My husband has been looking into private insurance for me about 5 years. He looks & looks and contacts new insurance companies and goes to ex-pat forums and open marketing sites. We can't find any insurance that covers pre-existing conditions. The only one that came close said that we had to get a statement of coverage beginning the first date of diagnosis and continuing through the beginning of the new insurance. But I have had Rheumatoid arthritis for about 12 years and my husband's former employer changed insurance companies like changing underwear. We would have to try to get statements of coverage from 6 different insurance companies. That would just not happen. It would be an effort in great frustration. Fortunately, the cost of medical care here is so reasonable. If you take the money that you probably would be paying in premiums, say a couple of thousand euro a month, and put it in a savings account, you would have the money to pay for private medical care. Once you are a resident, you qualify for the free public health service. I spent 4 full days in a unit similar to a "step-down" unit a year ago due to a respiratory problem. I came through the ER and was there for 4 hours. I had a full O2 mask for 4 days, 2 IV's for 4 days, 3 medical specialists, a CAT scan, several x-rays, A lot of lab test,s steroids IV and antibiotics IV every 4 hours, and a heart monitor. The total bill for the 4 days was less than 4,000 euros. Six months later I had my knee replaced in the US and the bill in the US was over 150,000 Dollars. Health care is so much more affordable here. And the doctors and nurses who cared for me were excellent!

peggyL 

@JAR 
Hello,

I will try to answer you in my best english but sorry for any errors. I am portuguese 🙂

You can have a private health insurance here in Portugal even with pre-existing conditions. It will all depend on the age.
If less than 60 you will have more options. If above 65 there is at least one company that will accept your family, even with your husband pre-existing condition. There are some details, like you have to be all family (couple or couple with kids, depending on your case) with the same insurance plan. All regular services are covered (clinical analyses, ultrasounds, consultations, etc). If you need special treatment for the heart its only covered on the second year you are with the health insurance. In the first year that is an exclusion. But after the second year, its considered covered.

the price is higher than insurance without pre-existing conditions but it is much more affordable than in UK or US.
If you need any help, my husband is a insurance broker and i would be very happy to help you.

As Peggy said, you also have the public health service, where you can find very good professionals (most of them work both public and private). The only problem is that sometimes you have to wait longer for an appointment or a exam.
And of course you can always go to a private clinic or hospital and pay full price if you have not an insurance. 

Best regards,

Ana

As long as you are discussing health care I will be having US medicare for the first year or two I move to Portugal. I will be needing one or two knee replacements eventually and wondering if anyone has information on good orthopedic surgeons in Portugal as I thinks about where to have this done. Thanks. 

Thanks. Does CUF represent a private health care system?