Travel insurance for Brazil

Medical treatment and hospitalisation overseas can be costly, so taking out a travel insurance policy with medical cover is a good idea. Check your policy covers you for emergency medical evacuation and repatriation in the event of a severe or fatal incident.

If you have a medical emergency, you may be able to claim back the costs of emergency transport, medical treatment and hospital stays. Luckily, private hospitals in major cities in Brazil have adequate healthcare, although getting medical care is contingent on being able to pay or prove you’re insured. Public hospitals may treat you for free, but any medical professionals will typically not speak English.

Many roads in Brazil are poorly maintained and frequented by trucks, and motorists may disregard traffic lights in large cities.¹ If your rental car is damaged or stolen your insurer may cover the cost if you owe the rental company an excess. However, rental vehicle excess cover may be included automatically in a comprehensive policy or it may need to be purchased separately as an optional extra.

Sometimes, unforeseen circumstances lead to travel delays or trip cancellations. Luckily, a suitable policy may help cover you for costs you incur while getting your trip back on track. This is an important feature to look for in your travel insurance policy’s PDS.

Being prepared for theft by taking out the best travel insurance for your adventure could potentially save you hundreds of dollars. If your luggage, valuables, credit cards or even cash is stolen or lost, you may be able to recoup their value up to varying limits, depending on your policy and your claim limits.

Of course, like any product, travel insurance can’t protect you against everything that goes wrong. It’s important you thoroughly read and understand the PDS of any policy you’re considering for purchase, as limits, inclusions and exclusions can differ between insurers and types of cover.

Here are a few common exclusions you might see in your travel insurance policy for Brazil:

• Pre-existing medical conditions. Although some insurers may offer cover for pre-existing conditions through optional extras, you shouldn’t assume you’re covered for these as standard. Make sure you declare any conditions when taking out a policy.
• Illegal activities. If you act illegally, recklessly or dangerously, your insurer may reject any claims resulting from that incident.
• Travelling against government advice. If your destination is issued with a travel warning from Smartraveller before you depart and you still travel there, your insurer may not cover your trip. It’s best to check with your insurer on how they handle these scenarios before purchasing your policy.
• Intoxication. Your insurer may reject your claim if you were under the influence of drugs or alcohol when the incident occurred.
• Unattended luggage. If your luggage was stolen while left unattended in public, your insurer may not cover your claim for these items.
• Extreme sports. Your policy may not automatically cover participation in extreme or other adventure sports. However, some insurers offer cover for these activities as optional extras.
• Failure to get vaccinated. If you didn’t get the proper vaccines before leaving Australia and fall sick as a result, your insurer may not cover any related claims.

Brazil can be a great place to visit, but it has a high crime rate and can be unsafe for tourists who don’t take the proper precautions. For instance, it’s recommended you don’t travel alone at night.¹ You should also avoid all protests or rallies, as they can turn violent and your insurance company may not cover any injuries or losses caused by civil unrest.

Smartraveller’s travel advice lists some great ways you can stay out of trouble, including paying close attention to your surroundings at all times, being wary of how you move from place to place (e.g. avoid unlicensed taxis) and being careful with your belongings.¹

When travelling to Brazil, planning your itinerary before departing is important. For example, the Carnaval Festival in Rio de Janeiro is held in either February or March, so plan your travels around this time if this is something you want to see. If you’re wondering what other things to do in Brazil, there is also the Amazon rainforest, and other iconic destinations such as Sao Paulo, Salvador, Ipanema beach and Iguazu Falls, which is on the border of Brazil and Argentina.

From April 10 2024, you will need a visa to enter Brazil and you’ll need to arrange it before you leave on your trip, as you can’t get one once you’ve arrived in the country.¹ Australians will need to apply for an online electronic visa (eVisa) to be able to enter Brazil.

According to Smartraveller, there are outbreaks of disease in Brazil.¹ These diseases include:

• Yellow fever
• Zika virus
• Malaria
• Measles.

Other diseases prevalent in Brazil include HIV/AIDS, cholera, typhoid, hepatitis, rabies and dengue fever.

Vaccinations are available for several of these diseases, and Smartraveller recommends you get vaccinated before your trip to Brazil. You may need to provide a yellow fever vaccination certificate upon entry into the country.