Getting Healthcare in Portugal as an American

Useful Resources:

We’re Moving to Europe Substack

We’re Moving to Europe Community

https://serenity-portugal.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-averbukh-md-mha-7b935a44/

Episode Description

Thinking about moving to Portugal and wondering how healthcare works? In this episode of We’re Moving to Europe, host Casey Kelly talks with Dr. Michael Averbukh, CEO and Managing Partner at Serenity, a healthcare concierge service for expats and immigrants in Portugal. They discuss how Portugal’s public and private systems compare to the US, what Americans should prepare for, managing medications, navigating bureaucracy, and access to care for trans people.

Whether you’re planning a relocation or already settling in, this conversation will help you understand how to prepare for your medical needs and make the most of Portugal’s healthcare system.

0:00 Introduction & guest intro

1:30 Dr. Averbukh’s journey to Portugal

2:55 Founding Serenity and its mission

4:24 Comparing US and Portuguese healthcare

6:19 Public vs private systems explained

9:20 Insurance and access differences

12:07 Medication availability & preparation

14:10 Navigating Portugal’s healthcare bureaucracy

19:15 Healthcare access for trans people

22:03 Tips for preparing medical care before moving

27:10 How to manage care after arrival

35:24 Final advice: Be prepared

Production team

Host and Researcher: Casey Kelly – We’re Moving to Europe

Producer and Editor: Magdalena Laas – Unscripted Creatives

Sound library

All the music was composed especially for the We’re Moving to Europe podcast by Sage Barton. Copyright 2025, Sage Barton.

B-Roll
Additional royalty-free footage curated via Pixabay and Pexels