International health insurance in Brazil
Health insurance for expats & foreigners
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Why get private health insurance in Brazil?
The public health system (Sistema Único de Saúde, or SUS) is free to everyone on Brazilian soil (citizens, residents, and tourists alike) with no contribution test and no waiting period.
But SUS runs only in Portuguese, and waits can stretch from weeks to years. That's why most expats add private cover: for speed, English-speaking doctors, and access to top private hospitals. Paying out of pocket isn't cheap, either: a private GP visit costs about R$ 350 (€60), and a hospital day can run R$ 6,250 (€1,065) or more.
Plus, the digital nomad and retirement visas both require private insurance.
How does the healthcare system work in Brazil?
The public system: SUS
Brazil's public system, SUS, is free at the point of use for anyone physically in the country. No income, contribution, or nationality test. To get a SUS card, you'll need your residency ID (the National Migratory Registry Card) and a Brazilian tax number (Cadastro de Pessoas Físicas or CPF).
Brazilian pharmacies & medication
Brazil's cities are full of pharmacies: Chains like Droga Raia, Drogasil, Pacheco, and Pague Menos are everywhere, with 24-hour branches in every state capital. They operate in Portuguese, antibiotics need a prescription, and generics cost a good deal less. There's also a government scheme (Farmácia Popular) that subsidizes medicines for anyone with a tax number.
Emergency services in Brazil
Dial 192 for the public ambulance service (SAMU), or 193 for fire and 190 for police. Response times average around 14 min in cities and are slower in rural areas; dispatchers speak only Portuguese. Public ERs will (and must) triage and stabilize anyone who comes in.
What expats need health insurance?
Digital nomads
On the digital nomad visa (VITEM XIV), your policy must cover all 26 states plus the Federal District.
Retirees
To obtain a retirement visa, you'll need a pension of USD 2,000 per month plus health insurance.
Families
Local plans have a 300-day maternity waiting period, so it pays to sort cover early.
Gap year & job seekers
SUS is free, but Portuguese-only service and long waits make it impractical when you need it most.
Students
It's common for universities to require student visa holders (VITEM IV) to have private coverage.
Visa applicants
The requirements vary by visa, but Feather's plans cover all of them.
Get global health insurance that works in Brazil
Plans from €56/month. Sign up online in minutes.
How much is health insurance in Brazil?
Without cover, the bills add up fast. A private GP visit in São Paulo costs R$ 350+ (€60), a specialist visit R$ 540+ (€92), and a private hospital stay R$ 6,250+ (€1,065) per day. A private birth costs around R$ 27,500 (€4,675).
Public healthcare in Brazil
SUS is free at the point of use for everyone in Brazil. No contribution, income test, or waiting period. Just register at a local health center with your tax number.
Private medical insurance
Regulated domestic plans cost R$ 350+ (€60) a month for basic outpatient cover, up to R$ 2,350+ (€400) a month for premium cover. Feather's international plans start at €56/month for Essential and €84/month for Plus.
Visa & health insurance requirements for Brazil
Long-stay Brazilian visas require proof of private health insurance. Digital nomad policies must cover all 26 states plus the Federal District, and student visas often need €30,000+ in cover with repatriation.
Accepted for all major Brazilian visas
Both Feather plans cover all 26 states plus the Federal District and meet the thresholds for the digital nomad (VITEM XIV), retirement, student (VITEM IV), and work (VITEM V) visas.
Documents ready when you sign up
Your proof of cover, with English certificates, lands in your account the moment you sign up. Accepted by Brazilian consulates.
How does Feather's international health insurance work?
Choose your plan
Compare Essential and Plus, pick your deductible, and sign up in under 5 minutes. No paperwork, no medical exams.
Get your documents instantly
Your confirmation and visa-ready proof-of-coverage documents land in your account straight away.
Visit any doctor
See any licensed doctor, specialist, or hospital. No referrals, no network restrictions, no pre-approval.
Upload your bill in the app
Already paid? Open the Feather app, snap a photo of your invoice, and submit your claim in under a minute.
Get reimbursed to your account
We review your claim and reimburse you directly to your bank account. Most claims are processed within two weeks.
Cancel anytime after year one
There's a one-year minimum term. After that, cancel whenever you want. No penalties.
Join 200,000+ expats covered with Feather
Get global medical coverage in under 5 minutes.
Why choose Feather?
200,000+ happy customers
Experience insurance crafted by expats, for expats.
100,000+ claims processed
Paid out in three weeks on average.
4.8 Star rating
On over 2,500 reviews.
English-speaking support
Our team speaks your language.
All digital
Sign up, file claims, and manage your policy in our app.
Privacy first
Your data is stored securely in Europe.
Don't take our word for it
Dajana was amazing
“She answered all our questions and provided clear and detailed responses to ensure we select the proper coverage. The whole experience was perfect! I am confident I made the right choice going with Feather!”
Mascia
I trust them. No BS.
“They don't sugar coat the insurances, if they don't provide the best option, they would help you understand what's the best one.”
Michal
Super helpful
“The representative answered my questions clearly and helped me make sure I was aware of my options! This was the perfect fit for my situation as an expat looking for a job in Spain and needing temporary coverage.”
Erin
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Takes 2 minutes. From €56 per month. 4.8/5 rated on over 2,500 reviews.
