We Got Surgery in Portugal and It Was NOT What Everyone Says

Moving to Portugal and worried about Portugal’s healthcare?We get it — healthcare is one of the biggest worries people have when relocating abroad. Portugal’s public health system, known as the Serviço Nacional de Saúde (SNS), often gets mixed reviews online. So when we moved to Portugal, we decided to find out for ourselves. In this video, we share our honest experience using public healthcare in Portugal — from registering at the local doctor’s surgery to major surgery and even cancer care. Shelley recently went through an operation here in Portugal, and Gary transferred his cancer treatment from the UK, so we’ve seen the system up close. You’ll learn: How to register for public healthcare in Portugal (Número de Utente and Centro de Saúde) What taxas moderadoras (small co-payments) are and what’s actually free How Portugal’s SNS works with private providers for tests, scans, and diagnostics Why the SNS 24 app and local hospital apps make it easier than people thinkThe role of health insurance in Portugal — why we keep a small private policy for convenience What to expect when budgeting for healthcare if you’re moving here on the D7 visa Portugal 👨‍⚕️ And the truth about waiting times, language barriers, and overall care quality If you’re planning to move to Portugal, this is everything we wish we’d known about the Portuguese healthcare system before we arrived. Whether you’re coming from the UK, US, or elsewhere, understanding how health care in Portugal actually works will help you feel far more confident about life here. We’ll show how Portugal’s public health system is funded, how it combines public and private services, and why, despite the odd delay, the care we received has been excellent. This isn’t a sponsored video — just our real experience of living in Portugal and navigating the healthcare system as new residents. Timestamps: 00:00 – Intro: We Got Sick in Portugal 01:26 –Registering with the Public System (SNS) 13:23 – Gary’s Cancer Care Transfer 03:42 – Shelley’s Surgery Story 27:22 – How SNS Uses Private Providers 28:19 – Health Insurance: What We Have & Why18:10 – The Good and the Bad 29:05– Final Thoughts: Public vs Private in Portugal