First Week in Portugal: Healthcare Lessons for US Expats
What we wish we'd known before our first week in Portugal: healthcare system surprises, insurance pitfalls, and the one call that changes an expat move.
PORTUGALHEALTHCAREINSURANCE
Lisa
8/3/20263 min read
Our First Week in Portugal
When we arrived in Portugal, we were dealing with jet lag, a new language, unfamiliar roads and towns, and the emotional weight of leaving the United States. To add to the overwhelming issues, we had rented a home that we had not seen, that was too small for our American furniture, and that was in an out-of-the-way location in the mountains that we struggled to get to.
The first week
The first week in Portugal was a combination of exhaustion, problem-solving, and learning to navigate an entirely different culture while being unable to speak the language. The biggest mistake we made was assuming we needed to figure everything out ourselves. The most important area for us and for every person who moves to another country is sorting out healthcare, and that needs to happen before you ever leave the United States- right after visa approval occurs. We had travelers’ insurance as required by VFS for our visa, but did not have a long-term policy as required by AIMA and the country’s health care policies.
Healthcare activities
Finding a doctor
Understanding the healthcare system
Finding a pharmacy
Obtaining prescriptions
Understanding private vs. public care
Finding the right health insurance policy and securing it. I was surprised to learn that travelers’ policies do not apply as a long-term policy and cannot be used at physicians’ offices.
Healthcare contacts that we navigated
Doctors, pharmacies, insurance policies
Portuguese interpreter and translation, medication and pharmacy differences and expectations
The biggest healthcare shock for us wasn't the quality of Portuguese medicine. It's that the administrative pathway, primary-care structure, prescriptions, insurance, and expectations around access are different from those in the U.S. We are retired, so age was a consideration for many healthcare insurers. Some insurers will not take people over a certain age, and if they do, exceptional restrictions may apply. The location where one chooses to live is important because in small towns, Portuguese may be the only language spoken, and the healthcare insurance policy may not be accepted for direct billing at some hospitals. Health insurance policies can cost between 150 euros and 500 euros or more depending on what the insured chooses, and that decision is based on your health status and projected needs.
When we moved to Portugal, we searched for a consultant to guide us without luck. What did not exist until now — and what we were looking for — was a team offering real healthcare navigation that could connect with us while we were still in the United States, help us put all of the healthcare pieces together, make the key healthcare decisions, and land with boots on the ground in Portugal with confidence that our healthcare transition is complete and customized for us. The only people who can do that safely are Americans who have lived it in the United States, transitioned to a new country, and know how to meet the expectations and needs of American expats. You don't necessarily need someone to do everything for you. You need someone who knows who to call, where to go, what documents you need, what is normal, and what isn't.
If we had a team like Iberia Health Connect when we were still in the States and planning our move, the following constraint would have been changed quickly: "I have no idea what I'm supposed to do," into "Here's what you do next." That difference can be enormous.
The message here is that one of the best investments you can make is having a trusted person or organization help you navigate the transition. Iberia Health Connect is well positioned to do that. We are a professional healthcare navigation team that:
Offers reputable relocation consultants
Concierge service familiar with your area within the Iberian Peninsula
Is an expat support organization
Has personally made the same transition that you are making
Lisa
Healthcare navigation and planning support for Americans relocating to Portugal or Spain.
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