Health Insurance in Portugal | Everything you need to know and how to search for the best

In this video you are going to learn about Health Insurance in Portugal, how it works, what are companies providing it, what is the difference between health insurance vs health plan. Last but not least you get a demo of a simulator so you can search yourself for the best insurance for you and your family. Simulator link is www.deco.prote...
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[@fredwang2004]

This is the most informative video I have seen so far, thank you so much ! Would you be able make videos for new immigrants who need basic information such as setting up utility, phone/ internet, transportation, banking , tax etc . Thank you again !

[@MeetCarolas]

Glad to help other families:), yes, great suggestions. We will adding them to out content pipeline, please keep bringing that great ideas.

[@MeetCarolas]

Simulator link www.deco.proteste.pt/saude/seguro-saude/simulador?landingpage If you would like additional free resources to assist you on your move to Portugal, join our newsletter: 💌 💌 meetcarolas.substack.com/welcome 💌 💌 Thank you for watching! if you got value of this video please share it :)

[@AgendaVideoProdns]

Very good video presentation with useful information and easy-to-understand scenarios. Thank you for this.

[@MeetCarolas]

Thank you for the feedback we really appreciate it! it means a lot to us as we are still pretty newbies creating videos on youtube :)

[@TomBTerrific]

Appreciate your efforts and presentation. This is such important information and the choices we make can truly affect your life and well being. Thanks for gathering and sharing. In the US we have expense healthcare . I recently spent 3 days in the ICU because I contracted Covid. No surgery involved. My bill for those 3 days came to $48,000. I was still I’ll when I left the hospital. They never gave me medication to fight the Covid. Fortunately after leaving the icu I found a doctor willing to treat me. In 2 days I started feeling better but because I was allowed to go untreated for to long it’s taking 6 months to total recover. Excellent information. You just happened to show packages I would be interested in. In the US I’m on Medicare which covers 80% and I pay $200 month for a supplemental plan that covers the remaining 20 percent. This plan doesn’t cover medication, dental or optical.

[@MeetCarolas]

Glad to be able to help! Indeed Private health care in Portugal is much more affordable than US. I hope you've had a smooth recovery and doing better now.

[@general5273]

Excellent video! Definitely the most informative video on this topic. Thank you for breaking down the information in detail!!

[@MeetCarolas]

Thank you for watching. Glad that was helpful. :)

[@torstenk3486]

Very helpful to see the simulator being demonstrated. Obrigado

[@MeetCarolas]

Glad it was helpful! :D

[@julesbogert3254]

What a fantastic, and most informative video. Obrigada for putting it together, and sharing it with all of us!

[@MeetCarolas]

Thank you Jules! :D it bring us a lot of joy to be able to help others on this journey!

[@TroyBounds]

Great video with tips. I wish I had seen this a couple of months ago. I’m over 60 with pre-conditions, so MGEN was the one for me.

[@MeetCarolas]

Thank you!

[@kike4791]

Did you have to pay in lump sum or divided monthly?

[@MeetCarolas]

Normally is monthly unless there is a benefit of paying yearly

[@TroyBounds]

@@kike4791 Correct, we make monthly payments

[@kike4791]

@@TroyBounds Thanks!

[@bluedog639]

This is such an incredibly helpful video! Thank you so much for doing the research and sharing it with your audience! I am a new and very happy subscriber! I am looking forward to more useful content! Best wishes to you and your family!

[@MeetCarolas]

Thank you for the lovely comment! It brings us a lot for joy to be able to help other families on this journey!

[@ashopy7867]

Well articulated research. Thanks ✅️ 😊

[@MeetCarolas]

Glad it was helpful!

[@nancyschneider1136]

Timely video. Can you update the health insurance plans available for after 65years old . Medis vs MGEN ?

[@MeetCarolas]

Great idea for a next video :) will add it to our content plan

[@ashwinshirale7653]

Excellent video and walkthrough! Thank you!

[@MeetCarolas]

Thank you!! :)

[@mhackett8735]

Thank you so much very informative.

[@MeetCarolas]

Glad to help!

[@helenaoliveirakatunaric9627]

This was a great and informative video! So helpful! Obrigada!

[@MeetCarolas]

Glad to help :)

[@AA-cm3pd]

Thank you so much for your videos!!

[@MeetCarolas]

Thank you for watching! It makes us super happy to be able to help other families going thru this journey!

[@Zafarimba]

this is very informative and helpful vlog :)

[@MeetCarolas]

Glad it was helpful!

[@dmatmor]

Great Video !! Thank you .

[@MeetCarolas]

Glad to help! :)

[@yuliyavitko2512]

Thank You!

[@MeetCarolas]

Glad to help ❤️

[@gabyd.530]

Hello!!!! Thank you for your time and efffort to provide your viewers with this information! Your videos are really useful! I have been looking for insurance information for months, your video is the best information I have found so far. YOU HAVE A NEW SUBSCRIBER! LOL. I do have a question, does MGEM allow applicants to purchase the insurance without an address in Portugal? We are in the planning stages to move to beautiful Portugal. Thank you again, keep the great work !

[@MeetCarolas]

Thank you for the feedback :) We are super glad to be able to help others! Regarding buying the insurance of MGEM without an address in Portugal it would be best to reach out to them with that question. As far as I know it is a requirement to provide an address in Portugal.

[@gabyd.530]

@@MeetCarolas Awesome! Thank you dear. Congrats on your new home! I saw it last night, thank you for showing it. I looooove it!!!!!!!

[@MeetCarolas]

Thank you Gaby! We are support excited to share the renovation here!

[@samathman3937]

These are very helpful.

[@MeetCarolas]

super glad its helpful!

[@kathystafford1929]

Excellent video!

[@MeetCarolas]

Thank you :) glad to help

[@rupaksen4223]

I am 43 , a student here in Portugal, which insurance would be best in terms of affordability & service?❤❤❤ . Your video is 💓💓💓💓

[@MeetCarolas]

Thank you ❤️ the best is to simulate your scenarios on the deco website.

[@grandmasterjo1]

Thank you for your effort and assistance to well understand health insurance policies in Portugal. Would it be possible to consider comparing state health facilities available for all Portugal citizens. The advantage and disadvantage Thanks 🙏

[@MeetCarolas]

Thank you for the suggestion, will add it to our future content list :)

[@grandmasterjo1]

@@MeetCarolas Thank you. Your response to each comments are highly commendable. 👍👍👍

[@inesreisx]

ajudou muito, obrigada!

[@MeetCarolas]

ficamos contentes de poder ajudar :)

[@bireshwarmitra2089]

very informative .thank you

[@MeetCarolas]

Thank you!

[@bireshwarmitra2089]

@@MeetCarolas in which are the smaller cities of Portugal Indian lives ? Not LISBON or PORTO

[@MeetCarolas]

@@bireshwarmitra2089 I don't know but you might be able to get some leads if you ask this question on the facebook group called "Expats in Portugal Q&A"

[@mattmcneil949]

Great video. Would I have to get a “numero de utente” first in order to get a health plan? I know that I need one to get health insurance. Thanks.

[@MeetCarolas]

Thanks for watching, I’m not sure if need to have “ número de utente “ to request private insurance. The insurance broker that you contact would let you know for sure.

[@mattmcneil949]

Thanks!

[@micheledesoer1975]

Hmm. I just tried the simulation. Both my partner and I are well below 70 and it said there were no options. Wondering why that would be the case.

[@MeetCarolas]

Hi Michele, there must be something off with the simulator as before I was able to make those simulations and I always had results with MGEN leading it. You can also go directly to the MGEN insurance: www.mgen.pt/familias they are the ones that explicitly call out they don't have age limits.

[@cristinajohr7157]

Thank you for tour video, easy to understand and complete. I (56) want to move to Portugal with my daughter (28), my mother (82) and my grandson (1) and I would be really grateful to have your advice. Do we need a separate health insurance or we could have 1 for the whole family?. How is it going about the restrictions? It's mandatory to have the vaccine?, etc...thanks.

[@MeetCarolas]

Thank you Cristina! glad to be able to help :) if you all are living together you can have a family insurance with everyone covered. For the restrictions & vaccination status would be better to check the official guidelines as they keep on changing.

[@cristinajohr7157]

@@MeetCarolas thank you

[@gedheaney4942]

So Deco don't mention Multicare or Medis which are the largest two by a long shot and only speak of the Advancecare network, no Allianz either? Great video but I think you have to question why these 3 are not mentioned by Deco and only Advancecare, surely?

[@MeetCarolas]

Thank you for the feedback! Indeed in the two comparisons I share on this video Multicare and Medis don't show up on the top results, but it does depend a lot on which type of scenario are you running in the DECO simulator. I also did a video in which I ran an additional scenario and I did get in the results Multicare and Medis as options, you can see it here minute: 14min of the video kzbin.info/www/bejne/gma5ZqOGrtKqqs0

[@janetperrenod7599]

Hello! I really enjoyed your very informative video. Q: Can we access that insurance simulator? If yes, what is the link or website? I am located in San Francisco, California, and I will need to do research for my family. Thank you, Jan

[@MeetCarolas]

Thank you Jan :) we are glad to help! the link is www.deco.proteste.pt/saude/seguro-saude/simulador?landingpage all the best on your move!

[@stacydoval8403]

Isnt health care free for portuguese citizens do we really need this health care isnurance and why?

[@MeetCarolas]

Hi Stacy, some visas request the applicants to have private insurance, and citizens have private insurance to go to private hospitals and pay less or get reimbursed when going to doctors/exams. Thanks for watching.

[@stacydoval8403]

@@MeetCarolas thanks i highly appreciate your integrity and kindly accept my gratitude for your research and hard work

[@mikejackson1410]

This is “private” health insurance, correct? As an expat retiring to Portugal at age 75 am I correct that would be able to use the 70(most expensive plan)? Can I continue to get insurance until I die or is there an age limit where I would only have access to the Public Plan?

[@MeetCarolas]

Hi Mike, all insurances referred are private. If you get the insurance with MGEN company they would cover you no matter what age. Regarding the public system you can have access to it the moment you have a resident card.

[@surfreadjumpsleep]

Thank you! What about getting a serious disease like cancer? What is the max amount paid and will a private plan provide you with access to modern medicines?

[@MeetCarolas]

There are specific insurance with high amount, of course that more expensive. They are usually from German insurance companies. Not sure about the modern medicines.

[@surfreadjumpsleep]

​@@MeetCarolas Hi Thank you for your quick response. I guess I need to study it some more. I'd like to find out what "hospitalization" covers. Does it include seeing specialists and getting MRIs or CAT scans, blood work, etc, which would be required if you had something more serious? And then what happens to you if you require more than that amount? You must pay it yourself? Seems to me that insurance should cover you without limit because you may require expensive medical treatment for something like multiple sclerosis or cancer.

[@MeetCarolas]

For that level of detail I would recommend reach out to one of the health insurance companies to have an idea. Mgen might be a good one to reach out

[@surfreadjumpsleep]

@@MeetCarolasok I'll do more research and report back. thank you

[@kerrylwilde]

I am 86 and my daughter is 60. We are moving to Portugal within a few months, would it be possible for us to use a family plan?

[@MeetCarolas]

Since it’s a very specific scenario might be better to reach out directly to the different insurance company’s and ask them for simulations. To see what is the best combination. Normally family plans work well when you have under 18 age kids.

[@TheIndigoEscape]

Hey! Are these insurance available for people who want to apply for the D7 visa?

[@MeetCarolas]

Thank you for watching, yes, they are available for people applying to D7.

[@TheIndigoEscape]

Can I please use this video to add onto a description for my next video? I think this is going to help a lot of our subscribers.

[@MeetCarolas]

Sure! Feel free to share :) we are happy to be able to help others on the same quest! We appreciate the shoutout to our channel! 😊

[@MeetCarolas]

Wowa watched some of your videos, much respect for you Omar and Andrea! Those are some amazing projects you are taking on!! Looking forward to follow your journey :)

[@davidsinclair946]

Thank you for this very informative video! I looked on the Deco website, but I could not see an email contact for them, as I would like to ask them some questions. Do you know if the Deco/MGEN health insurance can be used for the D7 visa health insurance requirement, and can I buy it while outside of Portugal? Muito Obrigada!

[@MeetCarolas]

Hi David, Don’t know since you need a NIF number to do these insurance.

[@davidsinclair946]

@@MeetCarolas Thank you for the reply. I will have a NIF before I get to Portugal, so I should be able to purchase, would that be correct?

[@MeetCarolas]

To be 100% you may check with the insurance broker.

[@rehangujjar8486]

Dear kindly guide if any person take medication daily routine does he get his monthly free medicine through (S N S) health care card in Portugal? If not then any other way to get free medicine محترم گروپ ممبران برائے مہربانی رہنمائی فرمائیے اگر کوئی شخص روزانہ معمول کے مطابق دوائی لیتا ہے تو کیا اسے پرتگال میں (S N S) ہیلتھ کیئر کارڈ کے ذریعے ماہانہ مفت دوا ملتی ہے؟

[@MeetCarolas]

To my knowledge you don't get free medicine, you get a cheaper price if its recommended by your doctor.

[@rehangujjar8486]

@@MeetCarolas Dear kindly guide if any person take kidney transplant Medication daily routine does he get his monthly medicine free through government (S N S) health care card in Portugal? If not then any other way to get free medicine of Renal transplant Because it's very Expensive medication and general salaries of overseas persons are very less in Portugal And how much price of Renal transplant medicine in any pharmacy of Portugal If i get health insurance then i get the medicine through insurance policy discount cost or free محترم برائے مہربانی رہنمائی فرمائیے اگر کوئی شخص روزانہ معمول کے مطابق دوائی لیتا ہے تو کیا اسے پرتگال میں (S N S) ہیلتھ کیئر کارڈ کے ذریعے فری ماہانہ دوا ملتی ہے؟ کیونکہ پرتگال میں تنخواہیں کم ہیں اور پرائیوٹ میڈیکل ادویات مہنگی ہیں

[@MeetCarolas]

Im sorry Rehan, I don’t have expertise to answer this question, best would be to call the SNS and ask them directly www.sns.gov.pt/ on the bottom of the website you can find a phone number. All the best

[@rehangujjar8486]

@@MeetCarolas ok thank you so much good luck you God bless you

[@karinapepperkarinapepper1576]

Hi Carola, do you have a contact or official website from the health insurance? Thanks in advance…

[@MeetCarolas]

we don't have recommendations for an insurance broker. You can contact directly the insurance companies they all have prepackage insurance for individuals.

[@fdfac]

Just an FYI, the calculator doesn't function properly and loads errors with 5 different browsers.

[@MeetCarolas]

Thank you! lets hope they are doing maintenance, and will get it up working soon!

[@dougharris4853]

Hi Carolas, Love your channel. I would like to ask who you would reccomend in Portugal to apply for a quote for a Health Plan that fits D7 requirement. Thanks

[@MeetCarolas]

Thank you Doug! glad we can help! We don't have a recommendation for a heath care insurance broker