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Living in Europe

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Winniepop

Newbie
Messages
2
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Hello everyone,
sorry if this has been covered before, i did search but couldnt find the answer.

Brexit notwithstanding, how do we fare in Europe for getting medicine? I am hopefully going to be working in Portugal soon (so living, not travelling). Does the EHIC card entitle me to medicine / insulin? Do I have to pay?

The current situation may change of course, but wouldnt what the present regime is.

Am I better getting a pharmacy 2 u type thing then having it posted to me, or is this very illegal?

any help appreciated.
 
Winniepop said:
Hello everyone,
sorry if this has been covered before, i did search but couldnt find the answer.

Brexit notwithstanding, how do we fare in Europe for getting medicine? I am hopefully going to be working in Portugal soon (so living, not travelling). Does the EHIC card entitle me to medicine / insulin? Do I have to pay?

The current situation may change of course, but wouldnt what the present regime is.

Am I better getting a pharmacy 2 u type thing then having it posted to me, or is this very illegal?

any help appreciated.
Click to expand...

As things stand, the EHIC covers you for reciprocal emergency care, as if you were living in the country where the emergency occurred. So, if you broke your leg in Portugal, you could expect to be treated as if you were a Portugese person. That might be better or not so well as you might experience in the UK. I don't know.

Treatment is at the equivelant of NHS hospitals, and in some countries, not all services are available at those hospitals.

Vis-a-vis, your insulin; I'm pretty certain ongoing medications are not covered by the EHIC, so you would have to look into that directly.

Most areas have ex-pat forums where these things come up. I am overseas at the moment (not in the EU), and joined a local forum to ask about some bits. Browsing around I was surprised the breadth of topics covered.
 
following further research, it seems that once a Portugal resident, then full access to the Portugal health service is granted - and i think this includes free medicine and treatment... will update if i can confirm fyi
 
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