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Retiring to Portugal
Retiring to Portugal
What are the negatives, apart from the euro rate and language.
I'm thinking that although we are healthy at the mo and only need to take a cholesterol tablet each.(wife and I) If in later years we encounter problems, bearing in mind that private medical insurance is not accesible to the "aged", would the Portugese health service want lots of money for treatment and medicines?
I'm thinking that although we are healthy at the mo and only need to take a cholesterol tablet each.(wife and I) If in later years we encounter problems, bearing in mind that private medical insurance is not accesible to the "aged", would the Portugese health service want lots of money for treatment and medicines?
If you learn the language here I have found the state hospitals, clinics and doctors all excellent and clean!!!
You do have to pay here to get treatment but it is a small fee only, to see a doctor costs about 2.50euros.
Long term illnesses have reduced prescription fees and you are able to claim a lot of the costs back at the end of the year when you do your tax form.
The real key to health care here is language. If you can speak to people in the receptions and talk witht the nurses then you get treated efficiently and well. If you go in shouting in English it generally means you get put to the back of the queue while they try to find someone to talk to you.
I wish more people would use the health system here after all if you pay tax here you are paying for it. It really is not as scary as people think and if you cant manage the language then just take someone with you that can!
You do have to pay here to get treatment but it is a small fee only, to see a doctor costs about 2.50euros.
Long term illnesses have reduced prescription fees and you are able to claim a lot of the costs back at the end of the year when you do your tax form.
The real key to health care here is language. If you can speak to people in the receptions and talk witht the nurses then you get treated efficiently and well. If you go in shouting in English it generally means you get put to the back of the queue while they try to find someone to talk to you.
I wish more people would use the health system here after all if you pay tax here you are paying for it. It really is not as scary as people think and if you cant manage the language then just take someone with you that can!
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Mike Banks
- CVO Master
- Posts: 575
- Joined: Thu Mar 30, 2006 5:15 pm
My wife broke her ankle whilst on holiday last year, and was taken to the state hospital in Portimao. Within 2 hours of checking in to A&E (Urgencia) she had had a temporary reset done and was admitted to the orthopaedic ward. She was there for 10 days, and underwent surgery on her ankle to insert a metal plate and screws. Throughout all that time the care was excellent, and when she was discharged, the total cost was 7.5 euros for the A&E treatment, and 50 euros for the 10-day stay. We also had to buy our own crutches which cost 15 euros. All of this we were able to claim back from our insurance, but even if we hadn't, it was hardly going to break the bank. Have no fears about the portuguese health service, it is arguably better than that in the UK in some respects.
