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Private health insurance in Madeira
For expats in Madeira: private health insurance alongside the regional health service SESARAM, with access to private hospitals in Funchal, independently compared.
✅ For expats in Madeira: advice from our office in Almancil
✅ Independent broker: several insurers compared
✅ Advice in English: also in German and Portuguese
Free and with no obligation · independent broker, ASF 923047667
We compare health insurance from these insurers
Healthcare in Madeira: what is different
Madeira is an autonomous region with its own public health service: the Serviço de Saúde da Região Autónoma da Madeira (SESARAM), not the mainland SNS. The main hospitals are in Funchal: Hospital Dr. Nélio Mendonça, with the 24-hour emergency department, and Hospital dos Marmeleiros; health centres (Centros de Saúde) serve the municipalities. The region sets its own legal maximum waiting times for appointments and surgery. Even so, waiting lists are long: at the end of 2025, according to the regional health administration, around 61,000 people were waiting for a specialist appointment and more than 18,000 for surgery.
Private hospitals are mainly in Funchal, such as Hospital CUF Madeira (formerly Hospital Particular da Madeira) on Avenida Mário Soares, Clínica CUF Funchal (formerly Madeira Medical Center) and Hospital da Luz Funchal. Private health insurance (seguro de saúde) pays for covered treatment there up to the agreed limit. Depending on your plan’s network, it also covers private hospitals on the mainland. Insurance complements the public service rather than replacing it.
Madeira is part of Portugal and the EU. If you are only visiting, travel insurance is the right cover; the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) covers necessary treatment in the public service only, not in private hospitals.
How health insurance in Portugal works in general is explained on our page Health insurance in Portugal. This page covers healthcare in Madeira and what the island adds to it.
Health insurance in Madeira: the cover you need
The basis is a private health insurance policy. For expats in Madeira, these four sections matter most:
Hospital and surgery
Inpatient treatment, surgery and hospital tests, up to the agreed annual limit. This is the most important section, because this is where the high costs arise. Check that the limit is high enough and what excess applies per claim.
GP and specialist visits
Appointments with GPs and specialists, plus diagnostics such as lab tests and imaging. Within the insurer’s network you usually pay only a fixed co-payment per visit; outside the network, depending on the plan, part of the cost is reimbursed.
Network or free choice
With a network plan (rede convencionada), the hospital bills the insurer directly. With a reimbursement plan, you choose your doctor and hospital freely and submit the invoice. According to its hospital group, Hospital CUF Madeira has agreements with Allianz, Médis and Multicare, among others. We check which hospitals in Madeira are in your plan’s network before you sign.
Waiting periods and pre-existing conditions
Waiting periods (períodos de carência) apply after you take out a policy: in the terms of Médis and Allianz usually 60 to 90 days, and up to 365 days for certain operations (such as spinal discs or joints) and for childbirth; accidents are covered immediately with Allianz. Pre-existing conditions are asked about in the application and can lead to an exclusion or a loading. More on waiting periods in health insurance.
Depending on the plan, dental care, glasses, medicines, childbirth, a medical second opinion and cover outside Portugal can be added. We build the plan around your needs rather than selling a standard package. Note that a health plan (plano de saúde) is a discount scheme, not insurance; you pay the costs yourself.
How much does health insurance in Madeira cost?
It depends on age, excess and level of cover. We obtain comparison quotes.
New to Madeira, retired, with family or often abroad
Among expats in Madeira we mainly see four situations, and each needs a slightly different plan:
New to Madeira
Visa and the first months
If you come from outside the EU, your residence visa application needs proof of insurance covering medical costs. In the public service SESARAM, the health centre where you live is your first point of contact. Take out cover early so that the waiting periods are over when you need it. For your home: Home insurance in Madeira.
Over 60
Retired
Many plans have a maximum entry age for new clients; with Allianz it is 65 for most modules (60 for the Total module), and there are dedicated senior plans for older new clients. Pensioners covered by the public health insurance of another EU country usually receive an S1 form for care at their place of residence. More in our guide Health insurance in Portugal over 60 and 70.
Family
With children
Children can be added to their parents’ plan. If you are planning to give birth in a private hospital, add childbirth cover in good time: in the terms of Médis and Allianz, the waiting period is 365 days.
Worldwide
Often abroad
If you travel a lot or split your time between countries, an international plan, for example from Cigna or Bupa, is the better fit. It also covers treatment outside Portugal but costs more. More in our guide Best private health insurance in Portugal.
We work out with you which plan fits and explain the Portuguese policy terms in English before you sign.
Healthcare in Madeira: SESARAM and private hospitals
A guide to what the regional health service provides in Madeira and where private health insurance comes in:
| Care | What it looks like in Madeira | What we look at |
|---|---|---|
| GP | Your first point of contact is the health centre (Centro de Saúde) where you live. If you have no family doctor yet, you can request a replacement appointment there. | Doctor visits in the plan, a network near your home. |
| Specialist | Regional legal maximum waiting times. At the end of 2025, around 61,000 people were waiting for a specialist appointment. | Specialist appointments through your plan, without a public referral. |
| Planned surgery | At the end of 2025, more than 18,000 people were on the waiting list for surgery. | A sufficient limit for hospital care and surgery. |
| Emergency | Emergency number 112. Regional health advice line (SRS24h): 800 24 24 20. 24-hour emergency department at Hospital Dr. Nélio Mendonça in Funchal. Private 24-hour care for adults: Hospital CUF Madeira. | Emergencies in the plan, private care included. |
| Private hospitals | Including Hospital CUF Madeira, Clínica CUF Funchal and Hospital da Luz Funchal. Depending on the network, mainland hospitals too. | Which hospitals are in your plan’s network. |
| Language | Mostly Portuguese in the public service, often English as well in private hospitals. | Advice and help with claims in English. |
Sources: SESARAM (hospitals, emergency department, SRS24h), regional regulation Portaria 361/2023 (maximum waiting times), figures of the regional health administration on waiting lists at the end of 2025 (published July 2026), hospital group websites. This is a general guide.
Health insurers we compare
We compare national health insurers and international providers. Which plan suits your age, your needs and your plans is part of the comparison. C1 Broker is not tied to any insurer.
Médis
NATIONAL
An established Portuguese health insurance brand with a large hospital network.
Multicare
NATIONAL
One of the leading national health insurers.
Allianz
NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL
An international group with a national health insurance plan.
Victoria
ESTABLISHED IN PORTUGAL
A long-standing insurer with a strong presence in the Portuguese market.
Cigna
INTERNATIONAL
An international specialist in worldwide health cover.
Bupa
INTERNATIONAL
An international provider with worldwide cover.
This overview is neutral and not a ranking. We identify the most suitable insurer and plan based on your age, health and wishes in a personal comparison.
Compare insurers with independent advice
We obtain suitable quotations and explain the differences in clear English.
Your English-speaking Insurance Broker in Portugal
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Personal advice from our Almancil office
C1 Broker · Almancil office, Algarve
“We support expats in Madeira from choosing the right plan to settling claims with the insurer, personally and in your language. You deal with the same people at our office in Almancil.”
- Phone: +351 289 392 452
- Email: [email protected]
- Office: Av. Duarte Pacheco 13 R/C, 8135-104 Almancil (Quinta do Lago), Algarve
- Languages: English, German and Portuguese
Related insurance & guides
Health insurance over 60 and 70
Entry ages, waiting periods and plans for new clients in retirement.
Frequently asked questions about health insurance in Madeira
Do I need private health insurance in Madeira?
It is not compulsory for EU citizens. If you come from outside the EU, however, your residence visa application needs proof of insurance covering medical costs. In everyday life private health insurance adds shorter waits and access to private hospitals, in Madeira and on the mainland. For most expats in Madeira it is therefore worthwhile.
How long is the wait for a specialist in Madeira?
Madeira sets its own legal maximum waiting times for appointments and surgery (Portaria 361/2023). Waiting lists are still long: at the end of 2025, according to the regional health administration, around 61,000 people were waiting for a specialist appointment and more than 18,000 for surgery. With private health insurance you go straight to a specialist in your plan’s network.
Which private hospitals are there in Madeira?
Private hospitals and clinics in Funchal include Hospital CUF Madeira (formerly Hospital Particular da Madeira) on Avenida Mário Soares, Clínica CUF Funchal (formerly Madeira Medical Center) and Hospital da Luz Funchal. Hospital CUF Madeira has a 24-hour emergency department for adults. The public emergency department is at Hospital Dr. Nélio Mendonça. Which of them are in your plan’s network depends on the insurer; we check this for you.
Are there waiting periods after I sign up?
Yes. In the terms of Médis, 60 days apply for doctor visits and 90 days for hospital care; with Allianz 90 days for both. Certain operations, for example on spinal discs or joints, have 180 to 365 days with both, and childbirth 365 days. Accidents are covered from the start with Allianz. Pre-existing conditions are asked about in the application; depending on the insurer and the condition, they lead to an exclusion or a premium loading. We show you the waiting periods of your plan before you sign.
Up to what age can I take out a policy?
That depends on the insurer and the plan. With Allianz, the maximum entry age is 65 for most modules (60 for the Total module); there are dedicated senior plans for older new clients, and some international providers also accept older clients. More in our guide Health insurance in Portugal over 60 and 70.
I am retiring to Madeira from another EU country. What applies to me?
If you receive a state pension and are covered by your home country’s public health insurance, you will usually receive an S1 form for public healthcare at your place of residence; in Madeira that is the regional health service SESARAM. Many retirees add private health insurance for shorter waits. We check which plan is still available at your age.
Where is your office and which languages do you speak?
Our office is at Av. Duarte Pacheco 13 R/C, 8135-104 Almancil in the Algarve. We advise clients in Madeira in English, German and Portuguese, by phone on +351 289 392 452 or by email at [email protected].
How much does health insurance in Madeira cost?
The premium depends mainly on your age, the level of cover (network, reimbursement or international) and the excess, plus optional sections such as dental or childbirth. There is therefore no single price that applies to everyone. How premiums change with age is explained in our guide Health insurance in Portugal over 60 and 70. We prepare a free comparison quote for you.
Health insurance in Madeira: request your free quote
Advice in English · independent comparison of several insurers · reply usually within 24 hours (working days)