Private Health Insurance

As far as I know there are not many options for Private Health Insurance once over 70 and new to the system. Maybe have a look at MGEN (easily found on the internet). They are not a low cost solution.

My wife signed up for MGEN for less than €200/mo at age 70.

MGEN has different packages which cover different areas, require more or less co-payments and have different annual limits. As you can imagine, the prices for the packages are hugely different and it isn't so easy to decide what an individual needs.

@TGCampo

Thank you!!  Obrigado

My advice to you would be to read the fine print extremely carefully if you really want to spend money on this option. The fine print will in general be quite eye-opening. For example, you might find large deductibles before you can claim  and actually get a penny back. OR you might find that once you sign the contract you cannot cancel it - yes, thats right! Or you might find that after the first year and you have paid a fortune without maybe having received any benefit, that the contract will automatically renew for another year with the same zero-cancellation conditions again! OR, you might find that they don't have any providers in your town - oh, thats just bad luck!

Read the fine print carefully!

Is there any way to get an idea about monthly premiums on MGEN for a couple over 70? I tried accessing the site but couldn't even sign in without a NIF to get some idea of the different prices for their plans.

Hi, Jimjurnak :

For a couple aged 70 each, it should be around EUR 5,000 per year. With each year after that, MGEN's annual premium increases by about EUR 100 per person.

@EstrellaGalicia

Thanks for the information. We are looking for a way to get a price range of the different options available until we can focus on a specific plan. Unfortunately, I can't seem to get past the sign-in stage at MGEN.pt and some other insurance choices such as Cigna are substantially more than €500 per month. Are there MGEN agents we could contact online?

Jim

@jimjurnak

I used this company and they were great. I went with MGEN.

***

Thanks so much. Right now we are just trying to figure out the options and costs to get some idea of what's involved. This will be a big help.

Jim

Dear Jimjurnak,

When I signed up for MGEN, I did everything online. First, I registered on www.mgen.pt, then "simulated" the coverage (via SIMULE JA link) by indicating number of covered people, and other vital statistics so that the exact amount of premium became known. Then, there was a sign up process with some interaction with an MGEN employee (most of them speak English) through their messaging portal (you'll have to give them a Portuguese bank account for direct debit of premiums and for reimbursements to you and choose whether to be billed annually, quarterly or monthly). If you're shopping for other insurers, please keep in mind that, unlike MGEN, other health insurance companies may not be so willing to insure people over 65. If getting through to them online isn't quite smooth, please call their customer service number at 211 155 860. 

When, later on, you look back at what you have accomplished in Portugal, everything will look easy.   

Thank you again. I think I'm finally finding the information we need.