Free Healthcare in Portugal after Brexit

In Portugal there is a National Health Service -Serviço Nacional de Saúde (SNS) that is generally excellent, and English is widely used as the language of communication. The World Health Organisation ranks it number 12 (the UK is number 18). The hospital network consists of modern and well-equipped units throughout the country and to make overseas patients feel more comfortable they have been implementing patient monitoring and personalised care programmes.

How does the healthcare system in Portugal work?

In Portugal, the health system is tax funded and mostly free of charge. The Serviço Nacional de Saúde (SNS) may charge small fees for non-essential services and treatments, but themajority of services on offer do not need to be paid for.

How do I access free healthcare in Portugal?

If you are a registered Portuguese resident you will be able to access healthcare via the SNS. In order to use its services you need to register at your local health centre (centro de saúde), they will require your passport, residency certificate and social security card in order to register you. Once you are registered, you will receive a 'Users Card'.

Can I still use your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) in Portugal?

If your EHIC hasn't expired yet you can still use it for temporary stays in Portugal. If your EHIC has expired (or is close to its expiry date) you will need to apply for the the new UK GHIC (Global Health Insurance Card). This new card covers you for chronic and existing illnesses, maternity care and emergencies.

Can I get private healthcare in Portugal?

If you will be living in Portugal (or spending more than 90 days in the country) it's most likely that you will need private healthcare. If you have a visa, such as the D7 Visa or digital nomad visa, for example, you will need to provide proof of private medical insurance as part of the application process.

Private healthcare in Portugal is steadily gaining popularity among expats and becoming more readily available. All the private medical centre and private hospitals work with the international private medical insurance companies and there are reciprocal agreements in place with UK insurers such as BUPA.