Healthcare insurance Portugal

The healthcare system in Portugal, known as the Serviço Nacional de Saúde (SNS), is financed through taxes and social contributions. The Ministry of Health is responsible for organising and carrying out healthcare in Portugal.

If you’re registered with the Segurança Social and a local health centre, you’re entitled to basic care such as the GP, hospital care and emergency care. If you want shorter waiting times or extra cover, you can take out additional private health insurance.

The SNS covers the GP, hospitalisation, emergency care and maternity care. Reimbursement for certain treatments can vary. You usually pay a small personal contribution, called taxa moderadora. The level of this contribution depends on your personal and medical situation. Certain groups, such as children and the chronically ill may be exempt from this. 

If you live or work in Portugal and haven’t been automatically enrolled by your employer, you must register yourself with the Segurança Social and with the local health centre (Centro de Saúde) in your place of residence. You’ll then receive your healthcare card (Cartão do Utente). 

To register, you’ll need your: 

• ID 
• NISS number (Portuguese social security identification number) 
• Residence permit 

After registering, you’ll receive a healthcare card (Cartão do Utente) and be linked to a GP. Please bear in mind that there are sometimes waiting times before you can be seen.

• Temporary residence: If you have a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), you’ll have access to necessary medical care in Portugal
• Everyone with a temporary or permanent residence permit is also eligible for Portuguese health insurance
• After a referral, it may take a couple of months before you see a specialist
• Dental care through the SNS is limited, although it’s slowly being expanded. There’s a special cheque-dentista programme for children, pregnant women and certain elderly people. For others, dental care is often private or via supplementary insurance
• The islands of the Azores and Madeira have their own regional healthcare services. The basic structure is very similar to the mainland SNS, but practical implementation and waiting times may differ
  
  

Do you need more information?

• Information about registration with the Serviço Nacional de Saúde
• Information from the Segurança Social on registration with the NISS
• Information from CAK about living with a pension or benefit in a treaty country
  

If you remain registered in the Netherlands, your Dutch national health insurance will cover emergency care anywhere in the world up to a maximum of the cost in the Netherlands. Dutch national health insurance generally doesn’t reimburse the cost of repatriation or evacuation in the case of illness or an accident.  If you’re no longer registered in the Netherlands, you’re no longer entitled to Dutch national health insurance and you must arrange your own insurance.  

Healthcare in Portugal can be quite different to what you’re used to in the Netherlands. Not every country has national health insurance, there may be strict rules and waiting times may apply. Healthcare costs can also be much higher than in the Netherlands. Without proper cover, this can leave you with unexpectedly high bills. 

With OOM, you don't have to worry. We’ll make sure everything is properly taken care of. 

We’re here for people with extraordinary stories, who want to be well insured. We always offer a solution that will suit your situation during your stay in Portugal. 

Our healthcare insurance gives you certainty when Dutch national health insurance no longer applies or doesn’t provide sufficient cover. Your OOM insurance can also serve as a supplement to local insurance in Portugal. Providing you with proper cover for costs outside your local policy. This is especially important in a country where the rules are different to in the Netherlands, or healthcare costs can be unexpectedly high. 

With OOM Healthcare insurance you can: 

• Insure yourself while staying abroad: If your Dutch national health insurance expires and you can’t or don’t want to use the local healthcare system, our international healthcare insurance provides you with the certainty you’re looking for
• Insure yourself while you wait for your local insurance to come through
• Get additional insurance if your Dutch national health insurance or local public insurance are not enough

OOM's insurance is for anyone who wants to be properly insured in Portugal. Whether you’re only staying abroad temporarily or permanently emigrating. Our solutions suit different situations, such as: 

• Expats and entrepreneurs going to Portugal for work, or who need insurance to be able to register locally
• Dutch nationals who do not have, or who are no longer entitled to Dutch national health insurance 
• Students and travellers temporarily staying in Portugal
• Emigrants permanently settling in Portugal
• Backpackers or global travellers who want to avoid unexpected costs during their adventure in Portugal

OOM provides worldwide cover and helps you avoid unexpected bills. This is reassuring in a country where healthcare is regulated differently than in the Netherlands. 

Choosing OOM means choosing certainty that travels with you. Wherever you are in the world:

• Worldwide cover: Including if you visit the Netherlands or travel while living abroad
• Always available: Our Assistance Centre is available 24/7
• Tailor-made: You choose the cover that best suits your situation
• Extra certainty: Supplement your insurance easily with additional options, such as household contents, personal accident or liability insurance

With OOM you can arrange your own healthcare insurance quickly and effectively. Helping you focus on your plans in Portugal, without unexpected worries.

Do you want to start your adventure without worry? You can calculate your premium easily online and apply for your insurance immediately. If you’ve any questions, our team will be happy to help you.

According to the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Portugal is currently code green. This means the country is safe to travel to or live in. For the most up-to-date information always check The Netherlands Worldwide (in Dutch).  

Portugal's healthcare system (SNS) is accessible to everyone and good quality. However, waiting times for specialists can be long. Many people, therefore, opt for supplementary insurance for quicker assistance and extra certainty.