Guide to buying expat medical insurance in Portugal

Are you an expat living in Portugal? Are you looking for a good medical insurance? This post will make the job easier for you and help you to choose the right one!

I have lived in Portugal for a couple of years now. During that time I have met a lot of people struggling to find the right insurance. If you work here and are employed, it’s simple – you just get the government care, which is very cheap, or free. Some companies provide health insurance as a benefit. However, if you are a freelancer, or if you want to have a piece of mind and require something extra, getting the right policy is crucial. It was hard for me to make the decision and I understand your position. I know that it’s tough to think of what to do.

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If you are struggling to find the right medical insurance for expats in Portugal, this post will help you to make a decision. I have put together all I know about it and I hope that, after reading this post, you will find it easier to buy the policy, which is right for you.

Updated July 2026 with current pricing.

Healthcare in Portugal – What to expect?

Healthcare in Portugal seems to be quite good. The nurses and doctors are well educated and the service you receive is on a good level.

Hospitals and surgeries are clean and well maintained.

In a case of an emergency you can go to a hospital. If you suffer from something that can be looked after at home, you can call a doctor to come to your house.

The problem is the waiting time at hospitals and surgeries. There are often huge queues and if you don’t have an appointment, you might wait for a long time.
Having your own GP is also an issue. In general, you should have one, but it seems to be impossible to have them assign one to you. That’s why, you are more likely to see a different doctor every time you come to the surgery.

If you pay your taxes in Portugal and have the tax number – NIF, then you are eligable for government care. This is not entirely free, but it’s much cheaper than the private insurance.
A house visit costs around 15 Euros and a visit at a doctor costs about 7 Euros. You also pay for medications. The price is reduced, but you need to cover the cost from your own pocket.

What options of healthcare do you have?

Government insurance – Is Portugal’s public healthcare free for expats?

If you pay taxes here and you have a NIF, then you can use the government care. As I said before, this is not always free and you are expected to cover some part of the costs.

Insurance provided by your company – Does my employer have to provide health insurance in Portugal?

Your company may pay for your insurance. In this case, you get a policy number and contact for your insurer and you will have to call them to make appointments or make a claim.

Private medical insurance bought by you

You may choose your own medical insurance, which is always a good idea, if you have a budget for it.
And this the option, which we will look into a little bit more.

Health insurance requirements for Portugal visas (D7, D2, Digital Nomad Visa)

f you’re applying for a long-stay Portuguese visa – D7 (passive income), D8 (digital nomad), or family reunification – private health insurance isn’t optional. It’s part of the application at two separate stages, and each stage wants something slightly different.

Stage 1: the consulate application (in your home country) – What insurance do I need for the D7 visa consulate application?
Most consulates will accept standard travel/Schengen insurance at this point, valid for your initial stay.

Stage 2: your residency appointment with AIMA (in Portugal) – What insurance does AIMA require for residency?
This is where it gets stricter. AIMA typically expects full private health insurance — not travel insurance – with:

• Minimum coverage of around €30,000 for medical emergencies and repatriation
• Validity of at least 6–12 months
• Cover for any dependents travelling with you

Once your residence permit comes through, you can eventually access the public healthcare system (SNS) – but many D7/D8 holders keep private cover running alongside it, since SNS access and your tax/social security status take time to align.

Buying your private medical insurance in Portugal – What to look out for?

There are a few things to remember about when you look for the right policy. Here are the most important ones.

Is it a cover only for Portugal?

Buying insurance for Portugal only is always cheaper. The cost reduces significantly. If you travel a lot to other countries, you can always buy travel insurance when you go away.
I use Cigna, which covers me for Portugal and Poland, which is my country of birth. For the other countries, I buy SafetyWing, if I need to.

What is the excess?

Excess is the amount of money you will have to pay when you make a claim. For example, if your excess is 50 Euros and your medical bill is 100 Euros, you cover half of it and the other half is paid by insurance. The higher the excess, the lower the cost of policy.
I think it’s good to have a high excess if you are young and healthy as you are more certain that you won’t need to make any claims.

What is covered?

Medical policies are divided into main categories – outpatient care (when you come for a check up, or have the flu and come to see your GP and inpatient care (when you need to stay in the hospital).
If you want those two options, your policy will be quite expensive.
I’d suggest that if you don’t have any health problems, go for the inpatient care only and cover the outpatient costs by yourself.

There are also some extra options, like cost of labour, maternity leave, dentist care and so on. The more options you add to the policy, the more expensive it will get.

How much you are covered for?

Check how much the insurance will cover in case you get sick. The higher amount, the better. Remember that healthcare in Portugal is quite expensive.

Do you need family or children’s cover?

If you’re moving with a partner or kids, most insurers — Cigna, SafetyWing, and the Portugal-based providers alike — offer family plans rather than requiring separate individual policies for each person. A few things worth checking before you buy:

• Newborns and young children: if you have or are expecting a baby in Portugal, ask whether the policy covers maternity care and newborn enrolment from birth, or whether there’s a waiting period first.
• Age limits for joining: some Portuguese insurers (like Médis) only allow new members to join before a certain age (65 in Médis’s case) — this can affect whether an older parent or grandparent can be added later.
• Per-person vs. family pricing: family plans are sometimes cheaper per person than individual policies, but not always — it’s worth running the numbers both ways rather than assuming a bundle is the better deal.
• Dependents on visa applications: if you’re applying under a D7 or D8 visa with dependents, remember each family member travelling with you typically needs to be covered under the policy you submit at your AIMA residency appointment.

Does age or a pre-existing condition affect the cost?

Older people and those with health issues always pay more.

How to cancel your medical insurance in Portugal?

If you buy a policy for a year and pay upfront, you can’t cancel it before the date expires. Sometimes you need to remember to let the insurer know that you won’t be extending before the end date. If you don’t, they will charge you. Some companies have a grace period and will give you a refund if you cancel a few weeks or days after they take the payment.

If you pay monthly and there’s no annual contract, then you can cancel the policy before the next pay date.

I think it’s worth bearing this in mind in case you think that your circumstances will change in the nearest future.

What is the best medical insurance for expats in Portugal?

Here are a few options of private medical insurance in Portugal, which I recommend.

Here’s a new section written in the post’s existing voice (personal, first-person, “I” experience) — it slots in well as a new H2 right after the “What to look out for” section and before “The best private medical insurance” section, since it answers a practical question before you get into specific providers.

Health insurance in Portugal if you’re American

This comes up a lot, so it’s worth its own section. If you’re American, you’re in a different position than EU or UK citizens looking at Portuguese healthcare, because there’s no US equivalent to the European Health Insurance Card. That card is what lets EU citizens walk into a Centro de Saúde or public hospital and get treated at little or no cost — Americans simply don’t have that option, as a tourist or as a new arrival.

That means a few things in practice:

If you’re visiting Portugal as a tourist, your US health insurance almost certainly won’t cover you here. You’d be paying cash for any care, so travel insurance is worth having even for a short trip.

If you’re moving here on a D7 or Digital Nomad visa, private health insurance isn’t optional — it’s part of what you need to show for the visa application itself, and you’ll need it in place before you have access to SNS. This is the gap I mentioned earlier: you’re relying entirely on your private policy until your NIF and residency are sorted and you can register.

Once you are a legal resident paying into social security, nationality stops mattering — you can register for your SNS number the same as anyone else. The hard part is just the transition period beforehand.

For the transition, I’d point Americans specifically toward an international insurer rather than a Portugal-only one like Médis or Multicare, at least at first. I used Cigna myself, and it tends to suit Americans well since the international-plan structure feels familiar and Cigna already operates in the US, so you’re not learning an unfamiliar system on top of everything else about moving abroad. Check your Cigna quote here.

One thing I’d say clearly: don’t let your US coverage lapse before your Portuguese policy is confirmed. If you have any pre-existing conditions, proof of continuous coverage matters a lot when you eventually want to switch providers or reduce your cover.

International health insurance companies

First, let’s have a look at the international companies. All of them provide medical cover for Portugal as well as other countries.

Cigna

I have used Cigna on and off for quite some time. Every time I stop the cover, I go back to them. I value the customer service, which is excellent, and the price, which is affordable for what they offer.

Recently I have chosen a cover for Portugal and Poland. I have inpatient and outpatient care with 2,000 Euros excess. I also have an annual check up, some extra tests and vaccinations.

The cover costs me 1,000 Euros per year.

SafetyWing

SafetyWing offers two types of policies. The Complete policy includes outpatient care, screening and treatment for cancer, medication, tests and check ups and maternity care.

This policy also covers costs for stolen or lost luggage, cancelled flights or electronic equipment theft. It works abroad as well as in your home country.

Additional benefit of SafetyWing is their fast claim process, which takes up to 48 hours.

AXA

AXA is one of the most well known insurance companies on the market. It offers comprehensive cover. However, from my experience it is rather pricey. I have never used it, but I’m sure that it has great customer service (for that price, it must have one).

Website: AXA

Bupa

If you are from the UK, you probably know Bupa and you’ve heard about it a lot before. This company is reliable, but also quite expensive. They insure people living all around the world and have a good reputation for being caring and having good and fast customer service.

Website: Bupa

Insurance companies based in Portugal

If you want to be covered only in Portugal and save some money, they you have a couple of options to choose from.
Here are the most well known insurance companies.

The cost of the insurance varies between 500 and 1,000 Euros per year. It all depends on your age and your pre-existing conditions.

Médis

Médis has over 20 years of experience in selling health insurance. It provides a wide variety of products for individuals, families and companies. Dental care is included in policies. You can join the insurance before 65 years old. If you join before that, there is no limit of age. For over 65s there is a special insurance policy.

Website (in Portuguese): Médis

Multicare

There are a few options to choose from, like a policy for a basic care, visits to the doctor and basic consultations, or something a bit more complicated, such as oncology tests and surgeries. I tried one simulation and for the basic cover I’d need to pay only 200 Euros. It seems that this is a very good value for money.

Website (in Portuguese): Multicare

Learn more about TejoMed

Expat Medical Insurance in Portugal – FAQ

Do I need health insurance as an expat in Portugal?

It’s not legally required, but if you don’t have a NIF and access to the public system, private cover is strongly recommended given hospital wait times.

Is SafetyWing good for long-term stays in Portugal?

It works, but it’s built more for nomads — if you’re settling long-term, Cigna’s local outpatient/inpatient cover is usually a better value fit.

Can I use Cigna and SafetyWing together?

Yes — I do exactly this. Cigna as my base cover in Portugal and Poland, SafetyWing for wider travel.

How much does private health insurance cost in Portugal? International plans like Cigna run roughly €1,000/year depending on excess and add-ons; Portugal-based insurers like Médis or Multicare range from €200–€1,000/year.

What’s the difference between Cigna and SafetyWing?

Cigna is a traditional international health plan with local outpatient/inpatient cover; SafetyWing blends health cover with travel insurance benefits like lost luggage and flight cancellation.

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