Can You Move to Portugal With Pre-Existing Conditions?

a box of medications with days of the week
Portugalist featured in (Just a few of the places where Portugalist has been mentioned)
Written by / Last updated on September 30, 2025

Moving abroad is scary enough. But when you have pre-existing conditions? It gets properly terrifying.

Right now, you’ve got a setup that works. Your doctor knows your history, your prescriptions are sorted, your medical records are more or less all in one place. Everything’s familiar, even if it’s not perfect.

Then you start thinking about Portugal. What happens to your medications? Will insurance companies cover you? How long until you can access the public health system, and can you access it if you’ve never paid into it? 

Here’s the thing: moving to Portugal with pre-existing conditions is absolutely doable. Thousands of people do it successfully every year. But it requires proper planning and understanding the timeline – which, spoiler alert, is always longer than you think.

This guide will walk you through exactly what happens when, which insurance companies actually cover pre-existing conditions, and how to avoid that terrifying gap in coverage.

Will My Condition Be Covered? 

Almost certainly, yes. 

However, here’s something that catches some expats off guard: that medication you’ve been taking for years might not actually exist in Portugal. Or it exists, but under a completely different brand name. Or it’s been replaced by a European equivalent that’s “therapeutically similar” but not quite the same.

This isn’t Portugal being difficult – it’s just how pharmaceutical regulations work across the EU. Different approval processes, different pharmaceutical companies, different formulations. What’s standard in the US, for example, might not be approved here, and vice versa. 

Portuguese doctors will find alternatives – usually generics or EU-approved versions with the same active ingredients but different brand names or delivery methods. In most cases, this works fine. But specialty medications or newer drugs approved in the US might genuinely not be available yet in Portugal. For critical or rare medications, there are sometimes import options or exceptions, but expect paperwork and possibly needing to see private specialists.

The practical approach? Research the list of approved medications in Portugal and, if in doubt, speak to a medical professional before moving to Portugal. 

Understanding the Timeline 

Here’s what actually happens when you move to Portugal on a residency visa like the D7 or Digital Nomad Visa:

Day 1-120: 

You arrive on your initial 120-day visa. You’re waiting for your AIMA appointment (the immigration service that processes your residency). This should happen within 120 days, but due to backlogs, this often takes the full 120 days or even longer. 

But, you finally get your AIMA appointment. 

A few weeks (or months as is increasingly the case) later: Your residency card arrives.

Finally: You can now start the process of registering for the SNS (the public or universal healthcare system). This involves going to your local Centro de Saúde (healthcare centre) and registering. Normally, this is a quick process, but some people find they’re asking for unexpected documents or have other issues which cause delays. 

Basically – you’re probably looking at at least 4 months after arriving before you get your card if not more. 

This is why planning ahead matters so much.

Getting Through the Gap

Given that it could be 4, 6, or more months before you’re able to register for the public healthcare system, how do you ensure you have adequate coverage during that period, particularly if you have pre-existing conditions? 

First things first: it’s worth noting that even though you aren’t registered for the public system, you would still be covered for emergency medical care. But for manageable pre-existing conditions, you do need to bridge the gap. 

Step 1: Bring Extra Medication

Speak with your doctor and explain you’re emigrating. Tell them you need to bring extra medication for this period. Bring at least 6 months’ supply if possible. Bring 9 months if your doctor will prescribe it. Yes, it’ll be a lot to pack, but the peace of mind is worth it.

What happens if you run out in Portugal? Some pharmacists in Portugal are understanding and will honor a non-Portuguese prescription. However, this usually only applies to prescriptions from the EU. If your prescription is from the US or UK, for example, it may not be honored and you may need to go to a doctor to get a prescription from a Portuguese doctor. 

Thankfully, this is usually just a case of paying €50-100 to visit a private doctor in Portugal and getting them to write you a script.

Step 2: Understand What Insurance You’ll Need

You typically need two types of insurance when moving to Portugal as a non-EU/EEA/Swiss citizen. 

  • For the 120-day period: Schengen Area travel insurance (covers emergencies only, not routine care or prescriptions) for the 120-day period. This needs to provide emergency medical coverage and repatriation, which health insurance is unlikely to.  
  • For the AIMA appointment: You’ll need a health insurance policy to show at your appointment. This covers you until you get your residency permit and are able to register for the public healthcare system. 

Most people have travel insurance to cover them for the 120-day period and quickly get Portuguese health insurance for the AIMA appointment. Some cancel it as soon as they qualify for the public healthcare system, choosing to rely on that alone. 

However, if you have pre-existing medical conditions, you may want to get health insurance earlier (rather than waiting until just before your AIMA appointment). 

Having Portuguese health insurance earlier would:

  • Reduce the cost of using private hospitals (you can still pay out of pocket without insurance, but insurance typically reduces this to a co-pay)
  • Mean you’re working through the non-coverage “waiting period” some insurers have for pre-existing conditions (in some instances, it may even make sense to start your coverage before you move to Portugal). 

Step 3: Get Portuguese Health Insurance

You can either buy health insurance early or just in time for the AIMA appointment. Either way, you’ll need these three things: 

Doesn’t matter if you’re British, American, Canadian, or anything else. Those three requirements are the same for everyone. You also don’t have to have moved to Portugal yet. You can start your coverage before you move here.

Which Insurers Actually Cover Pre-Existing Conditions?

Right, this is the crucial bit. Most Portuguese health insurers exclude pre-existing conditions or impose waiting periods and premium increases. But not all of them.

  • MGEN is the big one. They’re known for covering pre-existing conditions, though you’ll pay higher premiums. Coverage terms vary depending on your specific conditions, but they’re generally the most flexible.
  • Allianz sometimes covers pre-existing conditions if you can prove continuous health insurance coverage from your previous country. Bring documentation showing you were covered in your home country without gaps. You should also keep your coverage there until you have coverage in Portugal in order to prevent gaps. 
  • Other insurers: A few others might consider it on a case-by-case basis, especially if you work through a specialized broker rather than going direct.

The key here: be completely honest when applying. Don’t hide conditions thinking you’ll sneak through. If they discover undisclosed pre-existing conditions later, they can void your entire policy. Not worth the risk.

Why Insurers Exclude Pre-Existing Conditions (And Why That’s Actually Okay)

Insurance companies exclude pre-existing conditions because they assume these will be covered by Portugal’s public system. Once you’re registered with the public healthcare system, your ongoing conditions and medications become heavily subsidized anyway (anywhere from around 10% to 90%, and typically free if the condition is life-threatening).

So private insurance excluding pre-existing conditions isn’t quite as catastrophic as it sounds – it’s more of a temporary gap until the public system kicks in.

The Public System: Worth the Wait

Once you’re finally registered with the public healthcare system, pre-existing conditions are properly covered. As well as covering you for treatment, Portugal’s public health system subsidizes prescription medications significantly.

Co-payments typically range from 10% to 90% of the medication’s price, depending on the specific drug and your condition. Essential medications for chronic conditions are often heavily subsidized – sometimes down to 10% or even free for qualifying patients (particularly those with chronic illnesses or low income).

This is genuinely good coverage. The public system is not perfect – there are backlogs for non-urgent appointments, just like the NHS – but for ongoing conditions and prescriptions, it works well.

Should You Continue With Private Health Insurance?

Technically, once you’re registered with the public system, you don’t need private insurance anymore. The public system will cover you, prescriptions are subsidized, and you’re good to go. Most people initially get private insurance purely to tick the box for their AIMA appointment, with every intention of cancelling it once the public system kicks in.

But here’s what actually happens: lots of people keep it anyway, even those who don’t have serious health conditions.

Yes, it’s an extra cost, but increasingly, expats find it’s worth having both. Think of private insurance as your “skip the queue” card – it means you can book a GP appointment for next Tuesday instead of waiting three weeks, or see a specialist without needing a referral from your family doctor. 

The public system remains your main port of call for the serious stuff. Emergencies? Public hospital. Major surgery? Public system. Cancer treatment? Definitely public. 

But need a dermatologist to check a mole, or wanting physio without a six-week wait? That’s where private earns its keep. 

Most expats end up using this hybrid approach – public for the big things and prescriptions, private for convenience and peace of mind.

Next Steps: Your Checklist

Here are a few things to think about doing:

  • Research MGEN and other insurers that cover pre-existing conditions (MGen is only available in Portuguese, but you can change the language in your browser).
  • Consider when you should start your health insurance coverage if there are waiting periods for certain conditions
  • Research hospitals (public and private) in the area you’re considering moving to

Before you move

  • Speak with your doctor about getting extra prescriptions
  • Get a backup of your entire medical history and medications
  • Keep all prescription labels and medication packaging

Questions You’re Probably Asking

“What if I run out of medication before I’m registered?”

Portuguese pharmacists are often willing to help, especially with documentation from your current doctor. Worst case, you can book a private doctor appointment (€50-100) to get a Portuguese prescription.

“What if my condition is really serious or rare?”

Get professional advice. Speak with an immigration lawyer who specializes in medical situations and contact MGEN directly to discuss your specific case before moving. There are also some organizations, like Serenity Portugal, that can help you understand and navigate the Portuguese healthcare system (both public and private). 

Portugalist Take: Don’t let pre-existing conditions stop you from moving – just let them make you more organized about it.