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Dollar accounts/ health

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dalai
  1/16/2019 15:41 EST

1
Can one transfer Dollars from one Portuguese bank to another Portuguese bank IN DOLLARS without having to exchange to Euros

Also
What status does one need in order to have coverage at a public hospital. From what I understand , one needs a Portuguese Social security number.
Otherwise one has to pay out of pocket.
How does one get this and what status is needed-
Thank you
Can one get a social,security number as a resident

dancebert
  1/16/2019 23:15 EST

>From what I understand , one needs a Portuguese Social security number.
Otherwise one has to pay out of pocket.

If you have or are paying into their Social Security system, much of the health care is free. Otherwise:

"With the exception of situations that endanger Public Health in which care is free, foreigners may be charged the care provided according to the tables in force, taking into account each case, namely the economic and social situation of the person assessed by the services social Security."

In other words, how much you pay is based on your ability to pay.

From the SNS 'Access to healthcare by foreign nationals' at https://www.dgs.pt/mobilidade-de-doentes/cidadaos-estrangeiros.aspx Begin reading at the bolded heading "3. Access to health care by immigrants" Chrome browser translates

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realspear
  1/17/2019 04:07 EST

Your bank in Portugal will convert dollars to euros on deposit. You can move euros wherever you want.

As pointed out above, you need your NIF, not social security. You will pay. You will also need your residence card. Some people have been given the Numero de Utente with the paperwork from SEF after the appointment but before the card arrives. I was not allowed to use the paper and had to wait for the card. You may find that the costs for some services are higher than with your private insurance plan.

craigandmicki
  1/17/2019 05:29 EST

To dalai: I'm addressing the 'health coverage' portion of your post. There are a few articles on this forum about health care in Portugal that address this is good detail. Search the forum, please, as you should have the full story at hand. Yes, to access the Portuguese Serviço Nacional de Saúde (SNS), Portugal's public health system, you must obtain a Numero do Utente from an SNS clinic to use the system. If you are not a citizen of PT (or the EU) you will never have full, free or low-cost access to the SNS. You will always need supplemental, private coverage. This has NOTHING to do with the Social Security System in Portugal (Segurança Social or caixa), which does cover health benefits but is a system exclusive to persons who legally work in Portugal.

dancebert
  1/17/2019 07:39 EST

>If you are not a citizen of PT (or the EU) you will never have full, free or low-cost access to the SNS.

Free care is provided in some situations. The SNS FAQ states when a foreigner who has not contributed to Portugal Social Security can have free care: (via Google Translate)

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ON ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE BY THE MIGRANT POPULATION
...
Foreign citizens who do not make discounts for Social Security may be charged, expenses incurred according to the existing tables, except:
...
if you need health care and if you are in a situation that endangers Public Health care is free:
- All communicable diseases (including those on the list of Mandatory Disease Diseases, for example: tuberculosis, HIV / AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases);
- Maternal health, child health and family planning (all situations are covered, since aspects related to primary, secondary and tertiary prevention are always involved from a public health perspective);
- Vaccination (vaccines included in the National Vaccination Plan are provided free of charge).

https://www.dgs.pt/mobilidade-de-doentes/cidadaos-estrangeiros/perguntas-e-respostas.aspx

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