Best International Health Insurance in Brazil for Expats

The Ultimate Overview of Healthcare in Brazil

The public healthcare system in Brazil, known as Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS), provides universal access to healthcare services for all Brazilians and foreigners on Brazilian soil. Having said this, certain procedures and services may be subject to high demand and resource constraints, meaning that those who rely on the system may have to wait longer for treatment.

On the other hand, private healthcare operates independently from the public system and is often paid for out-of-pocket or via insurance premiums. Depending on your level of coverage, costs may vary. However, treatments are of higher quality, more varied, and more specialized, requiring shorter wait times for appointments.

Below is a table denoting the key differences between public and private healthcare in Brazil:

	Public Brazilian Healthcare (SUS)	Private Brazilian Healthcare
Access to Healthcare	The SUS system provides health for all Brazilian citizens, including foreigners. However, there may be high demand and resource constraints.	Private health can be accessed through insurance plans or out-of-pocket payments, has shorter wait times, and has higher quality facilities.
Cost of Healthcare	There are no premiums. Services are heavily subsidized and require no payment.	Costs may be paid out of pocket or via insurance premiums, depending on your level of coverage.
Quality of Healthcare	While some public hospitals provide good quality healthcare, this may vary across regions, especially local areas.	Private healthcare is often of higher quality, has better technology, more personalized care, and more well trained medical professionals.
Services	SUS provides primary care, emergency services, surgeries, and specialized treatments with longer waiting times.	Private healthcare provides the most advanced and specialized medical procedures and treatments without waiting times.
Doctor-Patient Ratio	The doctor patient ratio in the SUS system is relatively low and may require longer wait times for consultations.	Private healthcare offers a better doctor to patient ratio, allowing for more specialized treatments and shorter wait times.
Coverage Benefits	SUS provides coverage for general healthcare services but not for specialized treatments and elective procedures.	Beyond what SUS offers, private healthcare coverage offers customizable coverage that includes specialized treatments, dental and vision care, and access to other healthcare providers.
Partnerships	SUS is a primary healthcare provider in Brazil, and private healthcare collaborates with SUS facilities for certain treatments.	Private healthcare operates independently from the public system and collaborates on a global scale with various partnerships.

What Are the Health Insurance Options for Expats in Brazil?

Individual Health Insurance

Flexible and customizable, individual health insuranceplans are designed to protect individuals from any unforeseen medical costs while living in Brazil. Individual health insurance plans in Brazil remove all regulatory hurdles related to receiving medical care. This includes coverage for inpatient and outpatient services, emergency care, specialized treatments, and medical evacuations.

Retiree Health Insurance

Retiree health insurance plans are a complete health coverage plan for individuals who have retired from their careers and are looking to relocate or settle down in Brazil. It gives retirees peace of mind by covering them for the duration of their golden years without regard to age, health, claims, or policy renewals.

Family Health Insurance

Family insurance plans offer expat families comprehensive coverage for a wide range of needs, including maternity, pediatric care, and child wellness services. If you are looking to relocate to Brazil with your family, it is strongly recommended that you choose this plan to cover not only yourself but also your loved ones.

The Best Health Insurance in Brazil for US citizens

Cigna

Cigna aims to provide access to a network of healthcare providers, including hospitals, clinics, and doctors, where policyholders can receive medical care. In Brazil, Cigna has established partnerships with a network of healthcare providers to offer a wide range of medical services.

Below is a table that provides an overview of the coverage terms:

Cigna Gold Core Hospitalization Cover Overview
Annual benefit limit	Included: USD $2,000,000
Comprehensive cancer care	Included
Private room access	Included
Inpatient and daypatient care	Included
Inpatient maternity care	Included
Access to the Safe Travel app	Included
Outpatient	Optional
Evacuation and Crisis Assistance	Optional
Health and wellbeing	Optional
Vision and dental	Optional

Cigna Platinum Core Hospitalization Cover Overview
Annual benefit limit	Included and paid in full
Mental and behavioural health care	Included and paid in full
Comprehensive cancer care	Included
Private room access	Included
Inpatient and daypatient care	Included
Inpatient maternity care	Included
Access to the Safe Travel app	Included
Outpatient	Optional
Evacuation and Crisis Assistance	Optional
Health and wellbeing	Optional
Vision and dental	Optional

Geoblue

GeoBlue's health insurance plans in Brazil are designed to meet the needs of U.S. citizens living or traveling in the country. These plans typically offer comprehensive coverage for a range of medical services, including hospitalization, outpatient care, emergency medical treatment, prescription medications, and preventive care.

Below is a table that provides an overview of the coverage terms for GeoBlue’s Explorer Premier plan:

GeoBlue’s Explorer Premier
Unlimited annual and lifetime medical maximums outside of the U.S.	Included
Immediate coverage of pre-existing conditions with proof of prior coverage	Included
Access to any healthcare provider outside of and inside the U.S.	Included
Inpatient hospital service coverage	Included
Prescription drug benefits	Included
Rehabilitation and therapy	Included
Preventative and primary care	Included
Accidental death and dismemberment coverage	Included
Global travel benefits (emergency evacuation)	Included
Ambulatory and therapeutic services	Included
Professional medical services coverage	Included
Waiver of deductibles for office visits, preventative care, and prescriptions	Included
Unlimited telemedicine services	Included
Continuous coverage for dependents in the case of subscriber death	Included
Prescription coverage with enhanced prescription benefits	Included
Repatriation of mortal remains	Included
Emergency family travel arrangements	Included

The Most Cost-Efficient Insurance for Expats in Brazil

International Medical Group (IMG)

When it comes to international medical insurance, IMG (International Medical Group) is your best bet for coverage while living in Brazil as an expat. IMG's health insurance plans are designed to provide comprehensive medical coverage and services for individuals and families who are residing in a foreign country.

One of the reasons why IMG health insurance is often considered cost-efficient for expats is its flexibility in coverage options. IMG offers a variety of plans with different levels of coverage and deductible options, allowing expats to choose a plan that aligns with their specific needs and budget. This flexibility allows individuals to customize their coverage and pay for only the services they require, potentially reducing unnecessary costs.

Below is a table that provides an overview of the coverage terms for IMG’s Global Medical Insurance plan:

Global Medical Insurance - Silver
Lifetime Maximum Limit	USD $5,000,000 per individual
Deductible	USD $250 to $10,000
Coinsurance	International – 100% U.S. in-network – 100% U.S. out-of-network – 80%
Treatment Outside the U.S.	50% of deductible waived, up to a maximum of $2,500. No coinsurance
Treatment inside the U.S. - PPO Network	Subject to deductible. No coinsurance.
Treatment inside the U.S. using Medical Concierge	50% of deductible waived, up to a maximum of $2,500. No coinsurance.
Treatment inside the U.S. using Medical Concierge	Subject to deductible. Plan pays 80% of the next $5,000 of eligible expenses, then 100% to the overall maximum per period of coverage.
MyIMG Member Account	24 hour secure access from anywhere in the world to manage your account at anytime
Period of Coverage	1 year - annually renewable

Now Health International

For foreign nationals residing in Brazil, one option for health insurance is Now Health International. Now Health International's health insurance plans are designed to provide comprehensive medical coverage and services for individuals and families residing in a foreign country.

One of the reasons why Now Health International insurance is often considered cost-efficient for expats is its focus on providing tailored plans. They offer a range of plan options with different levels of coverage and deductible options, allowing expats to choose a plan that suits their specific needs and budget. This flexibility enables individuals to customize their coverage and pay for the services they require, helping to manage costs effectively.

Below is a table that provides an overview of the coverage terms for Now Health International plans:

	Now Health International SimpleCare CORE	Now Health International SimpleCare 100	Now Health International SimpleCare 250
Organ transplant coverage	Included	Included	Included
Evacuation and repatriation coverage	Included	Included	Included
Hospital and surgery coverage	Included	Included	Included
Day-patient/ Out-Patient Surgery coverage	Included	Included	Included
Cancer treatment coverage	Included	Included	Included
Out-patient coverage		Included	Included
Routine dental treatment and care			Included
Dental treatment coverage			Included

How Much Does Health Insurance for Expats in Brazil Cost?

Costs for private health insurance can differ widely based on a person's age, pre-existing conditions, and coverage preferences, among other factors. However, for an expat over the age of 50, the cost of medical coverage for physical checkups, medicine, and hospitalization with a private room, dental, and eye care is calculated at approximately USD $124 per month.

Below is a table denoting the average individual premiums by country:

Country	Average cost for an individual in 2022	Average cost for an individual in 2021	% Difference
US	USD $9,817	USD $7,431	32%
Hong Kong	USD $7,810	USD $6,804	15%
Singapore	USD $7,028	USD $6,265	12%
Dubai	USD $5,687	USD $5,269	8%
Taiwan	USD $5,532	USD $5,018	10%
Israel	USD $5,521	USD $5,432	2%
Switzerland	USD $5,441	USD $4,273	27%
Mexico	USD $5,386	USD $4,700	15%
UK	USD $5,314	USD $4,737	12%
Brazil	USD $5,289	USD $4,760	11%

Below is a table denoting the average family premiums by country:

Country	Average cost for a family in 2022	Average cost for a family in 2021	% Difference
US	USD $28,250	USD $20,929	35%
Hong Kong	USD $22,067	USD $18,811	17%
Singapore	USD $20,351	USD $17,803	14%
Dubai	USD $17,637	USD $15,892	11%
China	USD $16,241	USD $15,940	2%
Taiwan	USD $15,396	USD $13,419	15%
Israel	USD $15,303	USD $14,585	5%
Mexico	USD $15,209	USD $13,157	16%
Switzerland	USD $15,121	USD $12,458	21%
Brazil	USD $15,073	USD $13,052	15%

What is the Cost of Treatment at Hospitals in Brazil for Foreigners?

In general, the expense of receiving private medical care in Brazil is high. They have also risen dramatically over the past few years; beginning in 2009, private hospitals operating to standards comparable to those in the United States and Europe raised their prices by an average of 20%. This makes Brazil's private healthcare system the most expensive in all of Latin America.

The costs associated with a consultation with a general practitioner (GP) or specialist are established on an individual basis and are subject to variation based on several factors: the consultation's time and urgency, the practitioner's credentials and reputation, and the geographical proximity of the surgery.

Here are the average costs in the 3 largest cities in Brazil:

General practitioner treatment	Specialist treatment
Brasilia	Around R$ 120 or USD $31–$130	Around R$ 400–450 or USD $100–110
Rio de Janeiro	Around R$ 200 or USD $50–$65	Around R$ 350–400 or USD $90–100
Sao Paulo	Around R$ 210 or USD $55	Around R$ 280 or USD $72

What to Consider when Securing Health Insurance for Expats in Brazil

Every single person has varying health conditions and financial circumstances. As a result, it is important to consult an insurance broker to ensure that your medical insurance plan meets your unique requirements.

Here are a few things for you to consider when it comes to securing health insurance:

Coverage terms

Carefully reviewing the coverage terms offered by different plans will ensure that they cover a wide range of medical services during your stay in Brazil.

Exclusions and limitations:Some policies will have waiting periods for pre-existing conditions or certain treatments, especially maternity.

Cost: The overall cost of the insurance plan should be taken into consideration, which includes additional fees or deductibles.

Direct billing: Having direct billing when living in Brazil will ensure that all services can be accessed and paid for in an instant.

International coverage: If you’re planning on living in Brazil and traveling to other countries, it’s worthwhile to check if your policy includes coverage for medical services abroad.

By working with a broker, you will be made aware of every aspect of your policy and its conditions, providing you with peace of mind during your stay in Brazil.

Pacific Prime is an award-winning intermediary, empowering our clients with a simplified and actionable understanding of insurance. With our team of insurance experts, world-class services, and tailored solutions, we have become a broker of choice for clients around the world.

Here are a few ways we can help guide you: