With a population of just under 208 million in 2015, Brazil ranks 5th in the world by population and 6th by total area. The official language of Brazil is Portuguese. The currency is the real.
Brazil ranks 125th in world health ranking per WHO. In 2014, the total expenditure on health per person was $1,318, which is 8.3% of the GDP. Brazilian males have a life expectancy at birth of 71 years, and females can expect to live 79 years. There are 1.76 physicians per 1,000 people in Brazil as compared with 2.56 physicians per 1,000 people in the United States.
Brazil has more than 6,000 hospitals, both public and private. The public hospitals in some regions of the country do not have enough beds, medication, or doctors. The lack of general practitioners, specialists, and hospitals lead to long wait times for both regular checkups and surgeries.
Private hospitals are concentrated in large cities, especially Sao Paulo, and often require the bill to be paid in advance, by the patient or insurance before receiving treatment or leaving the hospital.
The Brazilian health care system (SUS) offers free public health care, including doctor’s fees, labs, hospitalization, surgery, and prescription drugs, to all legal residents, but lack of resources in the public facilities are often a problem.
Many people have private health insurance, often through their employer, through a large number of companies in order to shorten the wait times and improve the quality of care. The cost of these private policies varies based on covered services and region. Also, the terms vary: some require the patient to pay and then seek reimbursement, others deal directly with the provider. Life insurance is often packaged with health insurance by some of these companies.
In Brazil there are two choices: health plan and health insurance. A health plan is more expensive, with fewer choices, and only covers particular region, but 100% of costs are covered. Health insurance is less expensive, with more choices of doctors, and covers all of Brazil, but it does not cover 100% of costs.
Travel, or international, health insurance provides comprehensive medical coverage when traveling outside of one’s home country. Travel health insurance is different from travel insurance, as the latter may provide only emergency coverage but not full medical coverage.
Travelers should check with their health insurance provider, as they may already have an option of international health coverage. If they do not, they can purchase travel health insurance from their home country or the destination country.
This post was last modified on July 24, 2023 4:37 am
Spider veins are a common cosmetic concern for many people, causing small, visible veins to appear just beneath the surface… Read More
Digital Signage for Hospitals: Streamlining Communication in Hospitals SEO description: The use of digital signage for hospitals transforms the way… Read More
Oxygen is the most critical element for human survival, and in scenarios where oxygen levels are compromised, having access to… Read More
In the world of competitive sports and bodybuilding, serious athletes are always on the lookout for reliable, high-quality supplements to… Read More
Car accidents can change lives, causing long-term injuries that affect physical health, finances, and emotional well-being. Recognizing these effects is… Read More
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a serious condition that can result from various forms of negligence, such as car accidents,… Read More
It sucks to be on a tight budget. You have to pick and choose what you buy at the grocery… Read More
We’ve all laid in bed tossing and turning, not being able to sleep. But what if this is happening to… Read More
Addiction can profoundly impact every aspect of an individual’s life, from their physical health to their relationships, career, and spiritual… Read More
The mental health landscape for teenagers is increasingly concerning. Adolescence is a period fraught with changes—physically, emotionally, and socially—that can… Read More