Check out the best health plans available on the market now!
Discover the best health plans on the market and get your main questions answered on the subject!
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Taking out a health plan brings many advantages and benefits, such as saving time and money.
Apart from that, it also brings a better quality of life and helps us take better care of our health.
Read the text and clear up your main doubts about health insurance. Based on the information, you will be better able to choose the best alternative!
To accompany!
What is the most popular health plan?
In Brazil, some companies lead the list when it comes to “best health plans”.
They stand out for offering quality service, exclusive benefits and different types of coverage.
Therefore, they end up having plans that meet different consumer profiles, and as such, their health plans are always among the most sought after by Brazilians.
According to PSSP, a large health insurance marketing company, among the most sought after operators we find, for example:
- Amyl;
- Unimed;
- Bradesco Health;
- South America;
- Hapvida.
What is the best health plan in São Paulo?
As it is a metropolis, where many companies concentrate their clinics, hospitals and laboratories, residents of São Paulo have access to a diversification and more options for this service.
Some plans tend to stand out and are among the favorites of São Paulo residents, namely:
- Intermédica Empresarial – Smart 200;
- Amil Company – S450;
- Care Plus Business;
- Prevent Senior – 1000;
- Safe Harbor – Crystal;
- Omint – Premium;
- Amil – One;
- SulAmérica Health – Exactly;
- Bradesco Health – Top National;
- Notredame Intermédica – Advanced 600.
As we can see, many of these plans are corporate, offered in partnerships for companies and their employees.
People in big cities, like São Paulo, end up having more advantages, as they usually have access to more alternatives, more services and greater coverage.
What are the best health plans available?
Check out a table below with the names of some of the best health plans in Brazil and their approximate prices.
It is worth noting that these plans were selected based on a satisfaction survey carried out by ANS itself, therefore, they are the best according to the agency.
| Operators | Prices starting from: |
|---|---|
| South America | 160,00 |
| NotreDame Intermédica | 55,44 |
| Bradesco Health | 145,00 |
| Hapvida | 139,94 |
| Amil Health | 56,58 |
| Unimed | 112,61 |
| Saint Christopher Health | 113,00 |
What coverage does the health plan offer?
In short, the health plan serves to cover health-related expenses such as consultations, exams and hospitalizations.
In this service, the operator provides a series of services, for a monthly fee that may vary depending on the company, plan and coverage.
According to the rules of ANS (National Supplementary Health Agency), health plan operators must make available everything that is pre-established by them in the List of Procedures and Events in Health to offer their services.
In the list we find the mandatory minimum coverage valid for health plans sold from the first month of 1999.
It guarantees the right to assistance for beneficiaries through essential procedures for the diagnosis, treatment and monitoring of diseases and health events.
All operators must market the same services included in this list, however, they may also include additional services.
It is worth noting that every two years there is an update to the list, in which it is possible to include new technologies, coverage and health, as well as the definition of new standards.
See below the main coverages offered in a health plan:
- Outpatient coverage;
- Hospital coverage;
- Reference plan;
- Hospital coverage with obstetrics;
- Coverage for orthoses and prostheses.
What are the costs involved with a health plan?
The health plan is paid monthly, as a result of which the customer has access to the health services offered by the operator.
In addition to the mandatory coverage, the company may offer additional coverage and services, however, they may have an additional cost.
Therefore, a factor that influences the costs involving the best health plans is the age.
The older the beneficiary, the more expensive the monthly fee will be. This is because, after a certain age, healthcare costs end up increasing.
How much and what you will pay for a health plan will depend on the operator and the plans it offers.
You can usually choose customized plans that best suit your needs.
However, the greater the services, coverage and age, the more expensive the plan will be.
To better understand the cost of a health plan, the ideal is to get a personalized quote.
This way, you will know exactly how much you will pay and whether it is viable within your monthly budget.
Do health plans cover specific medical procedures?
It depends on the procedures. If it is not in the services listed by ANS, the operator is not obliged to cover it.
However, there are plans that cover specific procedures in addition to those listed in the ANS list.
Therefore, it is very important to know what the plan covers or does not cover before signing up. There are some interventions that many people do not know that a health plan covers, such as:
- Bariatric surgery;
- Hemodialysis;
- Refractive surgery;
- Chemotherapy and radiotherapy;
- Physiotherapy;
- Treatment for mental disorders.
Among the services that a health plan does not cover, we can mention, for example, caregivers and companions for the elderly.
We would like to emphasize once again the importance of knowing everything that the plan covers or does not cover before signing up.
If you are purchasing the plan for the treatment of a specific condition, or are interested in a procedure that may be necessary in the future, be sure to ask if the plan covers it and what the waiting period is.
How does health insurance reimbursement work?
Reimbursement occurs when the beneficiary needs to cover some expenses out of his/her own pocket that are not covered by the health plan, with some reservations.
There are certain situations where it is possible to request reimbursement, such as in emergency cases, where there was a risk to life and the beneficiary had to be treated at a nearby health network.
Another example in which it is possible to request reimbursement is when the beneficiary has a preference for another specialist who is not part of the accredited network.
This refund is not mandatory, but some operators offer it to their customers, such as Porto Seguro.
According to Law 9656/98, every health plan user has the right to reimbursement of medical and hospital expenses, but there are no fixed amounts or percentages established for reimbursement.
In this case, the value is defined according to what the insurance pays for professionals in the accredited network.
If the private procedure costs more than what the plan offers, you may end up losing out.
It is very important to read the company's entire refund policy before signing the contract, so that you are aware of your rights.
How do I choose the best health plan for my needs?
In the market, there is an interesting demand for best health plans. A single operator offers plans with different services, coverage, benefits and values.
It is possible to hire one that best meets your needs.
Therefore, to choose the best alternative, you need to put your main needs on paper.
For example, if you travel or move frequently, a regional plan is not the best alternative.
The ideal is to choose a health plan with coverage throughout the national territory.
If you do not have any serious health conditions and have decided to take out a plan just as a precaution and to save money, a simple plan may meet your needs.
In the family plan, it may be more difficult to decide on a more personalized plan, as it must consider individuals with different needs.
That is why it is important to know the plan of interest and the needs of each potential participant to decide on the best alternative.
However, it is important that you use the plan. The number of people with health insurance but not using it is large.
How do I transfer my health plan?
Portability gives the beneficiary the right to change their current health plan for a plan that they believe will be more beneficial.
This process can be carried out by clients of individual, family, collective and even corporate plans.
It is permitted for employees trained after 1/1/1999, as well as for plans agreed upon under Law No. 9,656/98.
To carry out the portability, the current contract cannot be cancelled, that is, it must be active.
Another rule regarding this service is that the new plan must have the same price range as the old plan, and payment must be up to date.
It is also worth noting that there is a grace period involving portability. If you are requesting this feature for the first time, you must have had your current plan for at least 2 years.
There are some cases where the term is changed to three years, for example, when the beneficiary has a pre-existing illness.
If you meet all the requirements, you must choose the new health plan that is compatible with your current plan and generate a report that proves compatibility on the ANS website.
Gather the documentation required by the new operator and make the request portability.
There is no waiting period for portability, which is a great advantage. However, there may be exceptions, especially for services that the old plan did not cover.
To know all the rules involving this subject, read the Regulatory Standard 438.
Does the health plan cover dental and psychological treatments?
Since August 2022, health plans are required to cover unlimited psychology sessions.
However, they are not required to cover dentists, but there are operators that offer this coverage in their plans and also dental exams.
An example of an operator that offers a health plan with dental assistance is Amil.
Best health plans available on the market – Conclusion
The best health plan is the one that meets your needs well, but above all, it needs to be functional and offer quality services.
You need to take the time to compare and choose the best option for you. There are plans that are already well-known on the market and, in fact, offer excellent services.
However, we also find more affordable health plans, which are not famous, but serve different beneficiary profiles very well, including in terms of price.
So take the time to search, compare and choose between the best health plans on the market.
