Brazil healthcare market: Insurance plans vs. discount cards

The Brazilian healthcare market distinguishes between regulated health insurance plans and health discount cards. Health insurance plans are regulated by the National Supplementary Health Agency (ANS) under Law No. 9.656/1998. These plans involve the operator assuming the financial risk of illness and guaranteeing a minimum mandatory coverage list. In contrast, health discount cards, or benefit clubs, do not assume financial risk; they merely negotiate lower prices for consultations, exams, or medications, which the consumer pays for directly.

At the 24th Brazilian Congress of Insurance Brokers in Rio de Janeiro, industry leaders discussed the increasing complexity of selling these products. Representatives from Bradesco Saúde, FenaSaúde, and SulAmérica emphasized that brokers must increase their technical expertise to navigate diverse networks and services. Bradesco Saúde's director-general, Flávio Bitter, noted that the broker remains the essential human link in identifying the correct coverage for a client's specific profile.