Many people associate a vacation in Brazil with long beaches, the Iguaçu Falls, the Amazon rainforest, samba and carnival, as well as the famous Sugarloaf Mountain and the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro. However, when preparing for your trip, you should also consider the possibility of falling ill or having an accident during your travels. To help you be prepared and act quickly in an emergency, we explain here how healthcare works in Brazil.
- Brazil has both a public and a private healthcare system.
- The public healthcare system is free but often overwhelmed – the private system offers better quality.
- Our expert Dr. Matthias Karrer recommends treatment in private clinics. To do so, take out international travel health insurance – as costs in private hospitals are often higher.
- Prepare well for your trip to ensure you receive medical care in case of emergency. This includes vaccinations, a travel pharmacy, and your medications with a doctor’s certificate.
- Common illnesses in Brazil are mainly mosquito-borne diseases – such as dengue, Zika, chikungunya, and also gastrointestinal infections. Therefore, mosquito protection and hygiene are important!
Healthcare in Brazil
In general, medical care in Brazil’s cities and densely populated areas is comparable to European standards. This applies to places like Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, and the northeastern coast.
In remote and rural regions such as the Pantanal or the Amazon area, healthcare is not widely available or only exists in basic form.
Two Healthcare Systems
There is the public healthcare system, Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS), and the private system. SUS automatically includes all citizens of the country, without requiring health insurance membership or contributions. However, state funding for SUS is not very strong. Public healthcare facilities are therefore modestly equipped, and medical staff are poorly paid. Long waiting times in doctors’ offices and hospitals are common.
Some Brazilians pay into private health insurance through their employer. However, this is a very small portion of the population, as the majority has a low average monthly income.
Medical Care During a Vacation in Brazil
Since SUS is open to everyone in Brazil, tourists and business travelers can also use public healthcare services free of charge. However, it is recommended to use the private healthcare sector in Brazil.
This is confirmed by our medical director Dr. Matthias Karrer, chief physician of the European Travel Insurance emergency center:
“I would definitely recommend visiting a private hospital in Rio or anywhere in Brazil, rather than a public one. Medical care in public hospitals is inadequate, waiting times are very long, hygiene measures are often poor, and bureaucracy is very difficult. Public hospitals usually require advance payment and rarely cooperate with our local partners.”
Treatment costs in private facilities can be very high. Therefore, we recommend taking out international travel health insurance so you can quickly get help when you need medical advice.
Our Travel Insurance Plans with Medical Coverage in Brazil
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Medical treatments abroad and more
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How Does a Doctor Visit Work with International Travel Health Insurance in Brazil?
If you fall ill during your vacation in Brazil and have private travel health insurance – for example, with the European Travel Insurance Travel Protection – you can also receive treatment in private clinics or practices. Additional advantages of the private healthcare sector: Some doctors speak English. And you don’t need a referral to see specialists.
If in doubt, contact our 24-hour emergency hotline at +43 1 50 444 00 to clarify which services are covered.
Almost all practices and hospitals require advance payment. Direct billing with an insurance company is not common in the Brazilian healthcare system. So make sure your credit card has sufficient funds or withdraw cash before visiting a doctor’s office or clinic. Treatment costs can range between 50 and 200 US dollars depending on the city or region. Important: Keep all receipts and documents – including for medications – so you can submit them for reimbursement.
Chief physician Dr. Matthias Karrer adds:
“Although care in private hospitals does not always meet Western standards, it definitely offers better initial medical care than public facilities. In countries like Brazil, there is usually no interpreter for foreign patients, so language barriers must often be expected unless accompanied by someone who speaks Portuguese. In cases of serious illness or accidents, we strongly recommend contacting us so one of our doctors can assess the medical situation. With travel insurance from Europäischen Reiseversicherung, you have the advantage of consulting one of our doctors who speaks Portuguese and has experience with medical care in Brazil.”
Which travel insurance suits your holiday in Brazil?
Choosing the right insurance depends on various factors such as the duration of your trip, planned activities, and destinations. Find the right travel insurance package for your travel plans – tailored to your preferences and safety needs.
Preparing for your trip to avoid mishaps
If you take medication regularly, bring a sufficient supply and, if necessary, obtain a medical certificate in English or Portuguese. This helps prevent your medication from being confiscated at customs upon entry.
A travel first-aid kit with remedies for pain, fever, diarrhea, and insect bites is also essential. Additionally, it’s advisable to digitally secure all important documents such as your insurance certificate, emergency numbers, and copies of identification. This way, everything is quickly accessible in case of emergency.
What are common illnesses in Brazil?
In Brazil, tropical diseases such as dengue, Zika, and chikungunya – transmitted by mosquitoes – are common. In certain regions, there is also a risk of malaria. Gastrointestinal infections caused by unfamiliar food or contaminated water are also frequent. Therefore, ensure good mosquito protection, proper hygiene, and clean drinking water.
Mosquito-borne diseases
There are currently no vaccines for the Zika virus and chikungunya, so effective mosquito protection is essential.
Brazil is one of the countries most affected by the Zika virus.
The virus is transmitted by the yellow fever mosquito (Aedes aegypti), which is native to tropical and subtropical regions. Human-to-human transmission is also possible through sexual contact. Zika virus RNA has been detected in blood, urine, saliva, semen, and breast milk. However, there are no documented cases of transmission via saliva, urine, or breast milk.
- Symptoms: The illness is accompanied by fever, skin rash, headache, joint and muscle pain, conjunctivitis, and vomiting. Acute symptoms appear three to twelve days after an infectious mosquito bite and last up to a week. The majority of infected individuals (up to 80%) show no symptoms.
Recommendations for travelers to affected areas
- Protect yourself with the following measures indoors and outdoors throughout the day, especially during dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active:
- Use insect repellents containing DEET or Icaridin according to label instructions.
- Apply sunscreen before mosquito repellent and allow it to absorb properly.
- Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants, especially during peak mosquito hours (and treat clothing with permethrin).
- Sleep or rest in protected or air-conditioned rooms or under a mosquito net, even during the day.
TravelDoc and Emergency App
- Enter your policy number; it will be transmitted to the emergency center along with your current address via GPS in case of emergency.
- The shortest connection to the emergency center, works even without internet access.
- TravelDoc, the 24/7 connection to Austrian medical staff for quick medical advice while traveling.
- Simple and fast reporting of a claim.
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