International travel insurance to Portugal
Get to know if you need international travel insurance to Portugal, the benefits, costs, and which one is the best for you and your family.
Article by Viv Europe - Official Legal and Relocation Partner to KipperTree.
January 9, 2023
Healthcare
Are you planning to travel to Portugal anytime soon? You may need to take out insurance! When planning a trip or even moving to Portugal, we often forget about the most important factor: our health. Here’s your guide on getting international travel insurance to Portugal!
You never know when your trip is going to be too adventurous. Even though the healthcare system will ensure your safety in times of need, it’s always better to be safe than sorry.
Get to know all the details of taking out international travel insurance to Portugal. We’ll talk about what it is, how much it costs, and whether it’s absolutely necessary for you. Check it out!
Who needs travel insurance to Portugal?
Portugal is an amazing travel destination, and as so, there are some requirements to enter the country. Every traveller who is not a resident of a Schengen country will need insurance to cover medical emergencies in Portugal.
So if you are from the United States, Canada, Australia, India, Brazil, or even the United Kingdom, you will probably need to take out insurance.
Remember, you may be asked by border control to present documents to enter Portugal, and travel insurance is mandatory for this purpose.
But what kind of insurance?
In order to obtain a residence visa or to be allowed into Portugal, you, as a non-Schengen resident, must present valid insurance coverage for the entire period of your stay.
And besides that, your insurance needs to cover the expenses of repatriation in case of a serious accident or even death. Along with potential urgent medical expenses, the minimum coverage required is €30,000.
What are the requirements for travel insurance for my Portuguese visa?
As with all your other travel documents, you’ll need to ensure that your travel insurance meets a few requirements. Travellers can expect high medical costs, especially if they need to pay for prescriptions.
The following conditions should be met to receive travel insurance for the Portuguese Visa:
All Schengen States must be covered;
It should cover medical expenses of at least €30,000;
It should be valid for the entire duration of stay or transit;
It must cover any costs incurred as a result of medical repatriation.
How much does it cost?
The price of travel insurance varies depending on a number of factors. The duration of the trip, the country of destination and origin, your age, the insurance plan, and so on.
However, according to the travel insurance comparison site InsureMyTrip, travel insurance is expected to cover between 4% and 10% of the total amount spent on your trip. For example, if your trip will cost €5,000, travel insurance for Portugal will cost around €250 to €500, depending on variables.
Travel insurance or international health insurance?
Although similar, travel and international health insurance are different documents. They offer various benefits for individual cases. The choice between taking out travel insurance or broader international health insurance will be linked to the duration of your trip and your main concerns.
If you are going on vacation to Portugal for a short period, say 1 to 3 months, travel insurance is recommended.
However, if you’re planning to relocate or to live in the country for more than 1 year, you should consider taking out international health insurance.
It’s important to note that if you’re in Portugal with travel insurance and have a medical emergency, you’ll be initially treated in the country. However, these plans don’t cover longer treatments, so you will need to return to your country to receive them.
Also, travel insurance to Portugal only offers coverage in the country. If you go to Spain for the weekend and have an accident there, you are not usually insured there. Pay attention to your needs and your insurance plan.
The benefits of international health insurance
As the name suggests, international health insurance provides coverage for emergency and routine healthcare treatments in Portugal and other countries. The focus here is on your health, not travel and baggage-related expenses.
Even though international health insurance benefits may vary according to the plan and company, they often cover:
Check-ups
Coverage for pre-existing conditions
Hospital stays
Coverage for chronic conditions
An international health insurance plan provides an extensive medical care network. With an international insurance plan, travelers can use private medical facilities through a medical network. Public hospitals and clinics are often overcrowded, with long lineups and extended waiting periods. Private medical facilities are often able to provide faster medical appointments and surgeries.
It is necessary to consider that international health insurance will not exempt you from subscribing to the SNS if it is obligatory. For people over 60 years, private health insurance plans are more expensive, and international insurers don’t accept new clients over 70.
The benefits of travel insurance to Portugal
As for travel insurance, the plans were designed for travellers and their urgent needs. Therefore, it covers travel-related situations, such as:
Emergency medical treatments
Flight cancellations
Loss of luggage
In the event of a cancellation, insurance will cover most of the prepaid, forfeited, and non-refundable costs. It pays out if you cancel due to unforeseen events like the death, illness, or injury of you, your travel companion, or a member of your immediate family.
Furthermore, a comprehensive travel insurance plan usually includes trip delay insurance and luggage loss insurance in exchange for a higher price.
Additionally, lost or delayed baggage benefits can also assist you if your luggage goes missing. There is typically an overall maximum payout and a per-item payout that is capped at a certain amount. Be aware that your reimbursement will be based on the depreciated value of your suitcases and belongings.
To get to know what are the best options for insurance in Portugal and much more? Read the full article here.
Article by Viv Europe - Official Legal and Relocation Partner to KipperTree.
Need an insurance quote from a KipperTree partner? Click here to ask Fernando for the best policies available.