Insurance in Brazil

Since 1998, Brazil's government has had public health insurance available. The SUS or Unified Health System provides free medical care at public hospitals for all persons legally residing in Brazil, however these hospitals provide relatively poorer quality healthcare in comparison to private hospitals, and the waiting lists are often long. For the 20% of the population who can afford it, there is also private health insurance covering stays at private hospitals with a much higher quality of service. This tends to be the more preferred choice for foreigners working in Brazil.

There are two types of private coverage offered: health plans and policies. Health insurance policies offer the patient the choice of a doctor or treatment facility anywhere in Brazil, while the cheaper health plans are tied to a certain location. Dental insurance coverage is a separate purchase, but Brazilian dental treatment is considered to be of the highest quality, and some even travel to Brazil from other countries specifically to receive dental treatment.

A foreign health insurance company that covers Brazil may also be used for private health expenses. Prescriptions are quite easy to fill as there is widespread laxity about purchasing prescription meds over the counter, however one should also check to ensure that they received the correct medicine, as attention to this can also be lax.