All you need to know about
health insurance in Brazil

All our articles

Mutual insurance and health in Brazil: what you need to know

If you’re planning to move to Brazil, it’s important to understand the local healthcare system. The country has a public service, the Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS), accessible free of charge to all, including expatriates. However, the public system has certain limitations, particularly in terms of waiting times and access to specialists. This is why many French people opt for a private health insurance plan, to benefit from better and faster care.

How the Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS) works

Introduced in 1988, the SUS is funded by taxes and aims to provide free healthcare to the entire Brazilian population. Benefits covered include:

• Consultations with general practitioners and specialists.
• Laboratory tests.
• Hospitalization and surgery.
• Medicines on the national list of essential medicines.

Access to SUScare usually begins with a consultation at a basic facility, such as a “posto de saúde” or a “clínica da família”. These centers serve as a first step before being referred to a specialist or hospital if necessary.

The limits of the public system

Despite the establishment of a public health system, the SUS faces a number of challenges.

• Uneven distribution of infrastructure: healthcare facilities are located mainly in the major cities, where the supply of care is more developed. In rural areas, on the other hand, access to medical services remains limited, often forcing people to travel long distances for treatment.
• Hospital overcrowding: Public hospitals in major cities are overcrowded, putting pressure on medical staff. This overcrowding leads to long waiting times for consultations and non-urgent procedures.
• Lack of resources: Some public hospitals suffer from a lack of modern equipment and specialized medical staff.

For these reasons, many residents turn to the private sector for better quality care and shorter waiting times.

Private health insurance in Brazil

Around 25% of the Brazilian population have chosen to take out private health insurance. There are several options for private health coverage.

• Planos de saúde: These plans allow you to consult a specific network of affiliated doctors and establishments. They are generally limited to a specific geographical area.
• Cooperativas médicas: Cooperatives where members have access to care provided by a specific hospital in exchange for a membership fee.
• International health insurance: Offers extensive coverage. They enable French-speaking expatriates to freely choose their healthcare providers, both in Brazil and abroad.

Why opt for international health insurance?

International health insurance offers several advantages for expatriates in Brazil.

• Freedom of choice: Access to a vast network of healthcare professionals without being limited to a specific network.
• Worldwide coverage: Possibility of receiving medical care while traveling or staying in other countries.
• Quality of care: Access to high-quality private facilities, often equipped with the latest medical technology.

For example, companies like Cigna Global offer international health insurance plans tailored to the needs of expatriates living in Brazil. We invite you to compare all the insurance offers available for Brazil on Santexpat.fr.

Caisse des Français de l’Étranger (CFE)

If you’re a French expatriate, you can join the Caisse des Français de l’Étranger (CFE), which offers coverage similar to that of the French Social Security system. However, to cope with the sometimes high medical costs in Brazil, it’s often advisable to supplement this protection with international health insurance, to benefit from broader coverage better adapted to your needs.

Expatriate health insurance in Brazil

Brazil offers a public healthcare system accessible to all, but its limitations can make it difficult to access fast, quality care. For expatriates, taking out private, and ideally international,health insurance is often essential to ensure optimal care. Before you leave, take the time to assess your needs and choose the right coverage, so that you can enjoy your stay with complete peace of mind.