We all recognize the importance of health insurance in protecting Portuguese citizens in the event of an accident or illness, but it’s less common to think about this type of insurance from each person’s specific perspective.
In this series of articles, we’ll explore the specific types of coverage—or those best suited—for women and men. This will help you determine whether your health insurance meets the specific needs of every member of your family. In this article, we’ll discuss women’s health, but be sure to read our article on health insurance from a men’s perspective as well.
As we will see later, there are certain diseases and genetic predispositions that are more prevalent among women and require specific health care, such as breast cancer and cervical cancer.
There are also specific types of coverage that may be of interest to women, such as childbirth coverage and other types of coverage related to pregnancy.
From a financial standpoint, the coverage in the event of an accident or illness From a woman's perspective, it turns out to be more important when, in Portugal, one realizes that They earn 13.2% less than men and experience greater exhaustion, since in addition to their paid work hours, they still devote, on average, 302 minutes a day to housework.
When you put all these factors together, it’s easy to see just how crucial it is for Portuguese women to find a health insurance that takes into account their actual needs, especially with regard to their reproductive and mental health, during pregnancy and menopause.
Common Diseases in Women
As we have already mentioned, genetic and environmental factors, along with the interplay of female hormones, make women more vulnerable to certain diseases than men.
According to the specialists at Lusíadas Hospital in Lisbon, there are diseases that are more common in women than in men. The top five are:
- Multiple Sclerosis: It is characterized by inflammation of the central nervous system, which, among other things, causes muscle wasting, fatigue, and urinary problems. Multiple sclerosis is a chronic disease that typically develops between the ages of 20 and 40.
- Breast cancer: accounts for more than 25% of all cancers diagnosed in women and is the second leading cause of death in developed countries.
- Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: It typically develops between the ages of 20 and 45 and is characterized as a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease that causes weight loss, generalized fatigue, asthenia, skin lesions, and liver problems.
- Urinary Tract Infection: Caused by the smaller size of the female urethra compared to the male urethra, these infections particularly affect sexually active women, pregnant women, and women going through menopause.
- Fibromyalgia: Seven times more common in women, fibromyalgia is characterized by chronic, widespread musculoskeletal pain that affects the trunk and limbs and can last for more than three months.
In addition to these five, STDs, celiac disease, RSI (Repetitive Strain Injury), and, above all, depression are other conditions that affect a higher percentage of women.
Depression is a prime example of the need for health care tailored to women. Twice as prevalent in women, depression is a multifactorial disorder whose causes are linked to hormonal imbalances that are most pronounced during adolescence, the postpartum period, and menopause.
The Importance of Regular Checkups
More than just curing a disease or alleviating its symptoms, prevention is crucial for women.
Through preventive medicine, it is possible to detect, for example, breast or uterine cancers in the early stages of their development, which will increase the success rate of their treatment.
In addition, check-ups allow you to monitor your reproductive health—which is particularly important for women of childbearing age—as well as chronic conditions such as osteoporosis, lupus, or multiple sclerosis.
Tests such as the well-known Pap smear, bone densitometry, and mammograms are extremely important, but in many cases they also require a financial investment that not all women can afford.
To avoid waiting in line and choose the best service wherever you want, it's best to have a preventive health insurance.
How to Choose the Best Health Insurance in Portugal?
Depending on the policy you choose, your health insurance will provide coverage for hospitalization costs, specialist visits, childbirth, dental care, prosthetics, and, in some cases, even prescription drugs.
However, to ensure you have insurance that is appropriate for your age and medical history, it is important to take the following factors into account:
- Health profile: To help her with this, try to find out how many doctor’s visits she has per year, which medical specialties she sees most often, whether she has any chronic conditions, how many young children she has, whether she is planning a pregnancy, and whether she has already entered menopause.
- Network type: whereas, in a network plan, you’ll have access to hospitals and doctors that have an established partnership with the insurance company and, therefore, pay only the copayment, with the reimbursement model, you choose the doctors and the healthcare facility where you want to be treated, pay the full cost of the visit or treatment, and then request reimbursement for the amount spent.
- Age: Insurance policies for women aged 60 or older may be more expensive and restrictive, which is reason enough to look for insurance that offers assistance services tailored to the needs of aging, such as in-home care or home modifications to accommodate changing physical conditions.
- Maternity: It is essential that the maternity health insurance you choose cover not only expenses related to childbirth (hospitalization, potential treatments, medications, etc.), but also the baby’s healthcare and postpartum care, particularly monitoring and treatment for postpartum depression and pediatric expenses.
In short, Please take note of the coverage options offered and what level of risk each solution poses before you consider adopting it.
Key Health Insurance Coverages from a Women’s Perspective
From a women’s perspective, some of the most important health insurance coverages include:
- Hospital admission;
- Preventive medicine (free checkups, for example;
- Income Protection in the event of an accident or a disabling illness;
- Emergency transportation, home care, and medical care while traveling:
- Exams and appointments (outpatient);
- Gynecological care;
- Childbirth;
- Financial protection and medical care for serious illnesses that are more common among women, such as cervical cancer and breast cancer;
- Mental health;
- Alternative therapies;
- Stomatology and dentistry;
- Prosthetics, orthotics, and medications.
Benefits of Having National and International Coverage
In addition to the coverage options we just listed, health insurance plans for women may allow you to combine domestic and international coverage, thereby gaining even more benefits.
In that case, you may be eligible for:
- High-quality medical care and hospitals in multiple countries;
- Coverage of expenses for medical visits, treatments, hospitalizations, surgeries, and medications in participating third countries;
- Support and emergency services in the event of an accident or sudden illness;
- Second medical opinions from foreign specialists;
- Medical repatriation.
Some health insurance plans for women also cover expenses related to trip cancellation, lost or stolen luggage, and even legal assistance.
Difference Between Individual and Family Plans
In many cases, being a woman also means being a mother. In such cases, the Protection ends up being provided by two or more people.
As your household grows, it may be a good idea to consider purchasing a family health insurance plan.
Unlike with individual insurance, a family policy It covers all family members, including spouses and children; offers progressive discounts for each additional member; and is more convenient, since a single health insurance policy protects your entire household and provides significant savings.
How can EXS help you find the best health insurance for you?
As a specialist in insurance brokerage, EXS Seguros offers you the multi-risk coverage that meet your needs at a competitive price.
Through personalized support, our experts will guide you through the process of choosing your policy to ensure maximum protection at every stage of your life.
Conclusion
Special needs call for special solutions.
The higher prevalence of conditions such as breast cancer, fibromyalgia, and urinary tract infections, as well as pregnancy, menopause, and hormonal disorders, mean that women need insurance that guarantees them better and more comprehensive health care at a price that takes into account the wage gap that still exists in Portugal and that causes them to continue earning less than men.
Take care of yourself, talk to EXS, and find the best solutions.
This content is part of a series of articles dedicated to analyzing health insurance plans on an individualized basis, taking into account gender, age, and lifestyle.
Just as women have specific needs throughout the different stages of life, men also face risks of their own, often related to prevention, mental health, and physical performance.
👉 Check out our article on Health Insurance from a Men's Perspective and check to see if all members of your household are properly protected.
