Portugal remains one of the most sought-after destinations for expats worldwide. The climate, safety, competitive cost of living and tax incentive programmes — including the D7 visa, Golden Visa and digital nomad visa — attract tens of thousands of new residents every year. But one question comes up without fail in the first few months: how does healthcare work, and what insurance should I get?
This article was written with you in mind — whether you are a British retiree in the Algarve, a tech professional working remotely from Lisbon, or a French family relocating to Porto. We will demystify the Portuguese healthcare system, explain what the NHS covers (and what it does not), and show you exactly how the best insurers in the national market — Allianz, Medis and AdvanceCare — can protect your health and that of your family.
“Moving to a new country is a life decision. Ensuring you have fast, quality access to healthcare is not optional — it is the foundation of everything else.”
The Portuguese NHS for expats: what you need to know
The Portuguese National Health Service (Serviço Nacional de Saúde, or SNS) is available to all legal residents — including expats with a valid residence permit. You simply register at your local health centre (centro de saúde) to receive a patient number and access to a family doctor.
In practice, however, the expat experience with the SNS is often frustrating:
- Language barrier: While many doctors in Lisbon and Porto speak English, in rural areas and smaller towns communication can be a real obstacle — especially in emergencies where precision matters.
- Long waiting times: Specialist referrals can take months. Scheduled surgeries frequently exceed 12 months on the waiting list. For anyone accustomed to more responsive systems, this is unacceptable.
- Limited coverage in key areas: The SNS has significant gaps in dental care, ophthalmology, psychology and physiotherapy — areas where expats frequently need ongoing treatment.
- Bureaucratic navigation: The system operates predominantly in Portuguese. Forms, prescriptions, medical reports and official communications are rarely available in English.
This is precisely why the vast majority of expats in Portugal — regardless of whether they have SNS access — choose to take out private health insurance.
Why private health insurance is essential for expats
Beyond comfort and speed, there are structural reasons that make private insurance virtually mandatory for those coming from abroad:
- Visa requirement: The D7, Golden Visa and digital nomad visas all require proof of health insurance as a condition of approval. Without adequate coverage, your residency application may be blocked.
- Transition period: SNS registration can take weeks or months after arrival. During this period, private insurance is your only safety net.
- Continuity of care: If you have pre-existing conditions or ongoing treatments in your home country, private insurance ensures there is no interruption in your medical follow-up.
- Access to top hospitals: Portugal's finest private hospitals — CUF, Lusíadas, Hospital da Luz, HPA Algarve — deliver outstanding care with professionals who communicate fluently in English.
“Private insurance does not replace the NHS — it complements it. Most expats use both: the SNS for emergencies, and private insurance for everything that requires speed, choice and comfort.”
Our partnerships: Allianz, Medis and AdvanceCare
At Adler & Rochefort, we work with every insurer in the Portuguese market. However, for expat health insurance, three partners consistently stand out for their quality, breadth of network and adaptation to the international profile: Allianz, Medis and AdvanceCare.
Allianz: global protection for those living between two worlds
Allianz is one of the world's largest insurers, operating in over 70 countries. For expats in Portugal, this global presence translates into a tangible advantage: the ability to maintain health coverage both within Portugal and while travelling abroad.
- International network: If you travel regularly to your home country or other destinations, Allianz provides medical coverage outside Portugal with generous limits, including international medical evacuation.
- Modular plans: You can build a bespoke plan by selecting the coverage modules that make sense for your profile — hospitalisation, outpatient, dental, maternity.
- Multilingual support: Customer service in English, French, German and Spanish — essential for expats who prefer to communicate in their own language.
- Financial stability: Allianz holds one of the highest financial strength ratings in the world, ensuring long-term reliability.
Medis: Portugal’s health insurance benchmark
Medis is the health brand of Ageas Portugal and is directly linked to the CUF universe — the country's largest private hospital and clinic network. For expats living in Portugal full-time, Medis offers an unbeatable combination of network reach and service quality.
- Direct access to the CUF network: CUF hospitals and clinics are among the best in Portugal, with outstanding medical teams and state-of-the-art technology. With Medis, you access this network with reduced co-payments.
- Comprehensive coverage: Medis plans typically include hospitalisation, specialist consultations, diagnostic tests, dental care and medication, with competitive annual limits.
- App and digital services: Medis offers an intuitive app where you can search for providers, submit reimbursement claims and access teleconsultations — all digitally.
- Attractive family plans: For expats with families, Medis offers special conditions for spouses and dependent children, with premiums significantly lower than separate individual policies.
AdvanceCare: the country’s largest provider network
AdvanceCare is Portugal's largest health network manager, with over 18,000 contracted providers nationwide. For expats living outside the major urban centres — in the Algarve, Alentejo, Madeira or the Azores — this breadth of network makes all the difference.
- Complete national coverage: Whether you are in Lagos, Funchal, Évora or Viseu, the AdvanceCare network ensures you always have a quality provider nearby.
- Advanced digital management: Online platform and app for booking appointments, checking coverage, submitting reimbursements and accessing your digital health card.
- Plan flexibility: AdvanceCare allows a high degree of plan customisation, with options for deductibles, limits and additional modules tailored to each expat's budget and needs.
- Partnerships with top hospitals: Beyond the broad network, AdvanceCare has special agreements with the leading private hospital groups, including Lusíadas, Hospital da Luz and HPA.
“There is no universally best insurer — there is the right insurer for your profile. This is why the impartial comparison provided by an independent broker is so valuable.”
What health insurance covers in Portugal: essential benefits
Regardless of which insurer you choose, there are fundamental coverages that every expat should ensure:
- Hospital admission: Surgery, hospital stay, intensive care and medical fees. Check annual limits — quality plans offer at least €100,000 to €500,000 per year.
- Outpatient consultations and tests: Specialist appointments, blood work, CT scans, MRI, ultrasound. This is the type of coverage you will use most frequently.
- Dental care: One of the most valued coverages among expats, given the high cost of dental treatment in Portugal without insurance.
- Ophthalmology: Appointments, eye tests and contributions toward glasses or contact lenses.
- Maternity and childbirth: If you plan to have children in Portugal, ensure coverage includes prenatal care, delivery and neonatal care. Watch for the waiting period — usually 10 to 12 months.
- Overseas coverage: Especially relevant for expats who travel home frequently. Allianz is particularly strong in this area.
- Mental health: Psychology and psychiatry appointments. Relocating to a new country brings significant emotional challenges — having this coverage is an investment in your overall wellbeing.
Pre-existing conditions: what expats need to know
This is one of the most sensitive — and most misunderstood — topics for expats taking out insurance in Portugal. Most insurers require a detailed medical questionnaire before underwriting. How they respond to your pre-existing conditions varies significantly:
- Full exclusion: The condition is excluded from coverage, either permanently or temporarily.
- Premium loading: The insurer agrees to cover the condition but applies an additional charge to the monthly premium.
- Extended waiting period: Coverage for that condition only activates after a longer period (for example, 24 months instead of 6).
It is absolutely essential to be transparent on the medical questionnaire. Any omission can result in a claim being denied or the policy being voided — precisely when you need it most.
This is where working with a broker like Adler & Rochefort makes the biggest difference: we know each insurer's underwriting criteria and which ones offer the most favourable terms for each medical profile. A client with type 2 diabetes, for instance, may find radically different conditions between Allianz, Medis and AdvanceCare.
How much does health insurance cost for expats in Portugal?
Premiums vary considerably depending on age, health status, selected coverages and insurer. As a general reference:
- Adult aged 30–40, comprehensive plan: €50 to €120 per month
- Adult aged 50–60, comprehensive plan: €100 to €250 per month
- Adult aged 65+: €200 to €450 per month, depending on medical history and coverage
- Child (0–18 years): €25 to €60 per month
- Family plan (couple + 2 children): €150 to €400 per month
These figures are indicative. The personalised analysis we provide at Adler & Rochefort gives you concrete quotes from all three insurers — Allianz, Medis and AdvanceCare — tailored to your specific profile, completely free and with no obligation.
“The lowest premium is not always the best deal. The best insurance is the one that covers what you actually need, when you actually need it — with no surprises.”
How to choose: the role of an independent broker
The Portuguese health insurance market is complex, with dozens of insurers, hundreds of plans and thousands of possible combinations. For an expat unfamiliar with the system, making the right decision alone is risky.
This is where an independent insurance broker comes in. Unlike an agent representing a single insurer, a broker like Adler & Rochefort works for you — comparing proposals from multiple insurers impartially and recommending the solution that best fits your profile.
- Personalised analysis: We assess your health profile, your family's needs and your budget to recommend the ideal plan.
- Impartial comparison: We present side-by-side proposals from Allianz, Medis, AdvanceCare and other insurers, so you can make an informed decision.
- Negotiated terms: We negotiate shorter waiting periods, more favourable exclusions and more competitive premiums — advantages rarely available when contracting directly.
- Ongoing support: We do not disappear after you sign. We manage claims, review your policy annually and ensure your coverage evolves with you.
- Bilingual service: We speak fluent Portuguese and English — so there are no barriers when it comes to your health.
At Adler & Rochefort, our health insurance analysis is completely free and without obligation. Get in touch and discover the best solution to protect your health in Portugal.
Adler & Rochefort is an insurance broker registered with the ASF — the Portuguese Insurance and Pension Funds Supervisory Authority.