around 78 years while for women it extends to about 85 years. Portugal’s life expectancy is comparatively higher than most European countries. The average life expectancy in the European region is around 80.9 years.
According to research and studies, the life expectancy of an average Portuguese citizen is expected to rise and increase in the days to come.
According to UN projections, it has been determined that the average life expectancy could spike easily to about 83.67 by the year 2030 in Portugal.
How good is Portuguese healthcare?
Portugal has an excellent healthcare system. Not only this if we go by global rankings, but Portugal’s healthcare facilities have also been ranked in the 22nd position among 89 countries while securing good reviews and praises globally about its healthcare in Portugal infrastructure.
WHO or World Health Organisation has ranked Portugal 12th in terms of the overall health care system and facilities available there.
Talking about hospitals, most of the hospitals are run by NHS or Portugal’s national health service.
The two most concerning health problems that are prominent in Portugal mainly cardiovascular diseases and cancer. Most of the deaths in Portugal occur due to these two primary health issues.
However, other reasons for death cases in Portugal seem to be diseases affecting the nervous system, respiratory diseases, and so on. Unquestionably, healthcare experts and other service providers are working hard to reduce the extent and spread of these diseases as much as possible through controlled methods.
Overall, Portuguese health care is one of the best-known healthcare in the world which ranks among the top countries if sorted globally.
Portugal health insurance
The poor to be indeed is healthcare and insurance system is a bit complicated. However, it has considerably improved in the past few years and has been currently ranked 12th by the world health organization globally.
Portugal also scores and performs well for its quality of infrastructure and healthcare facilities. The Ministry of Health is the chief operator behind SNS or “Service Nacional de Saude” which is the national health care system of Portugal.
The “Servicio Nacional de Saude” operates and functions relatively similar to that of NHS in the United Kingdom. The SNS offers a number of complicated schemes of healthcare and numerous healthcare centers all around Portugal.
The health service for women in Portugal covers the additional medical assistance required for expectant mothers who are properly treated with care at public hospitals within the area of their residence. The state healthcare facilities provide a consistent and standard form of aid for helping one with his or her healthcare in Portugal needs.
However, due to the problem of oversubscription, the waiting time can be a little high. The public health insurance of Portugal covers employees, short-term visitors who are required to have a valid visa, EU/EEA citizens, students, and retirees.
How to opt for Private Health Insurance?
There are a number of citizens and visitors who do not qualify for the state health care system of Portugal. If that is the case they need to get themselves registered for a private health insurance service.
While there are certain eligibility factors for qualifying to get private health insurance in Portugal, few ex-pats readily opt for private health insurance plans in order to avoid the long waiting line which is prominent in the state health insurance system.
If one starts to work as an employee in Portugal then the employer might offer a private insurance plan after he or she joins the team. If the person leaves that particular company, his or her insurance plan is automatically canceled.
However, there are quite a several advantages of choosing private health care insurance in Portugal.
- First of all the waiting time is comparatively a lot shorter as compared to free government-provided medical insurance.
- There are several better facilities and infrastructure.
- Benefits like repatriation, coverage of not-so-urgent issues, and evacuation are offered by these private health insurance organizations.
Cons for Expats
Portugal is indeed filled with a large number of ex-pats residing there. It is a one-stop destination for several students, retirees as well as young families.
In order for ex-pats to qualify for healthcare in Portugal for ex-pats, several ways can be opted for. If the ex-pat is a European Union citizen they can directly access the healthcare services publicly through their pre-issued European health insurance card which is completely free of cost.
One must apply for this week’s card before leaving their home and entering Portugal. This will enable the visitor to get healthcare facilities and insurance at the same price point as that of a local citizen in the very country. If an ex-pat applies for public healthcare Portugal insurance is impossible in the waiting time can take extremely long what is the key reason for them to opt for private health insurance policies?
FAQ
Do ex-pats get free healthcare in Portugal?
The SNS which is managed by the Portuguese Ministry of Health provides free healthcare services to all people residing in the country including ex-pats. However, there are charges which have been introduced into the system for specific services in the past few years.
Do healthcare professionals in Portugal speak English?
English is the language that is widely spoken in Portugal, especially in the more crowded regions of the country having a high concentration of ex-pats and visitors. Therefore most healthcare professionals can speak at least the basics of English which is enough for communication purposes.
Can foreigners get health insurance in Portugal?
Foreigners can receive health insurance services from the state. In general, all residents are given the same healthcare facilities including foreigners as well. However one can also opt for private Portugal Health Insurance.
Conclusion
Portugal has great health care services to offer to all its residents. Government-aided schemes definitely give the flexibility of minimal or no cost but can be delayed at times.
Moreover, to opt for government-aided health insurance services in Portugal, there are several complicated steps that an ex-pat has to go through before applying for and getting access to the health insurance offered publicly by the government.
Expats need to obtain a residence permit by visiting “Junta de Freguesia” or the Parish Council office. The purpose of this certificate is to validate an individual that he or she has more than 90 days of permanent stay in the country.
Compared with all the leading countries all across the globe providing great healthcare in Portugal, makes it to the top of the list.
