Learn about public, private and employer sponsored health insurance in Brazil
SafetyNest Inc. and its affiliates do not provide tax, legal or accounting advice. This material has been prepared for informational purposes only, and is not intended to provide, and should not be relied on for, tax, legal or accounting advice. You should consult your own independent tax, legal and accounting advisors before making any decisions or engaging in any transaction.
How does healthcare work in Brazil?
In Brazil, the healthcare system is a mix of public and private providers.
Public healthcare: The taxpayer-funded Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS) provides free healthcare services to all Brazilian citizens and residents. It's worth noting that while this system is comprehensive, it is often criticized for long wait times, particularly for non-emergency procedures and specialist consultations.
Private healthcare: For those who can afford it, private health insurance is a popular option in Brazil. These plans often offer faster access to specialists and elective procedures, and may also provide coverage for services and treatments not covered by SUS. Private insurance can be purchased individually or, more commonly, provided by employers as part of a benefits package.
Health insurance policies in Brazil must cover a list of treatments and procedures in the National List of Mandatory Procedures, regulated by the National Agency of Supplementary Health.
🟢 Services covered by the SUS include:
Preventive care, including immunizations, preventive screenings for diseases such as cancer and chronic diseases, health education, family planning services, and programs for the prevention of communicable diseases like tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS
Basic curative care for common diseases and injuries, basic emergency medical care, and management of chronic diseases
Maternal and child health including prenatal care, childbirth, postnatal care and immunizations
Mental health services including treatment for common mental health disorders
Basic dental care
Basic vision care
Essential medications are provided to patients for free or at a low cost through SUS's pharmaceutical care program, Farmácia Popular
🛑 Limitations of the SUS:
Some high-cost drugs aren't covered, particularly for rare or complex conditions
Some advanced or experimental treatments and procedures such as certain types of cosmetic surgery aren't included (unless medically necessary, for example, after cancer surgery)
Treatment in private healthcare facilities is not covered (unless there's a specific agreement in place)
Insurance for expats
Foreign residents of Brazil can obtain a SUS card and use public health services. Expats may also choose to use private health insurance in Brazil which can provide faster medical services and access to private facilities.
Private health insurance in Brazil
Around 25% of Brazilians have private health insurance. While the SUS offers extensive coverage, users may choose to get private coverage because of the long wait times that come with public services and the quality of care or facilities.
There are several options for private health insurance in Brazil. For international companies, a global group health insurance plan may be a good fit because one plan can be used to cover an entire global workforce. This single plan approach to health insurance means minimal administrative work and equitable benefits for a global team.
Employee benefits tax in Brazil
In Brazil, fringe benefits are considered part of the employees’ salary for payroll purposes. However, some fringe benefits have been considered to be tax exempt, including medical benefits (health and dental insurance) provided by the employer.
Employer contributions to health benefits are tax-deductible up to 20% of the employees' salary.
Interested in providing global health coverage to your team? Chat with us!
If you’re looking for coverage for yourself and your family, check out Nomad Health.
Laura Scott
Head of Marketing, Remote Health at SafetyWing
As the marketing lead in our Remote Health team, Laura specializes in product marketing, project management and lead generation.
Laura Scott
Head of Marketing, Remote Health at SafetyWing
As the marketing lead in our Remote Health team, Laura specializes in product marketing, project management and lead generation.
