Trusted Partner — Health Insurance

Health insurance for the gap between U.S. coverage and SNS enrollment

SafetyWing covers the gap most Americans hit when moving to Portugal: U.S. coverage doesn’t travel, but SNS enrollment can take months. Two plans — Nomad Insurance Essential for short stays, Nomad Insurance Complete for long-term.

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For Americans moving to Portugal, health coverage in the first weeks looks like this: your U.S. employer plan doesn’t cover you abroad. Medicare doesn’t cover you abroad. SNS (Portugal’s national health service) requires you to have your residence card before you can enroll, and the AIMA appointment that gets you that card might be six months out. SafetyWing fills exactly that window. The Nomad Insurance Essential plan is travel-style coverage. The Nomad Insurance Complete plan is full international health insurance — primary care, preventive screenings, and ongoing chronic conditions.

Which plan fits your move?

Choose Nomad Insurance Essential for the short window between landing in Portugal and getting your residence card / SNS access. Choose Nomad Insurance Complete if you want a long-term global health plan that includes routine GP visits, prescriptions, mental health, and chronic-condition management — closer to a U.S. employer plan. Both are designed for Americans abroad and accept enrollment from anywhere.

• Subscription model — pay monthly, cancel any time
• Some consulates accept SafetyWing as proof of D7/D8 health coverage
• Pre-existing conditions covered after waiting period on Complete
• 24/7 telemedicine in English and Portuguese
• Direct billing with major Lisbon and Porto hospitals

Compare SafetyWing plans →

Editorial recommendation. Portugalguru recommends SafetyWing as the preferred bridge plan. Affiliate link pending. Confirm consulate acceptance of SafetyWing as proof of coverage before relying on it for visa application purposes.