If you have started shopping for health insurance as a foreigner in Portugal, the name APRIL has almost certainly come up. APRIL is a French-origin international insurance group that has built a clear specialism: covering expats, digital nomads and international families who do not fit neatly into a standard Portuguese policy. This guide explains what APRIL actually offers in Portugal, where it is strong, who it suits and how it sits against Allianz and Médis.
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What APRIL is
APRIL is an international insurance group with decades of experience designing cover for people who live outside their home country. Rather than a domestic Portuguese product translated into English, APRIL's plans are built from the ground up for an internationally mobile audience — with English and French documentation, simplified medical underwriting and a reimbursement model that gives you freedom to choose your own doctors.
Why expats choose APRIL
- Service in English and French — policy wording, customer service and claims are handled in your language, which removes one of the biggest friction points expats hit with domestic insurers.
- Portability — cover is designed to travel with you, which suits people who split time between countries or move again within a few years.
- Simplified onboarding — acceptance criteria and documentation are lighter than a typical Portuguese insurer, so you can often start without a long Portuguese paper trail.
- Reimbursement freedom — you can use any doctor or hospital, pay and claim back, rather than being limited to a fixed network.
- Strong fit for families and travellers — international families and frequent travellers value the cross-border flexibility.
How APRIL plans work
APRIL's plans are built mainly around the reimbursement model: you choose your provider, pay up front and claim back a percentage up to your annual limit. Plans are tiered, so you can scale the annual limit, the reimbursement percentage and add-ons such as dental and optical to your budget. The trade-off to weigh is that APRIL's direct network in Portugal is smaller than a domestic insurer's, so you rely more on reimbursement than on low fixed copayments.
Who APRIL is ideal for
APRIL tends to be the strongest choice for expats who have recently arrived, internationally mobile professionals, retirees who moved to Portugal and anyone who places a high value on English-language service and freedom of provider choice. If your priority is the lowest possible copayment at a vast national network of clinics, a domestic insurer may suit you better — which is exactly the kind of trade-off a broker can map for you.
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APRIL vs Allianz vs Médis
No single insurer wins for everyone. In short: APRIL leads on expat onboarding and English/French service; Allianz is strongest on premium international plans and reimbursement; Médis offers the largest in-Portugal network and low copayments. For a side-by-side breakdown of premiums, waiting periods and networks, read our independent Allianz vs APRIL vs Médis comparison, or see our general guide to health insurance for expats in Portugal.
As an independent, ASF-registered broker we are not tied to APRIL or any other insurer. We compare the market and recommend what actually fits your profile — and we can have a personalised APRIL quote and comparison back to you within 24 hours.
Adler & Rochefort is a commercial brand of Ownizo Unipessoal Lda, registered with the ASF under no. 425591790/3. This article is general guidance only and does not constitute a contractual offer. Conditions, premiums and cover vary by insurer and individual profile.