Quick answers: healthcare in Brazil
- How much does health insurance cost in Brazil for expats?
- Indicative international health insurance for a 32-year-old living in Brazil (inpatient and outpatient, mid-level plan, worldwide excluding the USA) typically costs £275 to £512 a month, with a median of £343 and the cheapest at £156, based on 13 plan quotes from the 14 insurers on our panel, taken in 2026-09. Your price depends on your age, medical history, plan and deductible, and is only confirmed by the insurer.
- How much does expat health insurance cost by age in Brazil?
- Indicative median monthly premiums in Brazil (inpatient and outpatient, mid-level plan, worldwide excluding the USA): age 25 US$316, age 35 US$448, age 45 US$560, age 55 US$862, age 65 US$1,425. Quotes taken 2026-09; the insurer confirms the final price. Shown in US$. Other HealthiNomad prices are in GBP.
- Do foreigners need health insurance in Brazil?
- It depends on the visa. Digital nomads (VITEM XIV, Resolucao Normativa CNIg 45/2021): Must hold health insurance valid in Brazil (seguro de saude valido no territorio nacional). Retirees and pensioners (VITEM XIV, Resolucao Normativa CNIg 40/2019): Must hold health insurance valid in Brazil (seguro de saude valido no territorio nacional), alongside proof of a pension of at least US$2,000 a month. All migrants, including residents on any visa: The Migration Law guarantees access to public health services without discrimination by nationality or migration status. Visitors and tourists: No health insurance is required for entry. Countries that require travel insurance to enter
- Can foreigners use public healthcare in Brazil?
- Foreign visitors can use the SUS emergency network, and the Ministry of Health confirms that foreign tourists with health problems can seek care there. Residents and migrants have access to SUS services on the same terms as Brazilians under the Migration Law. Care at SUS facilities is covered by the public system rather than billed to the patient.
- Do hospitals in Brazil ask foreigners to pay upfront?
- Private facilities expect payment at the time of the appointment. The FCDO says private hospitals will not accept a patient unless they can show evidence of enough money or insurance to cover treatment. Hospital Nove de Julho requires payment for scheduled procedures 48 hours in advance.
- What is the emergency number in Brazil?
- Call 192 for an ambulance in Brazil.
What health insurance costs in Brazil (indicative)
These are indicative prices, based on 13 plan quotes from the 14 international insurers on our panel, for one standard profile: a 32-year-old living in Brazil, inpatient and outpatient cover, mid-level plan, worldwide excluding the USA. The typical monthly price is £275 to £512, with a median of £343 and the cheapest at £156. Your actual price depends on your age, medical history, the plan, your deductible and where you want cover, and is only confirmed by the insurer. Snapshot 2026-09-24. See the Health Insurance Cost Index.
Indicative prices: the 5 lowest of 13 plan quotes, monthly in GBP, cheapest mid-level plan in each insurer's range. Quotes taken 2026-09-24.
See the figures
| Age | Cheapest | Median | Higher end | Plans quoted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 | US$170 | US$316 | US$488 | 14 |
| 35 | US$234 | US$448 | US$573 | 14 |
| 45 | US$266 | US$560 | US$780 | 14 |
| 55 | US$447 | US$862 | US$1,295 | 14 |
| 65 | US$700 | US$1,425 | US$2,146 | 13 |
Indicative. Single adult, inpatient and outpatient, cheapest mid-level plan per insurer, worldwide excluding the USA. Quotes taken 2026-09-29. The insurer confirms the final price. Shown in US$. Other HealthiNomad prices are in GBP.
How healthcare works for expats
Brazil runs a tax-funded universal public system, the Sistema Unico de Saude (SUS), alongside a large private sector of hospitals, clinic chains and laboratories. The Migration Law (Lei 13.445/2017) gives migrants access to public health services without discrimination by nationality or migration status. Public hospitals are often crowded, with long waits for beds and occasional shortages of medication, so most expats with the means use private facilities.
Public care and state schemes
Foreign visitors can use the SUS emergency network, and the Ministry of Health confirms that foreign tourists with health problems can seek care there. Residents and migrants have access to SUS services on the same terms as Brazilians under the Migration Law. Care at SUS facilities is covered by the public system rather than billed to the patient.
Private hospitals
Private hospitals and clinic chains are concentrated in the large cities, especially Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. Some publish self-pay prices: walk-in chains such as dr.consulta list consultation and scan prices online, and hospitals such as Hospital Nove de Julho publish surgical package prices that exclude medical fees. Private maternity packages are also sold at fixed prices by some hospitals.
Paying up front
Private facilities expect payment at the time of the appointment. The FCDO says private hospitals will not accept a patient unless they can show evidence of enough money or insurance to cover treatment. Hospital Nove de Julho requires payment for scheduled procedures 48 hours in advance.
Typical medical costs in Brazil
Published prices, mostly from private hospitals. Pound figures are approximate conversions.
| Treatment | Price | About |
|---|---|---|
| GP consultation (clinica geral), dr.consulta clinics1,2 Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, per consultation (R$45 with dr.consulta paid card, R$132 without) | R$45 to R$132 | £7 to £19 |
| Specialist consultation (cardiology), dr.consulta clinics3,2 Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, per consultation (R$75 with card, R$217 without) | R$75 to R$217 | £11 to £32 |
| MRI of the head (ressonancia magnetica cranio), dr.consulta4,2 Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, per scan (R$573 with card, R$819 without) | R$573 to R$819 | £83 to £119 |
| CT of the head (tomografia cranio), dr.consulta5,2 Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, per scan (R$302 with card, R$431 without) | R$302 to R$431 | £44 to £63 |
| Full blood count (hemograma), dr.consulta6,2 Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, per test (R$21 with card, R$30 without) | R$21 to R$30 | £3 to £4 |
| Basic check-up blood panel, Lavoisier laboratories7 Sao Paulo, per panel, price from | From R$79 | From £11 |
| Dental evaluation and dental check-up package, dr.consulta3,2 Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, R$50 dental evaluation; R$180 dental check-up package | R$50 to R$180 | £7 to £26 |
| Normal birth maternity package, Hospital e Maternidade Saint Patrick8 Sao Paulo, package, shared ward to private room; includes obstetrician, anaesthetist, paediatrician and up to 3 days in hospital | R$6,589 to R$7,890 | £959 to £1,148 |
| Caesarean maternity package, Hospital e Maternidade Saint Patrick8 Sao Paulo, package, shared ward to private room; same price as normal birth; choosing a specific doctor costs extra | R$6,589 to R$7,890 | £959 to £1,148 |
| Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (gallbladder removal) package, Hospital Nove de Julho9 Sao Paulo, hospital package, Alphaville to Paulista unit; excludes medical fees and exams; prices in force from 1 November 2025 | R$10,800 to R$13,500 | £1,572 to £1,965 |
| Laparoscopic appendectomy package, Hospital Nove de Julho9 Sao Paulo, hospital package, Alphaville to Paulista unit; excludes medical fees and exams | R$13,200 to R$16,500 | £1,921 to £2,401 |
| Laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair package, Hospital Nove de Julho9 Sao Paulo, hospital package, Alphaville to Paulista unit; excludes medical fees and exams | R$9,856 to R$12,320 | £1,434 to £1,793 |
| Knee arthroscopy package, Hospital Nove de Julho9 Sao Paulo, hospital package, Alphaville to Paulista unit; excludes medical fees and exams | R$14,720 to R$18,400 | £2,142 to £2,678 |
| Additional night in a private room (diaria apartamento adicional), Hospital Nove de Julho9 Sao Paulo, per night | R$4,000 | £582 |
Health insurance rules for foreigners
Digital nomads (VITEM XIV, Resolucao Normativa CNIg 45/2021)
Must hold health insurance valid in Brazil (seguro de saude valido no territorio nacional). Other requirements include monthly income of at least US$1,500 or bank funds of at least US$18,000; initial residence of up to one year, renewable.10
Retirees and pensioners (VITEM XIV, Resolucao Normativa CNIg 40/2019)
Must hold health insurance valid in Brazil (seguro de saude valido no territorio nacional), alongside proof of a pension of at least US$2,000 a month.11
All migrants, including residents on any visa
The Migration Law guarantees access to public health services without discrimination by nationality or migration status.12
Tips before you buy cover
- Call 192 for the SAMU public ambulance; the call is free and the service runs 24 hours a day.
- Walk-in clinic chains publish two prices: a lower one for holders of their paid membership card and a higher one for everyone else, so check which applies before booking.
- Hospital surgical packages usually exclude surgeon and anaesthetist fees, exams and extra materials, so ask for a full quote including medical fees.
- Private hospitals may ask for payment before a scheduled procedure; Hospital Nove de Julho asks for it 48 hours in advance.
- Public SUS hospitals treat foreigners, but expect crowding and long waits for a bed outside emergencies.
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Sources
- 1.Clinica geral (consultation price), dr.consulta (accessed September 2026)
- 2.Centros medicos (clinic locations), dr.consulta (accessed September 2026)
- 3.Consultas (specialty and dental prices), dr.consulta (accessed September 2026)
- 4.Ressonancia magnetica cranio, dr.consulta (accessed September 2026)
- 5.Tomografia cranio, dr.consulta (accessed September 2026)
- 6.Hemograma, dr.consulta (accessed September 2026)
- 7.Exames particulares, Lavoisier Laboratorio (accessed September 2026)
- 8.Plano maternidade, Hospital e Maternidade Saint Patrick (accessed September 2026)
- 9.Precos de procedimentos (book in force from 1 November 2025), Hospital Nove de Julho (November 2025, accessed September 2026)
- 10.Resolucao CNIg n. 45, de 9 de setembro de 2021 (digital nomad visa), Ministerio da Justica e Seguranca Publica (2021, accessed September 2026)
- 11.Resolucao Normativa CNIg n. 40, de 2 de outubro de 2019 (retirees and pensioners), Ministerio da Justica e Seguranca Publica (2019, accessed September 2026)
- 12.Lei n. 13.445, de 24 de maio de 2017 (Lei de Migracao), Presidencia da Republica (2017, accessed September 2026)
- 13.Saude do viajante: durante sua estadia, Ministerio da Saude (accessed September 2026)
- 14.Brazil travel advice: health, FCDO (September 2026)
- 15.Brazil International Travel Information, US Department of State (accessed September 2026)
Costs and rules change. Always check with the hospital, the insurer or the relevant authority before relying on a figure.