Taking out personal accident insurance with me is straightforward: we talk about who you want to protect and what you do day to day, choose the right cover and sums insured, I compare quotes from several insurers and I handle the paperwork. In most cases, it is all sorted within a few days. Here is how it works, step by step.

What personal accident insurance actually is

Personal accident insurance (seguro de acidentes pessoais) protects the insured person against the consequences of an accident: a sudden, unforeseen event with an external cause, beyond their control. A fall on the stairs, a sprained ankle while running, a bad cut in the kitchen or a cycling accident are typical examples.

It does not cover illness. A heart attack or a stroke is not an accident, even if it happens suddenly. That is the role of health or life insurance.

In Portugal it is a voluntary and flexible product: it can cover just you, your whole family, or a group (for example, members of a club or participants in an event). It is available to residents and, in many cases, to non-resident property owners who spend long periods here: I will confirm what applies to you.

Step 1: who is to be insured and what you do

Our first conversation is about understanding your real risk. Among other things, I will ask:

Who you want to insure (just you, your partner, your children) and everyone’s ages.
Your occupation: office work is not the same risk as working on building sites or with machinery.
Which sports or leisure activities you do and how often (cycling, surfing, golf, sailing, horse riding, motorcycling…).
Whether you already have other policies covering part of these risks, such as health insurance, workplace accident insurance or federation sports insurance.

These answers matter. Under Portuguese insurance contract law, you must accurately disclose everything you know that is relevant to assessing the risk. An omission can cause problems exactly when you need the policy.

Step 2: choosing the cover

The most common covers are:

Accidental death: a lump sum paid to the beneficiaries you name.
Permanent disability: a lump sum, either in full or in proportion to the degree of disability left after the accident, according to the table set out in the policy.
Medical expenses: reimbursement of consultations, tests, physiotherapy, medicines and hospital stays caused by the accident, up to the agreed limit.
Daily allowance: a fixed amount for each day in hospital or of temporary incapacity, depending on the policy.

Optional extras may include funeral expenses, repatriation or assistance services. I help you pick only what makes sense for you.

Step 3: setting the sums insured

The sum insured is the maximum the insurer will pay under each cover. There is no magic number, but there are good questions to ask:

If you were left with a permanent disability, how much would you need to adapt your home or car, or to make up for lost income?
Does your family depend on your income?
Would medical costs be handled by the Portuguese National Health Service (SNS) or by health insurance, or do you want your own budget to choose where you are treated?

Higher sums mean a higher premium (the price of the policy). My job is to find a sensible balance between protection and cost.

Step 4: understanding the exclusions

Every policy has exclusions. The most common ones, always depending on each contract, include:

Illness and anything that does not result from an accident.
Injuries the insured person causes intentionally.
Accidents under the influence of alcohol above the legal limit or non-prescribed drugs.
High-risk sports or competitive sport, unless declared and accepted.
Driving without the required licence.
War, terrorism and natural catastrophes, in many policies.

I walk you through the exclusions of the actual proposal before you sign. Better to know now than to be surprised later.

Step 5: quotes, comparison and issuing the policy

With your information, I request proposals from several insurers and give you a clear comparison: cover, sums insured, excesses (the part of a cost you pay yourself) and premium. You decide in your own time.

Once you have chosen, I prepare the proposal form for signature, confirm payment and follow the policy through to issue. You receive the general, special and particular conditions, which you should keep. For personal accident policies lasting six months or more, Portuguese law generally gives you 30 days after receiving the policy to cancel it freely.

And it does not end there: if you have an accident, I help you report it and follow the claim through to the end.

Frequently asked questions

Does personal accident insurance replace health insurance?

No. Personal accident insurance only covers the consequences of accidents. Health insurance also covers illness. The two complement each other.

Can I insure my whole family on one policy?

Yes. Many policies allow you to include your partner and children in the same contract, with different sums for each person. For children, special rules on death cover are common.

Will it cover my weekend sports?

It depends on the activity and the policy. Walking or leisure cycling are normally accepted; other activities must be declared and may carry an extra premium. That is why I always ask what you do.

If you like, I will look at your situation with no obligation and bring you suitable options: request your personal accident insurance review here or get in touch with me directly.

Sources

General information only. It does not replace reading your policy conditions or personalised advice.