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Cascias, Portugal

15 Expats Talk about Health Insurance and Healthcare in Portugal

By Betsy Burlingame

Last updated on Dec 27, 2023

Summary: The quality of medical care in Portugal is generally considered to be good, with many doctors and hospitals providing high-quality care. Emergency services are also generally reliable, with ambulances responding quickly to calls. To call for an ambulance in Portugal, you can dial 112, the European emergency number. While the quality of medical care in Portugal is generally good, it may not be as advanced as in the US in some areas.

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How are healthcare services Portugal?

When we asked expats and global nomads about the quality of medical care in Portugal, they replied:

"Speak to locals (especially other expats for have been around for at least a few years) to recommend health care providers, especially specialists," commented one expat who moved to Porto.

"Connect with other expats to obtain physician references and sources of private insurance so you can benefit from their research and experience. Bring copies of your medical records with you. Quality of care can be very high in Portugal's major communities. Costs are much lower, by about half, and prescriptions range from a tenth to a half of the costs in the US," said one expat.

"Portugal offers a wide range of healthcare services, including primary care, hospital care, mental health services, and specialized care. The public healthcare system in Portugal is funded by the government and is free for all citizens and legal residents. The quality of public healthcare in Portugal is generally good, with modern facilities and well-trained staff. Foreign residents in Portugal are also eligible to use the public healthcare system, although they may need to pay a fee for certain services. Expats in Portugal can use the public healthcare system by registering with the local health authority and obtaining a health card. This card allows them to access the same services as Portuguese citizens, including free or discounted medical care," remarked one expat in Portugal.

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What are medical services in Portugal like?

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About the Author

Betsy Burlingame Betsy Burlingame is the Founder and President of Expat Exchange and is one of the Founders of Digital Nomad Exchange. She launched Expat Exchange in 1997 as her Master's thesis project at NYU. Prior to Expat 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.

Cascias, Portugal

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