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With the S1 form you can use the NHS in Portugal by registering at your local health centre. It can be useful for an emergency at a public hospital, for example.

Access to the National Health System:

/forum/viewtopic.php?id=902977

Hi my husband has the S1 form and yes it does help when you use the NHS Portugal as the UK pay for the treatment that you need which is only fair, we have full health care here also.

as JohnnyPT said go to the gov.uk website and read all the benefits that come with the S1 form.

when I get to retirement age I will be applying for the S1 form

@Jean Denise. Upon reaching retirement age the UK automatically begin the application process so one does not need to apply upon retirement. I was asked some questions and wondered why have I been contacted and then made inquiries. I was later told that the process is automatic but if I have full cover in Portugal for medical care then I can cancel the process.

@JohnnyPT

Thanks for the reply Johnny. You have done a great deal of work to explain the S1 system and made it available for the community to read.

I am not really sure what advantages it offers me right now since I get full medical coverage already. For example I have had a total knee replacement here in Portugal and am wondering what the S1 would give me that I do not already get?  The UK said that if I had coverage in Portugal then I could cancel the automatic application. Thats just echoing their view on matters.

I can see the point if I was moving from the UK as a retiree to Portugal then the  S1 would give me entitlement to healthcare.

Greetings

Anyone having trouble registering their S1? First of all we were told at the local health centre that the AIMA Residence Certificate is not enough, you have to be in receipt of the actual plastic card. Now we have those we are told they are not enough and we have to get an atestado from the parish council. This is going to be a challenge now because we are currently not living in our officially declared residence due to building works. So we are both owning a house and officially renting one and still can't register. From all I have read the resident card is enough - but locally they are insisting.

It's madness. All the S1 does is make sure the UK pays our medical care - you'd think the authorities here would want to make it easy not hard.

We may need a lawyer I guess unless anyone has any other ideas? Any thoughts appreciated, including lawyer recommendations

Many thanks

When my husband got his S1when he reached pension age all we did was take that with our residency papers at the time to our local social security office and they accepted it.

not sure why you are having so much trouble.

A benefit of the S1 form is that you are ensured entitlement to treatment in the UK NHS if needed, whenever you make a visit.