Insurance news in Portugal

Fidelidade, the insurer for Lisbon transport operator Carris, has contested a compensation claim stemming from the fatal Glória Funicular (Elevador da Glória) accident on 3 September 2025. In legal filings before the Lisbon Administrative Court, the insurer argued that the funicular could not be considered highly reliable at the time of the crash, which killed 16 people. The legal response comes in an action brought by the family of victim Ana Paula Lopes, whose lawyer criticized the insurer's characterization.

Homeowners in Portugal may soon be required to carry insurance against natural disasters under rules being prepared by the government. The measure is part of the government's recovery and resilience framework developed after severe storms caused widespread damage earlier this year. The proposal links compulsory coverage to a new Natural and Seismic Catastrophes Fund to help households and businesses recover from extreme weather and earthquakes.

Policy discussions are underway regarding mandatory catastrophe insurance for Portuguese homes following widespread storm and fire damage this year. Industry data shows that roughly 45% of residential properties in Portugal lack coverage against climatic hazards like floods and wildfires, while only 19% have earthquake protection. In response to recent fire seasons, the government also expedited more than one million euros to local volunteer firefighter corps (corpos de bombeiros) to help absorb extraordinary operating costs.

MetLife, Ageas, and MGEN were the most complained-about insurance companies in Portugal during 2025. While MGEN had a normal complaint level for health insurance, its French parent company recorded the highest number of complaints relative to its insured base under the Freedom to Provide Services regime, while Ageas Seguros saw the highest volume of complaints in the automotive sector.

The Insurance and Pension Funds Supervisory Authority (Autoridade de Supervisão de Seguros e Fundos de Pensões or ASF) estimates that 121,000 vehicles are currently circulating on Portuguese roads without mandatory liability insurance. This figure, derived from cross-referencing inspection data from the Public Security Police (Polícia de Segurança Pública or PSP), highlights a significant risk for road safety. The regulator warns that driving without insurance is not a residual issue and carries serious consequences for offenders involved in accidents.

The insurer Bupa Portugal has launched an optional coverage plan that reimburses 50% of costs for prostheses and orthoses, up to an annual limit of 2,000 euros. The plan includes a specific 250-euro cap for optical aids like prescription glasses, as well as coverage for hearing aids, wheelchairs, and recovery items for oncology patients. Nuno Lopes de Almeida, director of Bupa Portugal, stated the initiative aims to improve client autonomy and comfort.

A new decree-law now reinforces the right to be forgotten for individuals who have overcome cancer or other serious illnesses. Under the updated rules, applicants are no longer required to disclose past serious health conditions when taking out insurance associated with housing or consumer credit. The measure aims to prevent discrimination in the financial sector for those in remission.

The Portuguese Association of Insurers (APS) announced that insurance companies have paid 359 million euros in compensation for damages caused by severe storms in January and February. Total covered damages are projected to reach 1.086 billion euros, with over 100,000 claims already processed or partially settled. The storms caused significant destruction across the central zone of the country.

Insurance companies have paid out over 303 million euros in compensation for damages caused by severe storms that struck Portugal between January 27 and February 13. The Portuguese Association of Insurers (Associação Portuguesa de Seguradores or APS) estimates that total insurable losses could eventually exceed one billion euros. In Leiria alone, residents and businesses have filed nearly 37,000 claims for property damage.