Are healthcare and health insurance expensive in Portugal?
When we asked expats in Portugal if healthcare and health insurance are expensive in Portugal, they wrote...
"Expensive- relative to what? Compared to our former California prices, not at all. Cost in Cascais is no more expensive than comparable care in the rest of Portugal. Top-of-the-line insurance just got more expensive for elders, but it covers much more than comparable US plans like Medicare + supplement + out-of-pocket. The quality of CUF care, for example, is excellent. Prescription drug prices are way below the US (although non-prescription supplements are much higher). For example, my heart/cholesterol drugs are about 12 euros a month (and totally reimbursed by our top-of-line health insurance.) "List prices" of hospital care and surgery are much lower than in the US with comparable medical expertise and treatment. We, and our friends have had some serious medical events and we are very satisfied with the level of care," said another expat in Cascais, Portugal.
"Healthcare rates are somewhat dependent on your age. I am 69 I pay about $180 a month with MGen. I don't have the lowest benefit or the highest, I am somewhere in the middle. I went with MGen for the following reasons. No limit on renewability...my age will never disqualify me from renewing my plan. They accept pre-existing conditions. I used a service called Serenity to help me navigate the various healthcare providers. You can do this yourself, I just preferred not to. If you join Afpop I believe you can buy MGen through them and get a discounted rate," wrote a member who made the move to Albufeira, Portugal.
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Portugal Residency Advisors is a full-service consulting firm dedicated to providing personalized services to individuals and families seeking to relocate to Portugal. With a team of experienced professionals and strategic partnerships, we are well-positioned to assist clients with all aspects of the relocation process.
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Portugal Residency AdvisorsPortugal Residency Advisors is a full-service consulting firm dedicated to providing personalized services to individuals and families seeking to relocate to Portugal. With a team of experienced professionals and strategic partnerships, we are well-positioned to assist clients with all aspects of the relocation process.
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Other Questions:
- What do I need to know before retiring in Portugal?
- How do I meet people in Portugal?
- What is life like in Portugal?
- Is there a lot of crime in Portugal?
- Is there a lot of diversity? Are people in Portugal accepting of differences?
- What are the schools in Portugal like?
- Is the cost of living in Portugal high?
- What advice do you have for expats having a baby in Portugal?
- What are healthcare services like in Portugal?
- Is the cost of living in Portugal high?
- What type of recreational facilities are in Portugal?
- What is the weather like in Portugal?
- Are there good restaurants in Portugal?
- Where will I buy groceries and do other shopping in Portugal?
- What are the visa & residency requirements in Portugal?
- Are healthcare and health insurance expensive in Portugal?
- What do I need to know when buying property in Portugal?
- Are foreigners allowed to own property in Portugal?
- What appliances are typically included in a rental?
Are healthcare and health insurance expensive in Portugal?
If you live in Portugal, newcomers to Portugal would love to hear your answer to this question:
About the Author
Betsy Burlingame is one of the founders of Digital Nomad Exchange and the Founder and President of Expat Exchange. She launched Expat Exchange in 1997 as her Master's thesis project at NYU. Prior to Expat Exchange and Digital Nomad Exchange, Betsy worked at AT&T in International
and Mass Market Marketing. She graduated from Ohio Wesleyan University
with a BA in International Business and German.
Some of Betsy's articles include 12 Best Places to Live in Portugal, 7 Best Places to Live in Panama and 12 Things to Know Before Moving to the Dominican Republic. Betsy loves to travel and spend time with her family. Connect with Betsy on LinkedIn.
