Portugal Healthcare Guide
Everything you need to know about healthcare as an expat in Portugal.
Healthcare System Overview
Portugal operates a universal, tax-funded public healthcare system (SNS) ranked 12th globally by WHO. Legal residents access comprehensive coverage. The system features the 3rd highest ratio of primary care doctors per capita globally. Life expectancy: 82.80 years (above EU average). Healthcare spending: 10.6% of GDP.
Public Healthcare
SNS (Serviço Nacional de Saúde) provides universal coverage for legal residents. Costs: GP consultation €5 (often free), Specialist consultation €8, Emergency room (self-referral) €20, Prescriptions 10-85% subsidized. Fee-exempt: Children under 18, seniors over 65, pregnant women, low-income residents. Reality check: 1.5+ million Portuguese still without assigned family doctor. Specialist wait times can exceed 3 months. Emergency care is excellent; routine care requires patience.
Private Healthcare
Modern, well-equipped private sector with approximately 30% of Portuguese having private insurance. English-speaking doctors common in major cities. Major hospital networks: Hospital da Luz (Luz Saúde) with 25 hospitals/clinics nationwide and JCI accreditation; CUF (José de Mello Saúde) with major presence in Lisbon and Porto; LusÃadas Saúde, first private hospital in Lisbon with JCI accreditation. Private advantages: Days instead of months for specialists, choice of doctors, English-speaking staff, modern facilities.
Healthcare for Expats
Access & Eligibility
Registration steps: 1) Obtain NIF (tax number), 2) Register with Social Security (if working), 3) Visit local Centro de Saúde with residence permit, NIF, proof of address, 4) Receive Número de Utente (healthcare ID), 5) Get assigned family doctor (though shortages exist).
Recommended Approach
For most expats: Register with SNS for emergency and basic coverage. Add private insurance (€32-162/month) for faster specialist access and English-speaking doctors. For digital nomads: SafetyWing (~€68-83/month) or similar nomad insurance provides good coverage. For Americans wanting comprehensive coverage: Cigna Global ($150-460/month) offers no age limits, covers 200+ countries, mental health included.
Typical Costs
| Service | Cost Range |
|---|---|
| Dental Crown | $330 - 440 |
| Hospital Day | $ - |
| Us Comparison | undefined - |
| Emergency Room | $22 - 440 |
| Dental Cleaning | $33 - 82 |
| Gp Visit Private | $54 - 65 |
| Specialist Private | $75 - 97 |
Health Insurance
Requirements
Visa requirement: Minimum €30,000 health insurance coverage for visa applications. Once resident with Número de Utente, SNS provides basic coverage but private insurance highly recommended for comprehensive care and faster access.
Recommended Insurance Providers
- SNS (public, free via taxes) for long-term residents
- Médis (Portuguese private, €14-95/month) for Portuguese-based expats
- Multicare (Portuguese private, €10-26+/month) for bank customers
- Cigna Global (international, $150-460/month) for US citizens wanting comprehensive coverage
- SafetyWing (digital nomad, ~$68-83/month) for nomads and younger expats
Medical Tourism
Portugal excels in medical tourism, particularly: Dental implants (All-on-4 technique invented here, save 50-80% vs US), Cosmetic surgery, Fertility treatments, Oncology (Champalimaud Foundation world-renowned). Prescription differences: Antibiotics always require prescription. Many medications OTC elsewhere require prescription in Portugal. Pharmacies (green cross signs) dispense quickly and pharmacists are highly trained.
Popular Procedures
Recommended PartnerDon't skip health insurance
Cost estimates are great for budgeting, but real coverage protects you when something goes wrong.
A portion of affiliate revenue is donated to UNHCR
Compare Healthcare Systems
See how Portugal's healthcare compares to other countries.