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Health Insurance and Health Providers in Portugal

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What is it?

Health insurance is a financial product that covers medical expenses, ranging from consultations and exams to hospitalizations and surgeries. Unlike the SNS, which is publicly funded, health insurance offers faster and more personalized solutions. There are several types of plans, including:

  • Reimbursement Plans: The client pays for services upfront and is reimbursed later.
  • Network Plans: The client uses services within a network of providers, benefiting from reduced or zero-cost prices.
  • Mixed Plans: A combination of reimbursement and network approaches.

Health Providers in Portugal

Several insurance companies in Portugal offer tailored health plans. Below are some of the main providers and their features:
Médis
  • Key Coverages: Consultations, exams, surgeries, childbirth, mental health consultations, and access to an extensive network of doctors and clinics
  • Benefits: Easy-to-use app for online scheduling and expense tracking
  • Popular Plans: Médis Individual and Médis Família (may vary based on depend on age, coverage and other factors), which vary in coverage and price. Médis currently offers individual health from around 13€/month.
Multicare
  • Key Coverages: Includes consultations, exams, hospitalizations, preventive medicine, mental health, online medicine and optional dental coverage depending on the plan.
  • Benefits: Broad network of providers, with an option to add dental coverage
  • Plans: Multicare 1 / 2 / 3, Multicare Vital, Multicare 60+, Multicare Proteção Extra, Multicare Proteção Padrão
AdvanceCare
  • Key Coverages: Consultations, exams, therapies, and hospitalizations
  • Benefits: Diverse provider network and discounts at pharmacies and optical stores. Its network currently includes more than 50,000 healthcare providers.
  • Services: AdvanceCare operates a large private healthcare provider network and provides administrative and digital services for health insurance and health plans offered by partner insurers.
Allianz
  • Key Coverages: From consultations to complex treatments, including oncology and transplants
  • Benefits: Flexible plans and reimbursement options
  • Current Plans: Allianz Saúde Base, Allianz Saúde Standard, Allianz Saúde Mais, Allianz Saúde Extra and Allianz Saúde Total
KeepWells
  • Key Coverages: Consultations, exams, hospitalizations, with optional dental care.
  • Benefits: Diverse plan options and family extension possibilities. Access to the AdvanceCare medical network and digital management through myAdvanceCare.
  • Popular Plans: Keep Simples, Keep Mais and Keep Top.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Health Insurance

While health insurance offers quick access to medical care, freedom to choose private doctors and clinics, and coverage for expensive treatments, it also comes with disadvantages. Health insurance can have:

  • waiting periods (períodos de carência)
  • exclusions
  • pre-existing condition restrictions
  • annual limits/capital limits
  • deductibles/franchises
  • co-payments
  • authorisation requirements
  • restrictions on providers or treatments

For example, current Multicare products explicitly specify different coverage limits and conditions, and certain coverages may have waiting periods. To avoid any misunderstandings, it is crucial to carefully read all details, as critical information might otherwise be overlooked

How to Choose the Ideal Health Insurance?

To choose the best health insurance, consider the following factors:

  • Personal Needs: Age, medical history, and desired types of coverage.
  • Provider Network: Ensure preferred hospitals and clinics are included.
  • Budget: Assess the cost-benefit of the plans.
  • Coverage limits: Check the annual/overall capital for hospitalisation, outpatient treatment, oncology, etc.
  • Waiting periods: Some treatments aren't covered immediately after taking out the policy.

Additionally, it is crucial to read all terms and conditions carefully, as important details might be overlooked.

Community Tips and Learning

It is advisable to use the simulation tools provided by each health insurance company to find the best fit according to your personal needs, financial possibilities, and medical history.

Frequently Asked Questions

Find answers to common questions about this service.

No. A Número Nacional de Utente is related to access to the Portuguese National Health Service (SNS) and is not, by itself, a requirement for purchasing private health insurance. However, insurance companies may require identification and other personal information when you apply for a policy.

Where we are

Rua Carvalho Araújo 66-B
1900-140 Lisboa
Portugal

How to Get Here

  • Metro: Linha Verde (Green Line) - Intendente Station
  • Bus: 708, 730, 742, 794

Opening hours

Mon, Tue, Thu
10:00–12:30 & 14:00–17:30
Wednesday (Extended)
Until 19:30
Friday
Until 18:30
No appointment needed. Just walk in.

Contact info

+351 964 809 959