Studying in Portugal as an international student is a great find. With affordable tuition, a genuine European experience, and a chance to practice your Portuguese – you can’t go wrong! The health care in Portugal is also one of the finest in the world. Consider this. The Portuguese health care system was ranked #12 in the world by the World Health Organization (2000). That being said, Portugal was also ranked #27 as having the most expensive health care system in the world.
So you may be asking yourself, how do I deal with these costs? As an international student it’s important that you get health insurance for Portugal before you depart your home country. Why?
International Student Visa Requires Proof of Insurance
According to the Portuguese Embassy, individuals who need a student visa will be required to show proof of medical insurance valid for Portugal. This will be required as part of your overall application submitted to the nearest Consulate. Since the process can take between 2-4 weeks, it’s important to purchase beforehand and make sure that you have coverage for the entire period you’ll be studying (if you’ll be studying in Portugal beyond a year, you can typically purchase one year of coverage and renew it for the next year).
Be sure to ask your insurance company for a visa letter that you can present detailing:
- Complete name as it appears on your passport
- Date of birth
- Passport number
- Area of coverage
How Your Student Health Insurance Will Work In Portugal
It’s important to know about your health insurance and how it’ll work once you are there. Do you need to pay first and be reimbursed? Are you restricted to the providers you can go to? What if you travel to another country while you are in Portugal, will you be covered? Do you need to call in advance or are you automatically covered? These are all important questions to ask your insurance plan to be sure that you get the coverage you need.
Health Insurance for International Students in Portugal
If you are looking for a health insurance for Portugal, consider the Europe Travel Insurance which has been designed for students like you! Not only can you choose your currency – pounds, euros, or dollars – you will get comprehensive coverage for doctor visits, hospitalization, prescription medications, medical evacuation and repatriation. You can also choose your deductible/excess from as low as 0 (and you’ll have no excess if you have the EHIC card) and your coverage starting at €40,000. You will also get a letter that you can present for your Consulate plus you’ll have 24 hour travel assistance which includes language interpretation.
Want to learn more about Portugal international student insurance? Check out our Portugal section here or you can apply for the Europe Travel Insurance plan.
Category: Country Insurance Requirements
Tags: health insurance in portugal, insurance for student visa
Making an enquiry on excess, is this an amount that has to be paid before the insurance cover is honoured ?
Hi Brian,
Yes, excess, also known as a deductible inside the US, is the amount that you need to pay out of pocket when you seek treatment before the insurance will begin to pay toward your eligible items.