Health Insurance in Brazil for Foreigners

Public & Private Medical Insurance Options for Expats

Brazil is popular with expats for its warm weather, welcoming culture and job opportunities. The famous feijoada stew, soothing Bossa Nova melodies and lively festivals make it even more appealing. While researching all the exciting things the country has to offer, don’t overlook how you plan to deal with healthcare. If you’re moving to Brazil, it’s important to have the right medical insurance for your needs.

Brazil has a two-tiered system with public and private healthcare options available. The public service is provided by the Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS) and is funded through taxes. Anyone with a legal residency status can apply for SUS insurance. This means international citizens with visas to live, work or study in Brazil are all eligible to use the public system.

The SUS offers high-quality care in clinics and hospitals nationwide but is not without problems. Public facilities can be crowded with long wait times – especially in rural areas. For more modern facilities, shorter wait times and support with language barriers, immigrants will want to buy private health insurance in Brazil.

 

Health Insurance Options for Expats in Brazil

Healthcare in Brazil has been a constitutional right since 1988. The public system, Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS), offers universal healthcare to all citizens and legal residents of the country. In case of an emergency, even short-term tourists or undocumented individuals are covered for any treatment. The system is decentralized, with states and municipalities responsible for delivering care. Approximately 72% of Brazilians rely solely on the SUS for their healthcare needs.

The SUS is the largest government-run healthcare system in the world. Due to the size of its operations, the public system faces many challenges. While the SUS offers high-quality care, long wait times and capacity are a constant problem. Funding and staffing issues only make these problems worse. Due to these issues, most foreigners rely on the private system.

Local private Brazilian health insurance plans are available. However, they’re more expensive than you might think — up to 30% more expensive than what’s sold in other Latin American countries. There is also no guarantee that the private facilities provided will be up to the standards that expats expect. For example, privacy and language services may be limited.

If you want to be seen quickly or need support navigating language barriers, an international health insurance plan is the way to go. Many of these plans provide English-speaking support and offer coverage worldwide.

The Cost of Health Insurance in Brazil for Foreigners

The biggest advantage of using the SUS health insurance system is that it’s free. There are no premiums, no patient surcharges and no additional fees. You’re completely covered. Anyone with a legal residency status can apply for their National Health Identification number, which gives you access to the public system. Go to your local health center with your passport, residency papers, and all supporting documentation to apply.

Fees in the private healthcare system have grown along with demand due to the challenges the public system faces. Doctors and specialists who work in the private system set their own prices. Fees can vary widely even within a single city. A visit to a general practitioner in a large city can cost anywhere between $23 and $97 USD (BRL 120-500).

To ensure they are fully covered and no surprise bills arrive, most expats opt to buy international insurance in Brazil. The cost of these plans ranges from $500 USD annually for basic coverage to $8,000 USD for comprehensive coverage. Each plan can be customized to meet your specific needs.

Can an American Get Health Insurance in Brazil?

Americans or any foreigners with residency status in Brazil are eligible to use the public system. There is no waiting period to join. You just need to register at your local health center.

However, long wait times, overcrowding, and language barriers cause most Americans and international citizens to rely on the private system. If you’re an American living in Brazil, we recommend the GeoBlue Xplorer plan.

 

Best Health Insurance in Brazil for Non-Residents

For comfort and convenience, most foreigners in Brazil use the private healthcare system. There are many great options for expat health insurance. These plans provide coverage including hospitalization, inpatient and outpatient care, prescription medication, mental health, pre-existing condition coverage, evacuation benefits, and more.

 

 

Plans for Students at Brazil Colleges and Universities

If you are intending to study in Brazil, you can purchase plans specifically designed for international students.

 

Travel Insurance for Short-Term Visitors to Brazil

If you’ll only be in Brazil for a short time, you may find that travel insurance is better for you. Travel insurance offers coverage for people who are outside their countries for a period as short as five days. There are different types of travel insurance plans and each offers its own benefits. Most of the plans cover medical care as well as evacuation or repatriation.

Also Read: Travel Insurance for Visitors to Brazil

Group Medical Insurance in Brazil for International Employees

Group insurance is also available. If you have employees living in Brazil or frequently traveling there, you’ll want to ensure they have adequate medical coverage in Brazil. These plans are comprehensive and can be customized to fit your organization’s and employees’ needs.

 

Global Medical Care in Brazil

Dealing with bureaucracy in Brazil can be tough for foreigners. Unlike many countries, where English is the second language of both the healthcare system and everyday life, it’s Spanish in Brazil. Only about 5% of Brazilians speak English fluently. Hospitals that claim to offer English services may only have one or two staff members who speak the language. Just because there are some multilingual staff members, it doesn’t mean that they’ll be taking care of your case.

Private global health insurance providers offer language support that local companies do not. Unless you are fluent in Portuguese, you’ll want to purchase a private international insurance plan over a local one.

It’s a big help to have a local friend or interpreter with you for visa renewals, health insurance, and hospital forms. An international health insurance provider can help with translations but having a local person by your side may also be a good idea.

Also Read: The Brazil Healthcare System

How to Find a Family Physician or GP in Brazil

There aren’t many general practitioners in Brazil as most physicians tend to specialize in specific areas. Patients can book their appointments directly with a specialist without a referral from a family doctor.

Most people in Brazil only go to a general practitioner if they need advice on which specialist to see. If you speak Portuguese, you can use the SUS’s online database to find a doctor. If not,  word-of-mouth referrals are a big part of Brazilian culture. Ask your colleagues, local friends or other immigrants for a recommendation.

Related: Finding a Doctor Abroad

How to Get Hospital Care in Brazil

In case of an emergency, dial 190 or 192 for ambulance services. Both public and private hospitals have emergency departments available 24 hours a day. These are referred to as Accident and Emergency Units (UPA). In the case of a true emergency, tourists and residents alike will receive free treatment.

Public emergency rooms can be chaotic. Physicians are often under-trained and overstressed. As such, most foreigners opt to use the private healthcare system. You can talk to your insurance provider about which hospitals are in their network. Depending on your plan, hospital fees may be fully covered.

 

Related:

• The Brazilian Healthcare System Explained
• Safety and Travel Insurance Advice for Visitors to Brazil
• Hospitals in Brazil for Expatriates