Visitor Insurance for Visitors from Brazil to the USA (2026)

Visitors from Brazil should arrive in the USA with medical coverage that pays US providers, because SUS does not cover care abroad and Brazilian health plans are generally limited to Brazil. A seguro viagem bought in Brazil can work for a short trip, but for parents, long stays, or a big family trip to Orlando, compare it with a US visitor medical plan with a high policy maximum. You can compare visitor insurance plans on Ombrela for each traveler's age and dates.

Do Brazilians need a visa to visit the US?

Yes. Brazil is not a Visa Waiver Program country, so Brazilians cannot use ESTA and need a B1/B2 visitor visa. The Department of Homeland Security's current list of 42 program countries does not include Brazil, and there has been no change to that status.

Since September 2, 2025 most applicants must interview in person, including children under 14 and adults over 79 who were previously exempt, with a limited waiver for some renewals within 12 months of expiry. The State Department also asks applicants to apply in their country of nationality or residence, so grandparents should plan their appointment in Brazil well ahead of the trip. At arrival, the CBP officer sets the length of stay, commonly up to six months for visitors.

The US does not legally require visitors to carry health insurance, unlike Schengen countries in Europe, which is one reason many Brazilians associate seguro viagem with Europe rather than the US. It is still strongly advisable.

Does SUS or my Brazilian health plan cover care in the US?

SUS provides care in Brazil. Brazil's Ministry of Foreign Affairs states that it cannot take responsibility for medical expenses of Brazilians abroad, that consulates are not authorized to pay hospital bills, and it recommends travel health insurance for any trip abroad.

Private health plans regulated by ANS follow Law 9.656/1998, whose required coverage applies to procedures performed in Brazil. In 2024 the Superior Court of Justice (STJ) ruled that a health plan was not obliged to pay for an exam done abroad when the contract did not provide for it. Some plans do include international coverage by contract; if your parents have one, request the written terms and check the limit, what counts as an emergency, and how claims are paid.

Seguro viagem or a US visitor medical plan: what is the difference?

Brazilian travel insurance is regulated by SUSEP and is usually sold per trip, with a medical and hospital expense limit (despesas médicas e hospitalares) stated in dollars or euros. Policies vary widely. Before relying on one for the US, check four things.

• The medical limit. A limit that looks generous for Portugal may be thin against US hospital prices.
• Pre-existing conditions. Look for the clause on chronic conditions and whether any sudden worsening is covered, and up to what amount.
• Age and trip length. Many policies add surcharges or reduce benefits at older ages, and some cap the number of days per trip.
• Credit card insurance. Coverage bundled with premium Brazilian cards usually depends on buying the airfare with that card and has its own day limits and eligible traveler rules.

A US visitor medical plan is built specifically for non US citizens visiting the United States. Comprehensive versions pay usual and customary charges after the deductible and coinsurance, up to a policy maximum you choose, and many offer acute onset coverage for pre-existing conditions within age limits and sublimits. Read visitor insurance with pre-existing conditions to see how those rules work.

Planning a multigenerational trip to Orlando?

Orlando is the classic Brazilian family trip. Visit Orlando reports that Brazil sent 736,300 visitors in 2025, up 5.6%, making it the destination's third largest international market after Canada and the United Kingdom. LATAM and Azul fly nonstop from São Paulo to Orlando, and Azul also flies from Campinas.

Theme park days mean long hours on foot, Florida heat and humidity, and grandparents keeping pace with grandchildren. Plan rest breaks, keep water close, and know where the park's first aid stations are. Insure every traveler, not only the grandparents: a child's broken arm is as expensive as an adult's. Our guide to covering a family on a single plan explains how family options work.

Where do Brazilians live in the US, and what does care cost there?

According to the Migration Policy Institute, greater Boston, New York, and Miami were the largest destinations for Brazilian immigrants in 2020 to 2024, together home to 34% of them, with Orlando fourth. So many Brazilian parents visit Massachusetts, New York and New Jersey, and South Florida as well as Orlando.

KFF data from the American Hospital Association survey put hospital expenses per adjusted inpatient day in 2024 at about $4,200 in New York, $3,980 in Massachusetts, $3,680 in New Jersey, and $3,060 in Florida. Those are hospital costs, not the price a visitor without insurance is billed, which is set separately by each hospital. Size the policy maximum with our medical cost estimator.

How much coverage should Brazilian visitors buy?

For a younger adult without health conditions on a two week trip, a moderate policy maximum may be enough. For parents in their sixties and seventies, for stays of several months with family near Boston or in New Jersey, or for anyone with a chronic condition, a higher maximum and clear acute onset terms matter more than a low premium. Premiums depend mainly on age, trip length, policy maximum, and deductible. Keep the ID card and the insurer's assistance number handy, and use urgent care rather than the emergency room for minor problems.

How to get covered

Enter each traveler's age, the dates, and the main state of stay, then compare comprehensive plans with the same maximum and deductible. If you already hold a seguro viagem, put its terms next to the quotes. Get visitor insurance quotes on Ombrela.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does SUS cover Brazilians who get sick in the United States?

No. SUS provides care in Brazil, and Brazil's Ministry of Foreign Affairs says consulates are not authorized to pay hospital bills of Brazilians abroad. Private plans regulated by ANS are required to cover care in Brazil, and only cover care abroad if the contract says so. Visitors should carry travel medical insurance that pays US providers.

Is seguro viagem enough for a trip to the USA?

It can be for a short trip if the medical limit is high and the terms fit the traveler's age and health. Many policies have limits, age surcharges, or pre-existing condition clauses that suit Europe better than US hospital prices. For parents, long stays, or chronic conditions, compare it with a comprehensive US visitor medical plan before you decide.

Can Brazilians use ESTA to visit the US?

No. Brazil is not in the Visa Waiver Program, so Brazilians need a B1/B2 visitor visa and cannot travel on ESTA. Most applicants, including those over 79, now need an in person interview. The US does not require visitor health insurance for the visa, but buying it is strongly advisable given US medical costs.

Does the credit card travel insurance from my Brazilian card cover the US?

Many premium Brazilian cards include travel insurance, but it usually requires the airfare to be bought with that card and applies only to eligible travelers and trips up to a set number of days. Check the medical limit and the rules on pre-existing conditions and age. For long visits it often falls short, so compare it with a dedicated plan.

Whether it is a week of theme parks or three months with family in Boston, compare visitor insurance for travelers from Brazil on Ombrela and choose coverage that fits every traveler in the group.