Waiting Periods 2024 - Health Insurance in Portugal
Waiting Periods - private health insurance
When choosing private health insurance in Portugal, it’s essential to understand the concept of waiting periods. A waiting period is a specified time from the start of your policy during which certain coverages or services are not yet accessible. At C1 Broker, we partner with trusted providers like Allianz, Médis, Foyer, Cigna, and PassportCard to help clients find the best health insurance options for their needs.
What Are Waiting Periods?
Waiting periods vary depending on the type of insurance plan and provider. They are primarily established to prevent clients from obtaining immediate coverage for pre-existing conditions or scheduled treatments. Typical waiting periods can range from a few months to over a year, depending on the service type.
Common Waiting Periods
Here’s an overview of typical waiting periods for common healthcare services:
- Maternity Services: Often, plans have a waiting period of 10 to 12 months for maternity-related expenses.
- Surgery and Hospitalization: Waiting periods for surgeries or non-emergency hospitalization can range from 3 to 6 months.
- Diagnostic Exams and Specialist Consultations: For advanced exams and specialist consultations, waiting periods may vary from 3 to 6 months.
- Pre-existing Conditions: Specific conditions diagnosed before the policy’s start date may have longer waiting periods or limited coverage, depending on the provider.
How C1 Broker Can Help
At C1 Broker, we guide you through each step to understand the benefits and waiting periods for health insurance plans. Each provider—whether Allianz, Médis, Foyer, Cigna, or PassportCard—has unique terms and waiting periods, and we help you choose a policy that best aligns with your healthcare needs and lifestyle in Portugal:
Nacional Health Companies:
- Waiting periods Allianz Saúde – Health Insurance
- Waiting periods Médis – Health Insurance
- Waiting periods Victoria – Health Insurance
- Waiting periods Multicare – Fidelidade – Health Insurance
- Waiting periods AdvanceCare – Generali Tranquilidade – Health Insurance
International Health Companies:
- Waiting periods Cigna – Internacional Health Insurance
- Waiting Periods – PassportCard – International Health Insurance
- Waiting Periods – Foyer – International Health Insurance
- Waiting Periods – Bupa – International Health Insurance
- Waiting Periods – April – International Health Insurance
Waiting Periods Allianz Saúde | Health Insurance
Covers | Waiting period |
Hospitalisation in case of: Childbirth; Treatment of arterial or venous pathology of the lower limbs; Medical, surgical or other treatment in the diagnosis of herniated discs, abdominal wall or others; medical, surgical or lithotripsy treatment of kidney, urinary tract, gallbladder and/or biliary tract stones; Treatment of proctological pathology such as haemorrhoids, fistulas, fissures and anal and perianal sphincter pathology; Medical or surgical treatment of gastro-oesophago-duodenal pathology; Non-conservative treatment of benign gynaecological and endocrine pathology* (namely pituitary, thyroid, parathyroid, breast, pancreas, adrenal and ovaries); Ear, nose and throat surgery for benign pathologies*; treatment of joint pathology by arthroscopy, arthrotomy or arthoplasty; Surgical or other invasive treatment of benign prostate pathology; Cataract surgery | 365 DAYS |
Other cases of hospitalisation and surgery | 90 DAYS |
Daily Allowances** | 90 DAYS or 365 DAYS |
Outpatients | 90 DAYS |
Medicines | 90 DAYS |
Stomatology | 90 DAYS |
Prosthetics and Orthotics | 180 DAYS |
International Medical Cover for Serious Illness | 180 DAYS |
Oncology (>18 years) | 180 DAYS |
* In all treatments of pathology with suspected malignancy, without documentary proof prior to surgery, the 365 grace period is maintained and may be reassessed later if malignancy is proven.
** Depending on the type of Hospitalisation and Surgery.
During Waiting Periods, clients will benefit from Access to the Allianz Saúde Medical Network, and will be responsible for all costs calculated according to the prices negotiated by Allianz with the providers, if applicable, or when the capital of the cover is exceeded.
Waiting periods are the fixed period of time, for each cover, counted from the date of admission to the insurance, during which the cover is not yet effective.
Waiting periods do not apply:
- In the event of an accident;
- To children born during the term of membership of the household to which they belong, provided that the request for inclusion is made within 60 days of the birth and provided that the father or mother has been insured with Allianz for at least 6 months.
- Internal transfers accepted by Allianz, in relation to the coverage and capital in force in the previous policy.
- Transfers from other insurers (referred to as External), accepted by Allianz, for the covers and capitals previously contracted, with the exception of Childbirth, Oncology (>18 years) and International Medical Cover for Serious Illness, which are never exempt from waiting periods.
Waiting Periods Médis | Health Insurance
Covers | Waiting period |
Outpatient Assistance, Dental, Oncology – Prostheses and Orthoses, 2nd Opinion, Psychology and Psychiatry Appointments and Psychotherapy Sessions | 60 DAYS |
Inpatient and Psychiatric Hospitalisation | 90 DAYS |
Serious Illness Cover; Surgical or other invasive treatment of benign prostatic hypertrophy, benign uterus condition, cystocele and rectocele | 180 DAYS |
Birth; Surgical treatment of varicose veins of lower members and of herniated disk; Haemorrhoidectomy and other haemorrhoid treatments as well as the treatment of the perianal fistula; Treatment of joint pathology by arthroscopy, Tonsillectomy, adenoidectomy, myringtomy with or without ventilating tubes, septoplasty, rhinoseptoplasty and surgical treatment for sleep apnea Surgical excision of cutaneous or subcutaneous benign lesions and laser treatments of benign skin lesions. | 365 DAYS |
Waiting Periods Victoria | Health Insurance
Covers | Waiting period |
1.Basic Coverages | |
General health care | 60 DAYS |
International Critical Illness (first diagnosis) | 180 DAYS |
Surgical intervention for varicose veins Surgical intervention for hernias Kidney, vesicular, and vesical lithotripsy Hemorrhoidectomy Surgical intervention for gastroduodenal ulcer Hysterectomy or other gynecological surgery (benign) Mastectomy (benign pathology) Thyroidectomy (benign pathology) Cholecystectomy Pregnancy, childbirth, and involuntary termination Arthroscopy, meniscectomy, mentoplasty alloy Uvulopalatoplasty Extraction of benign skin lesions (e.g., moles, warts) Refractive treatments (myopia, astigmatism, hyperopia) Cataract surgeries and vitrectomies Otorhinolaryngology pathologies Haemodialysis Prostatectomy and other urinary surgeries (benign) | 365 DAYS |
2.Exempt from Waiting Periods (Emergency and Other Services) | |
Accident emergency treatment Assistance in Portugal 24/7 Doctor Second International Medical Opinion Access to Wellness Network Access to Health Care at agreed prices Oral Hygiene and Prevention Module Travel Assistance Abroad | None |
3.Complementary Coverages | |
Medicine, Glasses, Orthotics, and Prostheses | 120 DAYS |
Waiting Periods Cigna | International Health Insurance
Covers | Waiting period |
Parent and Baby Care | |
Routine maternity care Complications from maternity Homebirths Newborn Care | 12 MONTHS ** |
International Outpatient | |
Pre-natal and post natal care | 12 MONTHS ** |
Infertility Investigations and treatment | 24 MONTHS |
Genetic Cancer test | 12 MONTHS |
Treatment for Obesity | 24 MONTHS |
Cancer preventative surgery | 12 MONTHS |
Dental Treatment | |
Preventative | 3 MONTHS |
Routine | 3 MONTHS |
Major restorative | 12 MONTHS |
Orthodontic treatment | 18 MONTHS |
** For treatment incurred in either Hong Kong or Singapore, this benefit is only available once the mother has been a beneficiary under this policy for a continuous period of at least 24 months or more.
Waiting Periods Multicare Fidelidade | Health Insurance
The waiting period is counted from the date of commencement of insurance for each Insured Person. In the event of an accident involving urgent hospital treatment (in-patient or out-patient), the waiting periods do not apply.
Transfers: at the express request of the Insured Persons, duly documented, and provided that it is accepted by Multicare, the Insured Person may benefit from an exemption from waiting periods on the cover and capital of an insurance contract that ends on the day before it begins, except for the Childbirth cover, which is always subject to a waiting period. Exemptions from waiting periods that are accepted are expressly stated in the policy.
Multicare 123
Covers |
Days |
Hospitalisation Childbirth | 180 500 |
Mental Health Psychiatric Hospitalisation Psychiatry and Psychology Consultations and Psychotherapy Sessions | 180 60 |
Consultations, Tests and Treatments (Outpatient) | 60 |
Home Care | 60 |
Prosthetics and Orthotics | 60 |
Extension abroad | Depending on cover taken out |
Serious Illness | 180 |
Preventive Medicine (check-up) | 60 |
Insurance Premium Payment Protection | 30 |
In addition to the grace periods indicated above, the following grace periods per therapy also apply:
- 180 days: Surgical excision of benign skin lesions.
- 360 days: Phacoemulsification, varicose vein surgery, adenoidectomy with or without tonsillectomy and/or myringotomy, arthrotomy and/or arthroscopy, septoplasty and/or endonasal microsurgery, meniscectomy, herniated disc removal and laser therapy of benign skin lesions.
Multicare Vital
Covers | Days |
Oncology | 180 or 120 if you go to a Luz Saúde unit |
Hospitalisation Childbirth | 180 500 |
Mental Health Psychiatric Hospitalisation Psychiatry and Psychology Consultations and Psychotherapy Sessions | 180 60 |
Consultations, Tests and Treatments (Outpatient) | 60 |
Home Care | 60 |
Non-Conventional Therapies | 60 |
Prosthetics and Orthotics | 60 |
Medicines | 60 |
Extension to foreigners | Depending on cover taken out |
Serious Illness – Multicare Vital Protection | 180 |
Preventive Medicine (check-up) | 180 |
In addition to the grace periods indicated above, the following grace periods apply per therapy:
- 180 days: Surgical excision of benign skin lesions.
- 360 days: Phacoemulsification, varicose vein surgery, adenoidectomy with or without tonsillectomy and/or myringotomy, arthrotomy and/or arthroscopy, septoplasty and/or endonasal microsurgery, meniscectomy, herniated disc removal and laser therapy for benign skin lesions.
60+ Multicare
Transfers: at the express request of the Insured Persons, duly documented, and provided that it is accepted by Multicare, the Insured Person may benefit from an exemption from the Waiting Periods for the covers and Capitals of an insurance contract that ends the day before it begins. Exemptions from Waiting Periods that are accepted are expressly stated in the Policy. Although no waiting periods apply to transfers, pre-existing illnesses are excluded.
Covers | Days |
Hospitalisation | 180 |
Consultations, Tests and Treatments (Outpatient) | 60 |
Home Care | 60 |
Extension to foreigners | Depending on cover taken out |
Preventive Medicine (check-up) | 60 |
In addition to the Waiting Periods indicated above, the following Waiting Periods also apply:
- 180 days: Surgical excision of benign skin lesions.
- 360 days: Phacoemulsification, varicose vein surgery, adenoidectomy with or without tonsillectomy and/or myringotomy, arthrotomy and/or arthroscopy, septoplasty and/or endonasal microsurgery, meniscectomy, herniated disc removal and laser therapy of benign skin lesions.
Waiting Periods PassportCard | International Health Insurance
Covers | Waiting period |
Inpatient treatment of mental or nervous disorders | (12 month waiting period, requires pre-approval) |
Psychiatric treatment (Compact and Confort options) | waiting period of 12 months. Requires pre-approval. |
Psychotherapy (premium option) | Waiting period of 12 months, only by a licensed psychiatrist (MD) |
Speech therapy (premium oprion) | Waiting period of 12 months, up to 30 sessions if pre-approved |
Acupuncture (needle technique), homeopathy, osteopathy, chiropractic, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) (Compact and Confort options) | 4 months waiting period. |
Hearing aids (Premium oprion) | Waiting period of 48 months |
Maternity Services | 12 month waiting period |
Optional Dental Rider for Comfort plan | 6 months waiting period |
Waiting Periods AdvanceCare | Health Insurance
Covers | Waiting period |
Hospitalisation | 90 DAYS |
Outpatients, Stomatology, Prosthetics and Orthotics and Medicines | 60 DAYS |
Oncological Cover Onco-risk Programme, Hospitalisation at the Champalimaud Foundation | 90 DAYS |
Pregnancy expenses, involuntary termination of pregnancy and childbirth | 365 DAYS |
Serious Illness Cover (also for newborns) | 180 DAYS |
– Varicose vein surgery – Gynaecological and urological surgery for benign pathologies – Renal and bladder lithotripsy – Proctological surgery and treatment – Breast surgery for benign pathology – Thyroid surgery for benign pathology – Cholecystectomy – Ear, nose and throat operations – Any knee or hip surgery – Excision of benign skin or subcutaneous lesions – Ophthalmological treatment/surgery – Hernia surgery – Arrhythmology | 365 DAYS |
