BEST Healthcare & Insurance For Expats In Portugal

[@mscatnipper2359]

I retired at 50 with $500,000 in savings and a platinum-quality long term care insurance policy. 17 years later, due to out-of-pocket medical and in-home assistance costs, and expenses related to caring for three relatives around the U.S. until their deaths, I had to tap into the golden egg of savings, knowing that was the beginning of a downward spiral financially. This year, my LTC insurer went belly up. Watching this video was such an eye opener. Had I retired to Madeira instead, I could have paid cash for a deluxe home and continued my passionate philanthropy. The valuable information you present revives my hope that I can again create a lifestyle that allows me to leave a legacy with the money I still have left.

[@Track_Us_Down]

Hi there! Madeira is certainly a beautiful place to retire. All the best to you! Cheers! D&M

[@Track_Us_Down]

We hope you find some useful information about the Portuguese healthcare system in this video, especially for expats looking to live, retire, or work abroad, or applying for the D7 Visa. This has been our experience and we are very happy the way it all worked out. Please leave a comment below and let us know what YOU think or what YOUR experience has been. Thanks! All the best, Doug & Monique.

[@Mj-xc2wc]

I hear you praising the public health care and I am pleased for that....that's what you call socialism and stigmatize so much in the USA but which we cherish and want to remain available for everybody, rich or poor. Taxes that everybody wants to ski are needed to be used for these services. Same as for education, justice, security, roads kids parks everything etc. These are the returns for our taxes and which we need everyone to participate. We are not opposed to the private but there is the need to have a regulator who provides these services in best quality and available to everybody. If you leave it alone to privates greed will drive them and profits shall be the final goal instead of the well being of its peolple. Privates moved by greed tend to influence public services quality and policies through lobbies to take its place to cartel prices and standards - high prices, low standards. Everybody is welcome we just wish tem to share our vision of a wealthy and healthy country.

[@Track_Us_Down]

Hello and thank you very much for your well-thought out feedback - much appreciated! Excellent insight. Although we hope not to have to use the healthcare too often 😉 public or private, we sure appreciate the system and care Portugal has developed here for all. Cheers! Doug & Monique.

[@arturjcrebelo3275]

One advise if you can afford, stick with your private healthcare insurance. Because if you have a major event yes is better to go to the main public hospital of your city, but with a cold, a pneumonia in the winter time, is better to use the private healthcare, in the winter with a lot of sick ppl your wait (if is not a life threaten) can be 5 hours, or even more.

[@Track_Us_Down]

Hi! That is great info to consider, which we will surely do when the time comes. Thank you so much for reaching out and for mentioning that - much appreciated! Doug & Monique

[@ItllBeFun]

Ola Doug and Monique, The information you provided in this video is great. We know many people are truly worried about health when moving to a new country. Have a wonderful day Alan and Leslie

[@Track_Us_Down]

Thanks so much! It certainly has to be a main consideration, when contemplating a move such as this! Cheers! D & M

[@saragomes6242]

The 112 emergency goes to the public hospital even if you have private healthcare insurance

[@Track_Us_Down]

Excellent information - thank you very much for sharing that! 🙂. Doug & Monique.

[@dugfriendly]

This "nuts and bolts" info is excellent! Thank you so much 😀

[@Track_Us_Down]

Hello! Thank you for the kind feedback and we are glad you found it useful! Cheers! M&D

[@pablobulldog]

I love how specific and detailed you are! Subscribing and checking all your videos. Thank you for all you do for us future expats!

[@Track_Us_Down]

You are so welcome! We aim to provide hope, inspiration, and encouragement for others contemplating something a little different for their own "Second Half of Life!" 😉 Cheers, Doug & Monique

[@yaxinzhang829]

Thanks, very useful information, forward to my friend who is preparing D7 visa.

[@Track_Us_Down]

Hello! We are glad you found it useful. Best of luck to your friend and their D7 visa! Cheers! M&D

[@SB-yq8uo]

Very useful explanation

[@Track_Us_Down]

Thank you. It's hard to cover all the healthcare aspects, but wanted to give somewhat of an idea to those doing their own research. Cheers! D & M

[@joeybunbury1796]

Very useful. I’ve learned to have a pen and paper handy to take notes while watching your videos. Cute thumbnail, by the way. Thanks so much for your time that’s been invested into the videos. I find them helpful and I appreciate it.

[@Track_Us_Down]

Glad you are finding some useful info! We really appreciate the feedback 😄... thinking the thumbnail may be a bit TOO cutesy 😄. Cheers! D & M

[@disturbedpeace3041]

Thanks once again folks. Most appreciated. Obrigado.

[@Track_Us_Down]

De nada! 😀

[@raymondeinspiration1106]

Thank you for the information, I have sleep apneu so I think it will be expensive for me, so I must meditate about this,

[@Track_Us_Down]

Hello Raymonde! Thank you for watching and commenting! We are not sure how sleep apnea will impact insurance. Definitely get in touch with someone and gather that information so that you can make an informed decision for yourself. Cheers! M&D

[@raymondeinspiration1106]

@@Track_Us_Down I plan to go for a vacation in may next year to Madeira and I like very much your videos, a lot of inspiration, thank you, I am living in Holland, but the situation is terrible here and I like to move in the future to live in Madeira, so that is my plans. God will help me! Greetings from Holland

[@raymondeinspiration1106]

@@Track_Us_Down I will ask information by the health care about this, thank you for answer me. Your videos are a inspiration for me and everyone! Take care.

[@PrototypeThinker]

Great job..the best health advice I have ever seen on YT about Porrugal.. really BIG respect for showing costs directly from the websites (private vs public) Subscribed guys!!

[@Track_Us_Down]

Hello! Thank you so much for your feedback. We are glad you found the video helpful. We appreciate you subscribing. Cheers! D&M

[@casacalmar]

Stellar video! Very informative, detailed and well made - easy to follow. Thanks for the simulation for getting insurance with Allianz at 65, and the 2022 updates! Couldn't subscribe fast enough!

[@Track_Us_Down]

Hello Fran! Thank you so much for watching our video and subscribing to our channel. We appreciate the kind feedback. We always hope to provide clear information for our viewers so we are glad you found value in it. Welcome to Track us Down! Cheers! M&D

[@markandannette]

Thank you for providing such good information

[@Track_Us_Down]

Hello Mark! Thank you for watching and we are happy you found value in the video. Cheers! M&D

[@stephenjarzombek2903]

You hit another home run with this one! Thanks for looking at age 65, as that's something I hadn't seen in other videos on the topic. I'm amazed at the low cost for private coverage, especially as when I turn 65 early next year, my Medicare monthly premium will be at least $210 for Part B with a 20% deductible and Part D drug coverage.

[@Track_Us_Down]

Thanks! We SO appreciate the feedback 😀. We believe most Americans would be "shocked" by both the quality, availability, and affordability of the healthcare here, especially compared to what they pay back home. Really makes one think! Cheers! Doug & Monique

[@stephenjarzombek2903]

@@Track_Us_Down Forgot to ask, are private rates from a given provider the same everywhere in Portugal? The same coverage from the same insurer can vary by +/- 20% from county to county here in Indiana (another crazy problem with the US system!)

[@Track_Us_Down]

@@stephenjarzombek2903 That’s interesting - didn’t know it could vary like that. Good question, I’m pretty sure our rate is for anywhere in Portugal, but I don’t know that for sure. It just seems that would be the Portuguese way of fairness to all! 😉

[@scottsorenson1859]

@@Track_Us_Down That is correct.

[@keithgawrys5705]

Thank you for the video. What you're missing is what procedures you have to go through to secure an appointment or visit the emergency room for any reason. In the public system you just need to show your resident ID, yes? Add some data and info and publish an update if you find the time. Thanks again!

[@Track_Us_Down]

Hey, thanks for that feedback. That is a great suggestion and we're sorry we didn't include that in the first place! When we booked our driver's license physicals at the private hospital, all we did was phone and make an appt for the next day. Simple and easy. But also if we just showed up, we simply took an electronic number and waited (not long) for it to pop up on the board and we were in. We went to the public hospital only once - for our Covid boosters - and it was quick, professional, and efficient. We have been very impressed with how the Portuguese run their systems. Cheers! Doug & Monique.

[@keithgawrys5705]

@@Track_Us_Down Thank you. So everyone spoke English well? That has been my experience but not sure about appointments and the like.

[@Track_Us_Down]

@@keithgawrys5705 Absolutely. Our doctor was originally from South Africa, so no problem there. But the locals either speak or bring over someone who does speak English to assist. We’ve since been to our local health centre to register (as we moved) and between someone who speaks English, or using Google translate to start, we’ve made out just fine.

[@alanandsuegrimshaw4629]

Thank you so much for sharing this health information with us it is extremely helpful also thank you for being honest in sharing with us how much you have actually pay for stuff not everyone does that. We look forward to watching your videos every weekend. 🙂

[@Track_Us_Down]

Thank you for your support and feedback! So nice to hear it may be of some use to others. We're having fun making them. Yes we certainly aren't looking to mislead anyone - we'd rather give them insights and examples, so they can take on their own, similar retirement adventures! Cheers! Doug & Monique.

[@desertdweller8520]

Thank you for this information. I really appreciate the work you put into this presentation.

[@Track_Us_Down]

Thank you very much for that feedback! Cheers!

[@mariusgrobler4235]

Guys again many thx for a great video showing exactly what i wanted to know. Thx for sharing! Note: 1. perhaps consider a location with less echo or invedt in a good mic. 2. Since you sharing such valuable info i know a number of people are using it for reference, so having your episodes numbered in the KZbin name is really very useful :-) Muito Obrigado

[@Track_Us_Down]

Hi! Glad you found it useful! Sorry for any poor sound quality! We actually have a decent mic attached to our camera, I honestly think it's the too-large of a room we are talking in. We are still learning the finer points of the "light & sound" elements of this video editing thing 😄. I'm thinking of looking at more of a lapel mic set-up that I've researched online. Either way, I actually appreciate that kind of feedback, as we do hope to improve. As for the numbering, we thought a bit about that too before, but remain undecided. We see that many if not most channels are not numbered, and also we aren't quite sure if that system would be best for us. Again though, really appreciate that feedback, and thanks for watching us! Doug & Monique.

[@neleig]

Awesome information and video. Thank you both. My wife and I are in the D7 process now, with our NIF numbers and bank account soon. We are planning to move to Portugal in the Fall of 2023, from San Antonio, TX. I haven’t watched your other vids yet, but will. How’s Madeira? We are thinking of moving to Porto.

[@Track_Us_Down]

Hello Alan! Wow congrats on your decision to move to Portugal! We absolutely love Madeira , but the rest of Portugal is amazing as well. You really can’t go wrong. We’ve done many videos about the cost of living that may be helpful to you as well as videos about Madeira. Welcome! Please subscribe! Cheers! M&D

[@amerbreiche493]

Thank you so much for sharing, We like it a lot. We are looking forward to more of your videos.

[@Track_Us_Down]

That's great to hear that! Thanks so much for watching! Cheers, Doug & Monique

[@MW-ol1vl]

Hi Doug & Monique, great video, very well structured and informative. We like it a lot. We are looking forward to more of your videos, especially the topic regarding NHR 10% flat rate for Americans. Thanks soooo much!

[@Track_Us_Down]

Thank you for watching and for reaching out with your feedback! Very much appreciated. As our NHR process unfolds we hope to be able to share some that. Cheers! D & M

[@MoveOrInvest]

Thank you for another great video! As always, I appreciate the detailed, straightforward information. My wife and I are US expats currently living in Lisbon on the D7. We're considering a move to Madeira, and we'll be there visiting June 11th - 18th. We'd love to buy you guys lunch or a drink to pick your brains about Madeira and your experience so far. Let me know if you're interested. Thanks again for the great channel!

[@Track_Us_Down]

We sure appreciate that feedback - thank you! That's great that you two have already made the move! We'd be more than happy to meet - we sure have enjoyed meeting like-minded people. Once you are settled in, send us an email at [e-mail] or via Insta and we'll pick a day & time that works for you guys. Cheers! Doug & Monique.

[@tehilash7292]

@@Track_Us_Down ץ

[@lsvmuk]

If one uses the EU health care system outside the country of residence - urgent and not expected health problems only - respective expenses would be covered by the country where one resides.

[@Track_Us_Down]

That's great information - thank you! D & M

[@Maria-tg4ny]

Very informative, thank you for covering Health Care 😊

[@Track_Us_Down]

Glad you found it useful and thanks for watching! Doug & Monique

[@thepatkars]

Thank you very much for posting this video!

[@Track_Us_Down]

Our pleasure!

[@OrganicFreedom]

Thank you so much for sharing this. I learned a lot. Great video as always :)

[@Track_Us_Down]

Hello Organic Freedom! Thank you so much for watching our videos and for your support. We really appreciate it. Cheers! M&D

[@XNiu-go2zh]

Great video, thank you ! May I ask whether the insurance you bought also cover abroad medical cost? Say you are traveling in other countries in Europe? Best Linda

[@Track_Us_Down]

Hello there! Thank you so much for watching and if you haven’t already please consider subscribing. Yes it included medical abroad up to a certain amount. We no longer have the private insurance, as now we are residents and covered under the public system which also includes travel in the European Union. If we were to go else where, we would need to purchase travel insurance. Hope that helps. Cheers! M&D

[@georgd3013]

This was a much anticipated video. Portuguese health care is really fantastic! May I ask how you found your broker which led you to choosing Allianz PT? Thanks in advance!

[@Track_Us_Down]

Hope it helped! It sure is fantastic. After we tried to go ahead and buy our simulated healthcare on the Allianz site, we were somehow put in touch with a broker outside of Allianz who as it turned out was very helpful and friendly. If you are interested, let us know via email and we'll provide her details. Cheers! D & M

[@josepedromartins5095]

I'm an unsurancebroker and mybdvixe is to search for an insuranxe broker tjat works with several insurance companuess

[@JP7onEarth]

Useful video! Been researching for our upcoming move. Thank you! Can’t wait to get there. Thanks again Doug and Monique.

[@Track_Us_Down]

Our pleasure! Good luck to you! D & M

[@danlouisesrideacrossameric3041]

Thanks for the series of videos on Portugal, very useful. Are you certain that you can use the public health system while on a D7? My understanding is that our world wide income (excluding income earned in Portugal) isn't taxed (great benefit given the high Portuguese tax rates) but you don't get to use the public health system. This is why you have to prove you already have insurance coverage when applying for the D7. Very logical so our health costs aren't being paid by the regular Portugal citizens/ residents. Note that another point I haven't seen mentioned is that the D7 is only good for 10 years after which you pay the high Portuguese income tax rates. I'm interested in your thoughts. Thanks

[@Track_Us_Down]

Hi and thanks for the feedback - glad we can add some useful info 😀. You seem to be confusing or mixing elements of the D7 visa together with the NHR program - two separate entities. The D7 is a starting point, a vehicle of entry which indicates your INTENTION of seeking Portuguese residency, with passive income or in retirement. It allows you to stay longer than the normal 90 days allowed for those of us from N. America. During that time period that you are staying on the D7, you will have an appointment with SEF, which if you've done everything right and have all your documents / requirements in order, will grant you residency (you likely will have everything in order by this point, as that would be necessary just to get the D7!). The residency they grant is good for 2 years, and is renewed upon meeting with SEF for a further 2 - 5 years. Our D7 really only lasted 3-4 months as we had our SEF meeting within that time period of landing in Portugal, and received our residency cards in the mail within a month of that meeting. That's here in Funchal - it may take longer to have that meeting on the mainland. So if it did take longer, then you would technically remain on that D7 visa until you had that meeting and were granted residency. As far as healthcare, EACH AND EVERY RESIDENT is entitled to public healthcare here. We landed in October, 2021, on our D7 visa and had our residency cards by January, 2022 - just 3 months later. Immediately, as new residents, we were entitled to, applied for, and received access to the public health system including a personal healthcare number. But we didn't know it would be that quick, so we opted for the 12-month private healthcare term. The NHR is a totally different entity, a tax scheme offered to entice living in, investment in, and retirement in Portugal. The tax benefits last for 10 years! That is phenomenal we think. We can't predict our situation in 10 years, but are certainly going to enjoy the journey! Hope this helps and all the best! Doug & Monique.

[@danlouisesrideacrossameric3041]

Thanks Doug and Monique for clearing that up. My wife Louise and I retired at 50 and we had spent the previous 5 years getting rid of most of our belongings in order to focus on people and experiences. We've been travelling full time with our RV since 2011, which also includes extensive periods (multiple months) of international travel. We are presently in Europe for 5 months (2 months completed to date) and spent 1 month in Portugal as we have been exploring purchasing a place to have a European "home base". Your info has been very helpful. Dan & Louise

[@Track_Us_Down]

@@danlouisesrideacrossameric3041 That’s great! Congratulations! We love motorhome travel (or caravanning as they call it 😉), especially through Europe. Sounds like you guys did it right and we love hearing about life-stories and adventures like yours! Safe travels and all the best, Doug & Monique

[@LauraKeyRealtyGoddess]

Q. Since you had a home purchased before you got your D7 did you have to get Travel Insurance or was your plan you discuss in the video enough?

[@Track_Us_Down]

Hello Laura! Thank you for watching and commenting. We had the D7 visa with the insurance from Allianz as discussed in the video, before we arrived in Portugal and long before we purchased a home here. Hope that helps! Cheers! M&D

[@LauraKeyRealtyGoddess]

@@Track_Us_Down really love your channel! Thanks so much

[@charlesbarnes7571]

Obrigada, Doug & Monique. Lots of good info! -- Veronika

[@Track_Us_Down]

De nada! Glad you found it useful! 😀 D & M

[@cookmaster3626]

Thank you for the much needed excellent presentation on the health insurance coverage. This is the First video I have come across amongst hundreds i have watched on Portugal healthcare system and private coverage that spells out the details, You guys do such an amazing job. Thank you for the time taken to educate us. BTW, understand that there is a big delay or backlog in D7 processing. Is that true? Best Regards.

[@Track_Us_Down]

You are welcome! Hope it provides at least some info to others. We sure appreciate the feedback. We have heard vague info about that, but weren't sure if that was N. American-wide, or just at particular consulates/embassies. Things seem to change so fast these days, month-to-month, that's it's hard to keep up-to-date, especially across different regions. We feel bad for others if that is the case, as waiting and trying to plan for this sort of move can be quite stressful. Cheers! Doug & Monique.

[@erichenderson6077]

Hi - thank you so much for the great information in your videos! I'm trying to fill out the simulator on the Allianz website but it requires a NIF number and I currently still reside in the United States. Do you know of a work around for that? Thank you again!

[@Track_Us_Down]

You are most welcome, and thanks for reaching out! You know, we've thought about that ourselves, and were wondering if someone could just "improvise" a NIF number,,, it's a 9 digit number... ours starts with 30*******, so we were wondering if anything lower than that would work... Or if you have a local Portuguese friend that may be willing to lend you their NIF for this purpose! 😂. All the best, ~ Doug & Monique.

[@TravelByNumbers]

@@Track_Us_Down Yes, if you keep trying various 9 digit numbers, even starting with 30, you'll eventually get one that works.

[@hermes6587]

Helpful video, nicely done. How long did it take to have your insurance in place from application? I ask to get an idea how long we need to apply before submitting our D7 visa application since having health insurance in place is a requirement.

[@Track_Us_Down]

Thank you very much 😀. Once we got through the simulation, and were put in touch with the broker (she was so friendly and helpful) then it was smooth sailing. We had a Zoom call with her (she is on mainland Portugal), we answered her health questions, gave our info, and she got back to us within about a week to 10 days with a policy. All via email. So start to finish, about 2 weeks, give or take a couple days. Cheers, D & M

[@felipepipe18]

Great videos! I just recently joined, but I am going through all your videos. I loved the video you did of your home. It looks amazing! Could you do a video about taxes at some point? As U.S citizens, we would have to pay taxes on worldwide income, and Portugal and other European countries have a lot of additional taxes (e.g. inheritance taxes, investment taxes on Roth investments, estate taxes, etc), which scares a lot of people from actually making the move, but I am not sure if those fears are actually legitimate.

[@Track_Us_Down]

Thank you very much for watching us and for reaching out! We really appreciate the feedback. As time goes on and things settle, we may just do a video on taxes. However that can mean so many things for so many people depending on each's situation, and where they are from. So we'll have to put some thought into that! I think most fears can be overcome with regard to taxes, etc. They are inevitable. Pretty sure Portugal doesn't have an inheritance tax when it comes to spouses, children, grandchildren. Otherwise, any tax (inheritance) that may occur, only applies to Portuguese assets, not those you have abroad. Cheers! Doug & Monique.

[@TravelByNumbers]

I would also add that another scary thing for foreigners immigrating to Portugal is the extreme 28% capital gains tax the government levies on those foreigners (and a lesser amount to citizens) who sell their residence to move to another country (or back to the original homeland). It seems to me that if you choose to take residence in Portugal and buy property, you better plan to die there too and leave significantly less to those left behind.

[@TravelByNumbers]

We've been watching all of your videos and have been enjoying them and how helpful they've been. We've been to Madeira twice and are contemplating moving from Canada (the most heavily taxed jurisdiction in the western world specifically). We're a little confused about the healthcare requirements - specifically I'm under the impression one obtains private healthcare in order to apply for the D7 visa but then can drop it after a period once you've bought a place and moved to the country? And at that point one would only retain private health insurance for faster service and no additional fees?

[@Track_Us_Down]

Hi! Thanks for watching us - glad we might be able to help others like us! 😄 We hear you on the taxes!! You're right - you have to submit proof of private healthcare insurance WITH your D7 visa application. We took a one year policy just to be safe. After you have your D7 and you live in Portugal for 6 + months, then public healthcare kicks in, with no additional fees. They have a dual system. We are likely going to drop our private healthcare once our policy is up (or are at least we are going to look real hard at why we might want to keep it, and how much it will go up) as they have really, really, good public healthcare here. It is nothing at all like the chaos at Canadian hospitals. Good luck! Doug & Monique

[@TravelByNumbers]

@@Track_Us_Down Ok, that clears things up for me and your explanation is appreciated. :)

[@wwlt.trevor0512]

Please can you show an Allianz Simulation for someone over 65 with health issues?

[@Track_Us_Down]

Hello WW&Lt.Trevor, Thank you so much for watching and commenting. You can try contacting Allianz and sharing your situation with them and asking for a quote. The only other way to do a quote is to have a NIF to enter along with information online. I’m guessing even online isn’t as specific as a quote you would get if you made contact. We did a zoom call and covered everything for a quote. We are not making healthcare videos at this time, if we ever do we will keep your suggestion in mind. Best of luck to you! Cheers! M&D

[@casslarkin4567]

I am really enjoying your channel. As a single woman in her early 70's and of Portuguese descent, (grandparents from Madeira!,) I am considering moving to Portugal. How does one become a resident to qualify for health insurance? Thank you!

[@Track_Us_Down]

Hi Cass! Thank you for the kind words and question. Madeira is for sure worth considering. Check out our Why choose Madeira video, as well as Why Madeira may not be for you video. They may offer you some further insight. We came on a D7 visa, after which we attended a SEF appointment and got our temporary residency cards. With that in hand, we signed up for public healthcare. Hope that helps. Cheers! M&D

[@casslarkin4567]

​@@Track_Us_Down Thank you for your response and referral to your other helpful videos.

[@Mr.S65]

Do you have health insurance through your pension? I know Doug has a city/federal pension and Monique within 3 years or so. If you do, will you keep the health insurance in the US?

[@Track_Us_Down]

Great question - very little and only if we hadn't moved abroad. So, not really. We did not opt in. You're right, we still have about 3 years if things change to decide with regard to Monique's retirement plan extended coverage. Cheers! D & M

[@VoltaireMM]

Public healthcare for me as a portuguese living in Lisbon is much better than private healthcare. Article 15 - CONSTITUTION OF THE PORTUGUESE REPUBLIC (Foreigners, stateless persons, European citizens) 1. Foreigners and stateless persons who find themselves or who reside in Portugal enjoy the same rights and are subject to the same duties as Portuguese citizens. 2. Political rights, the exercise of public functions that are not predominantly technical in nature, and the rights and duties that the Constitution and the law reserve exclusively to Portuguese citizens are excepted from the provisions of the previous paragraph. 3. Save for access to appointment to the offices of President of the Republic, President of the Assembly of the Republic, Prime Minister and President of any of the supreme courts, and for service in the armed forces and the diplomatic corps, rights that are not otherwise granted to foreigners are accorded, as laid down by law and under reciprocal terms, to the citizens of Portuguese-speaking states who reside permanently in Portugal. 4. Under reciprocal terms, the law may accord foreigners who reside in Portugal the eligibility to vote for and stand for election as officeholders of local authority organs. 5. Under reciprocal terms, the law may also accord citizens of European Union Member States who reside in Portugal the eligibility to vote for and stand for election as Members of the European Parliament. mobile.dre.pt/part-i

[@Track_Us_Down]

Hi there! Thank you for the comment! Cheers! M&D

[@yanassi]

While you’re saying portugal, are there a somewhat varying quality care in different areas in portugal, say madeira vs lisbon vs porto, etc?

[@Track_Us_Down]

Hello! That’s a great question and we really cannot speak to that. Our feedback is here in Madeira and our own experience here. Thanks for watching! Cheers! M&D

[@ninelr222]

Was very happy to find your channel today and subscribed immediately! Very good info. One question, if I can. What about the long term care insurance? Here in US it is very tricky and expensive. I am at the point where I thi k of buying it here. But I am also thinking about moving to Madeira. So, does Madeira have any LTC? If yes, then in what form? I am trying to figure out if it makes sense to have ltc in US, just like maybe keeping the Medicare, or have some type of LTC insurance in Madeira only. Thanks again for great info you provide!

[@Track_Us_Down]

Hello Ninel! Welcome to TUD! We are so glad you found us and happy that you are finding value in our content. We have since dropped our private health care and as residents use the SNS. As for long term care, we have not done a full deep dive into it. From what we gather so far, there is public long term care available for residents, as well as paid for care. We have not looked in to if there is long term care insurance. We understand what you are trying to figure out for yourselves. As you google and navigate the system, be careful as many insurance companies will not provide fully accurate information. Always double check what is available as part of the national health system. Sometimes this is hard for Americans, as they feel that they must pay for everything or pay in order to get the service. As Canadians , we are used to a national health care system. Just a caution. Thanks again for watching and subscribing. We appreciate you being here. Cheers! M&D

[@ninelr222]

@@Track_Us_Down Thank you! Will research further. Especially stuff that is available for free:)

[@sl1840]

Did you acquire the D7 visa while in Portugal because you need the proof of insurance , NIF, rental for 1year

[@Track_Us_Down]

You have to get your D7 before you leave your country, and that's what we did. Part of that application is proof of insurance and NIF, which we obtained early because it's part of the application process for the D7. Technically, one does NOT need a one year lease as part of the application, just "proof of suitable accommodation." We had a 2 week rental apartment through Expedia, along with a letter stating our intent to seek long-term accommodation upon arrival, and we had no issues. Cheers! D & M

[@isabelle3365]

Hi Doug and Monique, i was just wondering how long it takes to have medical appointements for regular doctor, dentist or eyecare. Is there enough doctors for the growing population of this island ? Have you tryed yet to set appointements ? Thank you

[@Track_Us_Down]

Oh that's a great question. We only had to book once for ourselves so far, and our appointment was literally the next day. But for example, one person we know went to book an appointment on a Thursday for an annual colonoscopy, thinking it would be weeks or months (hoping, maybe 😉) and they said, sure, come back Tuesday. So he had it done within a few days of booking, and that was at the public hospital. They have many hospitals, health clinics, and dental clinics here - most quite modern, and they are currently building a new, main hospital for the island here in Funchal. They sure seem to do healthcare right, from what we see and hear so far. Cheers! D & M

[@isabelle3365]

@@Track_Us_Down Thank you so much for you answer. Madeira seems really a great place to live with such an easy access to medical appointements.

[@jennywang8678]

Hi Doug & Monique, Thank you for another great video! When you said “residents”, do you included Temporary residents who are on D7 visa? Are retirees on D7 visa eligible for public healthcare? I thought that only permanent residents can use the public, maybe I was wrong? I also look forward to seeing some discussion about tax on D7 visa with or without the new NHR status for US retirees.

[@Track_Us_Down]

Hello! Thanks for watching and your feedback - we really appreciate it! Yes Temporary residents are "residents" in this context, and are eligible for the public healthcare here 😀. It's not just limited to "permanent" residents. We are giving some time to see how our tax situation and NHR process unfolds - hopefully we may be able to share some info about that down the road. Cheers! Doug & Monique.

[@jennywang8678]

@@Track_Us_Down thanks for the information!

[@3fortheroad]

Thanks! Are you aware of any medical specialties/procedures that are unavailable in Madeira that retirees may need? Orthopedic or cataract surgeries, for example.

[@Track_Us_Down]

Great question, but no we're not aware of anything of the sort. I think most people would be amazed and pleasantly surprised by all that IS available on this island, as far as medical service. Makes sense if a hop over to Lisbon or Porto "may" be required for some things, but we really don't know. Cheers! Doug & Monique.

[@CONCEPTS83]

Hi Doug and Monique, Great video. Thank you so much for sharing. I'm originally from the UK, as well as a Canadian Citizen, from Toronto. Great information on healthcare. I'm trying to find the pathway to applying for a D7 Visa, before my visit to Portugal, do you have any links you found helpful. Thank you!! Howard 👍🙂

[@Track_Us_Down]

Hello and thanks for watching and reaching out! Glad you found some useful information here 🙂. Absolutely. We would 100% recommend Googling "Susan Stults Korthase" and looking up her article on "ExpatExchange.com". We were very lucky to find her article and it was a godsend as far as the steps to apply for the D7. The only thing is you will have to sign up for an expatexchange.com account before you can access the article, but I believe it's free. She appears to be a long-time expat living in Portugal (like 10 or 11 years) and has written a few articles. She seems to us to write excellent, intelligent articles and seems quite knowledgeable on the subject of the D7 visa. We recommend printing out her article and following each step. It is very informative on each and every step of the process, provided amazing clarity, and actually demythologizing the entire process, making it straight-forward and understandable. By following her article and steps to the letter, we had absolutely ZERO issues with our application, just smooth-sailing. That was our experience and our best advice for anyone applying for the D7. We don't think anyone could write a better article or process than what she laid out. Her article was updated in February, 2021, and we used it in September of 2021, with no issues. Hope that helps! Let us know how you find it. Good luck to you!! Doug & Monqiue.

[@TravelByNumbers]

@@Track_Us_Down It should be pointed out that the article mentioned is specific to Americans wanting to emigrate to Portugal. The query was from a Canadian and while the process is similar, the path is written solely from an American perspective.

[@Track_Us_Down]

@@TravelByNumbers My response was from one Canadian responding to another 😉. Although her article may be written as an American, we found her process to be the best, exact steps for us to follow, as Canadians. We would actually recommend these steps more to Canadians vs our American friends these days, as it seems the visa application process is a lot more up to individual VFS offices in the U.S., which we didn’t have to go through in Canada, thankfully. Cheers!

[@TravelByNumbers]

@@Track_Us_Down Oh, ok. Thanks!

[@andyw7283]

G’day D & M Excellent video on health care and thank you for the simulator information and in depth look into private and national healthcare Also any future ideas to provide tours of Madeira “Track us down tours” offered in Madeira, if so sign me up Thank you again for taking time out of your day to produce and edit the videos I look forward each week Cheers Andrew and Monica

[@Track_Us_Down]

Thanks very much for that feedback!! No plans yet for tours ha ha, especially with so many others here making amazing and excellent videos, and tours, themselves. I think "Hit The Road Madeira" is likely one of, if not the best, when it comes to tours and info on the island, and we hope to be a tourist and sign up for one ourselves one day soon. Thanks again for reaching out guys - we love hearing from you! All the best, Doug & Monique.

[@psychnpusa1516]

Hello Monique and Doug, what do you need to apply for european health card? Thanks

[@Track_Us_Down]

Hello Psych NP USA! We had to show our residence card to obtain our Portuguese SNS card. We now have the app on our phone. Thanks for watching ! Cheers! M&D

[@MariaGonzalez-fq2zu]

Hello, and thank you for a very informative video. I am an American citizen, almost 64 yrs. old thinking of retiring to Portugal. However, I have pre existing conditions. Can you tell me if they would be covered in any of the private insurance available for a D7 visa? Thank you in advance for your response.

[@Track_Us_Down]

Hello Maria! Thank you for watching and for your kind comment. Please get in contact with Allianz Portugal 🇵🇹 ( Allianz.pt) and do a zoom call. They will be able to give you the information you are seeking. Good luck! Cheers! M&D

[@Larry-jh8gf]

Excellent job guys! Sounds like you are covered if you travel through out Europe. What happens if you go back home to visit for a month or so. Do you need to buy a short term traveler's policy if you want to be covered? Keep up the good work we appreciate it.

[@lsvmuk]

If you travel outside the EU, I believe you would have to get a travel insurance. Even in the EU countries, only urgent and not expected problems are covered.

[@Larry-jh8gf]

@@lsvmuk thanks 👍

[@Track_Us_Down]

Thanks so much! Another excellent question. We do plan on going back to N. America for a visit later this summer. Our new credit card with Millennium Bank here in Portugal has AMAZING travel insurance, as far as trip interruption, emergencies health, luggage, etc., however just as @ L S Martins replied, we will be doing our homework and likely will get a short travel insurance policy if required, just to be sure. Cheers! Doug & Monique

[@gordonpi8674]

Glad you understood that universal free healthcare is the humane and civilized way to go. In Europe the healthcare is focused on curing people, NOT on keeping them on treatments as customers and making profits on them! Portugal is NOT the USA! Or better THE WORLD is NOT the USA!

[@Track_Us_Down]

Hi Gordon, Thank you for your comment. Healthcare is exactly about that you’re correct. Cheers! D&M

[@jennz6390]

Thank you!!!!

[@Track_Us_Down]

Hello! Thanks for watching! Cheers! M&D

[@yogiviben8555]

Thank you for this information! Have you had a chance to cover if the side walks are more slippery than what expats are use to in the rain and how often you can expect rainy days on the island and mainland? (Any issues with slipping on non-wet rainy days?) Also, do you have any tips on shoes? Would a good pair of sneakers be protective?

[@tamaramadelin4831]

Skechers...I literally changed out most of my shoes when I moved to Lisbon! The streets can be slippery (I slipped and fell once, but lots of little slips in between) especially in the rain so be careful and wear good shoes!!

[@yogiviben8555]

@@tamaramadelin4831 Thank you so, so, so much! Truly appreciate.

[@Track_Us_Down]

You are welcome 😀. Great questions! In our first "Shockers!" video listing the top 10 things we found interesting about Madeira, we do talk about the sidewalks and shoes here on Madeira. Overall, we haven't found "slipping" to be much of a problem, as the vast majority of their cobblestone and stone sidewalks here are made with crushed volcanic stone, which is quite grippy as we demonstrate in that video, even when wet. They do have more polished and decorative little stone cubes they use as well, which could be more slippery. For walking for us, we found the biggest hazard to be uneven surfaces - a cobblestone sticking up higher than the rest, a bolt from where a lamp post used to be, a tree root - we've had some near disasters tripping on these while our gaze was diverted by the beauty around us. But they have tons of shoe shops and shoes for sale here, all quite reasonably priced, stylish, and well-made!

[@yogiviben8555]

@@Track_Us_Down Wow, thank you so much. I’ll check out the top ten vid and so appreciate your response! Thank you!!

[@edhenry2848]

If we visit Madeira, how do we take you out for coffee and say hello?

[@Track_Us_Down]

Hello Ed! Thank you for watching our video and if you haven’t already we would love if you would subscribe to our channel! You can track us down in Madeira via our email on our “about”page. Look forward to hearing from you! Cheers! M&D

[@mariusgrobler4235]

Hi guys now that you're there for 1 year, are you keeping your private healthcare or dropping it? Cheerio MG

[@Track_Us_Down]

Hello Marius! Great question! We have since dropped out private health care. Thanks for watching and supporting the channel! Cheers! M&D

[@JP7onEarth]

Do you know if a person moves to Portugal with an EU Passport are there any significant changes in price or coverage? Thanks.

[@Track_Us_Down]

Good question! We don't really know for sure, but as far as Allianz, we don't think it would make a difference, as we bought that as if we were local EU residents, and had to use our local Portuguese fiscal number. Cheers! D & M

[@ai_product_manager]

so with a D7 visa, you become a resident after 6 months?

[@Track_Us_Down]

Hi there! Thank you for watching! On the D7 visa you receive an appointment with SEF and then through SEF you are given a temporary resident card . That usually happens within 6 months. Cheers! M&D

[@louise2921]

I don't think anyone should be listening to what the WHO has to say.

[@Track_Us_Down]

They have been a contentious organization over the last few years alone, that's for sure. Cheers!