All you need to know when getting travel insurance for Brazil
Brazil is one of the most diverse countries in the world, but there are certain things you need to take care of before you hop on the plane. Travel insurance is at the top of this list.
I am originally from Rio de Janeiro but I have lived abroad for several years now, which means I have a lot of experience with travel insurance in Brazil – both as a local and for foreigners.
I am putting together this guide to help clear out all your questions about travel insurance and healthcare in Brazil from a traveler’s point of view. I will share my personal experience and keep my recommendations as practical as possible!
Don’t have time to read it all?
We always use SafetyWing for international travel insurance when traveling abroad.
Do you need travel insurance when visiting Brazil?
Officially, Brazil does not require you to have travel insurance for visiting the country.
However, having lived in Brazil for most of my life with extensive experience with the healthcare system, I highly recommend you get travel insurance for your trip to Brazil.
We do have access to great doctors and facilities in Brazil, but they come at a cost. The best way to make sure you are protected is to get travel insurance for your trip.
Even as a native Brazilian, I always get travel insurance before I travel home for vacation.
What to have in mind when buying travel insurance for Brazil
The most important thing you need to consider when buying travel insurance for Brazil is the coverage. Evaluate carefully the type of coverage you need based on the activities you have planned during your trip.
Here are some of the features you might want to consider:
- Medical insurance: protection in case you need any medical assistance or treatment during your trip
- Lost luggage: coverage in case your luggage gets lost on the way
- Travel delay: compensation for meal and accommodation in case your trip is highly delayed
- Theft of electronics: some travel insurance will also offer reimbursement in case your electronics get stolen during your trip! This is not offered by all insurance companies.
When choosing the right travel insurance for your trip to Brazil, it’s important that you identify which features are important for you.
Personally, I always make sure the first three are covered whenever I get travel insurance for me and Edo.
Activities that deserve extra attention
One thing that is important to consider is that most travel insurance policies do not cover adventure sports. Since we really like doing outdoor activities when we travel, this is something that we pay careful attention to before buying any travel insurance.
If you will be traveling to Brazil, you might want your travel insurance to cover things like:
- Surfing
- Paragliding
- Hiking/climbing
Our personal experience with international travel insurance
Now that you know all the things you need to consider, it’s time to share our personal experience.
We really like the Nomad Insurance offered by SafetyWing. They cover all the things I mentioned above, and they have an add-on option for adventure sports coverage as well.
I also like that you can handle everything online, which makes things super smooth.
Healthcare in Brazil – how it works
Healthcare in Brazil is divided between the public and private systems. The public system (SUS) is funded by taxes paid by all residents, and the private system is an additional service that is either paid on the go or through an additional insurance plan.
Around 25% of people who live in Brazil pay for the additional insurance plan. It is a luxury that as soon as you can afford it, you get it, because it gives you access to more reliable healthcare services.
The availability of good quality healthcare facilities and doctors is greater in larger cities like Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo. If you will be traveling to really remote locations, you will most likely rely on public facilities only.
Public healthcare is provided on SUS for all residents and foreigners who are in Brazilian territory, including undocumented people. However, I highly recommend getting additional travel insurance for your trip to Brazil.
What to do if you have an accident in Brazil during your trip?
If you have any sort of accident during your trip to Brazil and you have purchased travel medical insurance, the first step is to contact your insurance company.
Each company has its own procedures – some of them require you to pay for everything and get the reimbursement later on, while other companies will cover everything on the spot.
Once you contact the insurance company, they will instruct you on how to proceed.
Important: Make sure you save all the invoices and medical reports to serve as proof if you need to file an insurance claim.
FAQ – Popular questions about travel insurance for Brazil
What is the best travel insurance for Brazil?
The best travel insurance for your trip to Brazil will be the one that covers all activities you plan on doing during your trip.
We personally like the Nomad Insurance offered by SafetyWing. Their coverage is valid in over 175 countries and it is very easy to set up. You can check it out here.
Does Brazil have free healthcare for foreigners?
Yes, Brazil has a universal healthcare system that is available for everyone – residents and foreigners.
However, as someone who was born and raised in Brazil, I highly recommend getting additional travel medical insurance for your trip.
Unfortunately, the quality of the service varies a lot from place to place. In some cities, SUS is very good but this is not the case everywhere.
How much health insurance do I need?
The extent of your health insurance coverage will depend on your personal needs and the risks during your trip. For example, if you intend on doing any adventure sport, you will most likely need additional insurance to make sure you are covered for those as well.
The cost of travel insurance for your trip to Brazil is also dependent on your age.
You can calculate the travel insurance price with SafetyWing here.
Do all foreigners need to get international travel insurance before going to Brazil?
Travel insurance is not mandatory for entering Brazil, but I highly recommend it for every international traveler who intends to visit the country.
Organizing your trip
To help you plan your trip to Brazil, we have put together our favorite planning resources:
- Flights: Get affordable flights to Brazil on Skyscanner.com.
- Travel insurance: Make sure you are protected during your trip. We use SafetyWing whenever we are traveling abroad.
- Renting a car: We always use Discover Cars to get the best car deals.
- Accommodation: Find the best hotels and apartments on Booking.com.
- Activities: Get fun ideas of what to do and buy unique activities with Get Your Guide.
- SIM Card: Stay connected during your trip with Airalo.
- Personalized itinerary: We can create a travel plan tailored to your wishes!
- Rio de Janeiro map: All of our favorite places on one map.
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. This means that we get a small commission from any purchase you make, at no additional cost to you!
