Portuguese Insurance Regulator publishes practical guide for older consumers on insurance and pension funds

The Portuguese Insurance Regulator (ASF) has released consumer-facing guidance for older people through a special-edition Practical Guide for Older Consumers focused on insurance and pension funds, produced by Portugal’s Directorate-General for Consumer and printed by ASF. The publication targets older consumers as a vulnerable group and aims to support safer purchasing and financial decision-making, including how to seek redress. Alongside general consumer-protection information such as written-consent rules for unsolicited telephone sales, cooling-off rights including a 14-day withdrawal period for telephone or internet purchases and a 30-day period for other contracts described in the guide, and access to consumer arbitration for disputes up to EUR 5,000, the guide covers key insurance and pension topics. It explains mandatory motor third-party liability insurance and the role of the Automobile Guarantee Fund for accidents involving uninsured or unknown vehicles, highlights age limits and comparability “standard conditions” recommended by ASF for health insurance, and clarifies that ASF supervises health insurance but not health plans. The guide also points consumers to ASF tools and services including the "Tem Seguro?" app to check vehicle insurance, the "Os Meus Seguros" app for policy information and renewal alerts, a Planos de Poupança-Reforma comparison platform, transfer options between pension funds and PPR products, and ASF channels for complaints and information requests.