It would seem that they have been as UK EHIC form is only sent out when forms are received back from Portugal, but you need to visit your Social Security office to get your numbers or a letter saying it has been done, in our case we received letters from the Regional Social Security office saying Registration was completed and our Portuguese numbers.



The UK EHIC you will be issued with is only for use in all other EU countries but not Portugal.  

- Canoeman

As your a "visitor/holidaymaker" i.e you don't exceed 183 days in any 12 month period, then you use your UK issued EHIC card for treatment with Portuguese Health Service, it does not cover private treatment.
As you will be required to pay for treatment, prescriptions etc at the same rates as a Portuguese National if you read the conditions you can possibly claim that money back from Portuguese Social Security or on return to UK, you need to keep all receipts.

S1 is only for UK Citizens moving to Portugal to work or live on a permanent basis.

 

- Canoeman

As your a "visitor/holidaymaker" i.e you don't exceed 183 days in any 12 month period, then you use your UK issued EHIC card for treatment with Portuguese Health Service, it does not cover private treatment.
As you will be required to pay for treatment, prescriptions etc at the same rates as a Portuguese National if you read the conditions you can possibly claim that money back from Portuguese Social Security or on return to UK, you need to keep all receipts.

S1 is only for UK Citizens moving to Portugal to work or live on a permanent basis.

 

I seem to be doing this all wrong - tried to reply to Canoeman and have just duplicated his post. I am a bit of a technophobe I am afraid. I just wanted to thank everyone who responded to my topic. I did ask expatfocus to inform me when replies were posted but somehow they didn't and I have only just revisited the site by chance.

Canoeman's reply coincided with official notification I received from the NHS so I have left things as they are. I didn't know it might be possible to reclaim money paid for state healthcare abroad, but as I have had (touch wood) little cause to use it, having only had to pay a token amount for a consultation and medication following a minor accident, it would not be a worthwhile exercise.  

If your entitled to reclaim costs for care that would have been "free" in UK, then you should take all receipts to a Portuguese Social Security office for a refund or claim from Newcastle on return to UK.  

Well, it`s taken a couple of months (largely down to Me, + Christmas), but just to record my respect and thanks to Canoeman, for another dollop of sound advice.

Despite having, as I thought, `registered` our S1`s at the Health Centre (in full accordance with instructions received, and to their vocalised apparent complete satisfaction) we went, as advised, to Social Security in Leiria, did the form-filling thing, back to the Freguesia etc., etc, and waited.

THIS VERY MORNING, received <my wife`s> Portuguese Social Security number.

& I`m a dependent!





OK, admin-full, admin-to-your-ears, frustrating not only because at times admin-defective, but WE continue to love Portugal, warts and all, big-time.




PS If you haven`t already, Jessel; I`d suggest you re-read everything in this thread & then re-check. The skipper DID stress the need to go to a [i]Regional Social Security Office.[/i]


_________________
The tears happen: Endure, grieve, and move on.


My email address is mbcjg @ talk21.com 

Now you just need Newcastle to send you the EHIC's for health care when visiting UK & rest of EU:)