# Do You Need Private Health Insurance in Portugal? (2026) > Guide to health insurance in Portugal: SNS, ADSE, private and international policies. Compare prices and coverage. By Jules de Bruin · URL: https://www.how-to-portugal.com/insurance/health-insurance Updated August 2026. The **SNS** covers every legal resident of Portugal, but waiting lists are long. Entry-level private policies start at **EUR 8.00/month** (AdvanceCare) and **EUR 13.06/month** (Multicare). **Médis** has the largest private network in the country. Most plans impose **90 to 180 day waiting periods** for hospitalisation. ## What is the best private health insurance in Portugal? The choice depends on the balance of price, network, and waiting periods. For most expats, Multicare offers the best tested price, Médis the largest network, and AdvanceCare the cheapest entry. Multicare ### Multicare Health Insurance 4.4Best tested price in the base segment with a broad Fidelidade network. - Cheapest tested base price - Broad Fidelidade network - 180-day hospital waiting period [Get a Multicare quote](https://www.deco.proteste.pt/saude/seguro-saude/noticias/seguro-saude-multicare-medis)Plan(1) - Multicare Seguro de Saúde (Portugal)EUR 28.53/monthHospital + private room / monthly premium · 6 months waiting Prices as of August 2026, verify on the provider site. More detailsPremium?Premium What the policy costs you. Quoted per animal and re-rated as it ages, so it is not fixed for the animal's life. EUR 28.53/monthHospital waiting6 monthsPrivate roomYesOutpatientYesMin contract12 monthsEnglish supportPartial; the contract documents are in PortugueseClaim channelNetwork card direct billing; app/portal reimbursement claimsReimbursement speed10 daysWithout local registrationYes, with a passport and a NIF; also available in CGD branches and the appBest for Anyone wanting the best tested price in the base segment Médis ### Médis Health Insurance 4.3Largest private network in the country and an affordable base plan for 40-year-olds. - Largest private network - Childbirth cover in mid-tier plans - Premium rises sharply with age [Get a Médis quote](https://www.deco.proteste.pt/saude/seguro-saude/noticias/seguro-saude-multicare-medis)Plan(1) - Médis Seguro de Saúde (Portugal)EUR 17.27/monthHospital + private room / monthly premium · 3 months waiting Prices as of August 2026, verify on the provider site. More detailsPremium?Premium What the policy costs you. Quoted per animal and re-rated as it ages, so it is not fixed for the animal's life. EUR 17.27/monthHospital waiting3 monthsPrivate roomYesOutpatientYesMin contract12 monthsEnglish supportPartial: the helpline has some English, but the documents are in PortugueseClaim channelMédis card direct billing in network; app/email reimbursement outsideReimbursement speed10 daysWithout local registrationYes, you can sign up with a passport and a NIF; direct debit is easier once you have an IBANBest for Those who want the largest private network and maternity options Generali Tranquilidade ### AdvanceCare Health Insurance 4.2Entry from around EUR 8/month with fast digital reimbursement. - Low entry price - Large network - Base plan only covers **EUR 15,000** [Get an AdvanceCare quote](https://www.generalitranquilidade.pt/particulares/seguros/saude/saude-individual)Plan(1) - Seguro de Saúde Individual AdvanceCare (Tranquilidade, Portugal)EUR 8.00/monthHospital + private room / monthly premium · 3 months waiting Prices as of August 2026, verify on the provider site. More detailsPremium?Premium What the policy costs you. Quoted per animal and re-rated as it ages, so it is not fixed for the animal's life. EUR 8.00/monthHospital waiting3 monthsPrivate roomYesOutpatientYesMin contract12 monthsEnglish supportParcialClaim channelmyAdvanceCare app/web reimbursements; network direct billing; price look-up toolReimbursement speed3 daysWithout local registrationYes, with a NIF and photo IDBest for Anyone wanting a cheap entry point to complement the SNS [View all health insurance plans→](/insurance/price-research) ## How does Portugal's social health insurance system work? The SNS is the public system, tax-funded and universal for legal residents. Access is via the utente number, assigned at a health centre. The SNS 24 line is available on 808 24 24 24. Besides the SNS, there are public subsystems: ADSE for state workers, and subsystems for the armed forces, PSP, and GNR. These act as a second layer of cover in the private contracted sector. ## Which insurance carrier covers you in Portugal? ### SNS (Serviço Nacional de Saúde) Covers all legal residents. Zero monthly premium. No exclusions for pre-existing conditions. Emergency care is open to anyone in Portugal. ### ADSE Subsystem for state workers. Costs about 3.5% of base salary and includes family members at no extra charge. Only accessible to public servants and agreed teachers. ### Private and international insurers Médis, Multicare, AdvanceCare, KeepWells, MGEN, Saúde Prime, Allianz, and others offer local plans. SafetyWing and Cigna are international options for the first months. ## What is the difference between public and private health insurance? ### Public (SNS) - Free at point of use - No pre-existing condition exclusions - Waiting lists for specialists and surgery - Does not cover teeth, glasses, or a private room ### Private / Supplementary - Faster access to consultations and surgery - Contracted networks and reimbursements - Waiting periods and possible pre-existing exclusions - Plans from around EUR 8/month ## How do you register for health insurance in Portugal? For the SNS, request the utente number at the health centre for your area or at an Espaço Cidadão. Foreigners normally need a residence permit or a residence certificate from the parish council after 90 days. For a private policy, submit your NIF, ID document, and sometimes a health questionnaire. You can subscribe online, at a branch, or through a broker. ## How We Compared These Health Insurance Options We compared products from this repository's catalogue by price (monthly premium for the reference profile), provider network, waiting periods, hospital and outpatient cover, minimum contract length, English-language documents, and editorial rating. We update the catalogue whenever insurers change prices, cover caps, or terms. ## Related Guides [### Insurance in Portugal Overview of the system.](/insurance)[### Dental insurance Dental cover in Portugal.](/insurance/dental-insurance)[### Travel insurance For visas and short stays.](/insurance/travel-insurance)[### Best insurance providers Overall market ranking.](/insurance/providers) ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Is the SNS free? Yes, for legal residents. The SNS is tax-funded and covers consultations, hospital stays, and emergencies. There are moderate fees for some services, with exemptions for pregnant women, children, and chronic patients. ### Can I buy private health insurance without Portuguese residency? Often yes. Policies such as Médis, Multicare, and AdvanceCare accept a NIF and passport. SafetyWing and Cigna can be bought online without a Portuguese address. ### How much does private health insurance cost in Portugal? The cheapest entry plans start at EUR 8.00/month (AdvanceCare, EUR 15,000 hospital cover) and EUR 13.06/month (Multicare, EUR 25,000). Fuller plans and older ages raise the price. ### What is the typical waiting period for private health insurance? Hospitalisation usually has waiting periods of 90 to 180 days. Multicare has 180 days, while Médis and AdvanceCare have 90 days. --- Source: https://www.how-to-portugal.com/insurance/health-insurance Last updated: n/a Format: LLM-readable Markdown twin (.md) of the canonical HTML page.