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Thanks for that direct answer to my question. Do you happen to know off-hand how difficult it is to get one their system, how many hoops I'd have to jump through. I don't speak Portuguese so I guess that would be the first on. Thanks for your reply. btw, any idea how Brasil is handling the covid lockdown issues and vaccination push? Can you give more details on what "issues" are occurring there due to "mass coverage" you speak of?
So you are country shopping in search of some free health care?
I am trying to find out which countries if ANY gives free medical care to tourists who are staying there? OR, barring that any Country where their socialized medicine is EASILY accessible to tourist/non-resident living there? Many are listed as offering free care but it's only to Citizens. If you know of any sites that have information like that please tell me.
If you are dealing with cancer and live in the U.S., this site may be helpful:
For emergency situations you will be covered worldwide.
However if you are not a citizen of the particular country you're in, healthcare won't cover you.
For Americans Mexico, Colombia, Costa Rica are fantastic options as the price of treatments in those countries can be quite affordable if you have US income.
Thanks for that direct answer to my question. Do you happen to know off-hand how difficult it is to get one their system, how many hoops I'd have to jump through. I don't speak Portuguese so I guess that would be the first on. Thanks for your reply. btw, any idea how Brasil is handling the covid lockdown issues and vaccination push? Can you give more details on what "issues" are occurring there due to "mass coverage" you speak of?
It's quite complicated to answer.
Brazil has both public, tax-funded health care system, and the private system.
I don't know if a non-resident foreigner should have a healthcare insurance when travelling through air to Brazil, or if it's required depending on the country; all the times when I travelled to Europe I was required before the travel to hire a health insurance valid for the period of travel. However, the law states that everyone, regardless of being a citizen or not, has the right of receiving medical assistence.
What happens, however, is that the many public hospitals are usually overcrowded, especially in the largest cities. The bureaucracy is not complicated; I guess if you present the passport it's enough, but you will have to wait for many hours for getting attended.
As for the pandemics, well... Jair Bolsonaro is infamous for making all that he could and that he couldn't to harm the vaccination and the lockdowns; however, thankfully, both the Supreme Court and the Parliament are independent and he is under criminal investigation. So, the policies of lockdown and vaccination are being ruled mostly in state level.
I can talk mostly about São Paulo. More than 90% of the population in all the state received at least one jab and the healthcare system is currently under a manageable situation. There are no lockdowns, but you are still required to wear a mask and keep distance in public places. I know, however, that the situation in Rio is currently much worse due to the widespread prevalence of the Delta variant.
Brazil has both public, tax-funded health care system, and the private system.
I don't know if a non-resident foreigner should have a healthcare insurance when travelling through air to Brazil, or if it's required depending on the country; all the times when I travelled to Europe I was required before the travel to hire a health insurance valid for the period of travel. However, the law states that everyone, regardless of being a citizen or not, has the right of receiving medical assistence.
What happens, however, is that the many public hospitals are usually overcrowded, especially in the largest cities. The bureaucracy is not complicated; I guess if you present the passport it's enough, but you will have to wait for many hours for getting attended.
As for the pandemics, well... Jair Bolsonaro is infamous for making all that he could and that he couldn't to harm the vaccination and the lockdowns; however, thankfully, both the Supreme Court and the Parliament are independent and he is under criminal investigation. So, the policies of lockdown and vaccination are being ruled mostly in state level.
I can talk mostly about São Paulo. More than 90% of the population in all the state received at least one jab and the healthcare system is currently under a manageable situation. There are no lockdowns, but you are still required to wear a mask and keep distance in public places. I know, however, that the situation in Rio is currently much worse due to the widespread prevalence of the Delta variant.
Thanks for the followup. The love of my life was from Fortaleza. Sounds like getting on the public insurance might not be that great if the medical systems is overburdened. I am looking at some complicated and expensive treatments so I don't know how that would play out. I imagine foreigners would opt for private hospitals and that means expensive. Do I read your reply correctly that all I might have to due is prsent a passport at a public hospital for treatment? Which cities are more likely to offer quality treatment and not be so crowded?
Thanks for the followup. The love of my life was from Fortaleza. Sounds like getting on the public insurance might not be that great if the medical systems is overburdened. I am looking at some complicated and expensive treatments so I don't know how that would play out. I imagine foreigners would opt for private hospitals and that means expensive. Do I read your reply correctly that all I might have to due is prsent a passport at a public hospital for treatment? Which cities are more likely to offer quality treatment and not be so crowded?
I cannot tell you for sure the issue about the passport. I have to admit that I had never met a foreigner which needed medical assistence, but at least there are decisions in favour of this. I'm not an expert in this area. Fact: private hospitals in Brazil are in general good, and most of people who can afford a health insurance opt to pay for this.
What I can tell you is that a good balance between quality and infrastructure in public healthcare is in general in the mid-size cities of the southernmost states.
Originally Posted by Greysholic
Why would any country's medical personnel offer free healthcare to non-citizens?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Aussiehoff
Exactly. This thread is a perfect reason why they don't for non-emergency scenarios.
In Canada permanent residents are eligible for free health care. Canadian citizens who are residents of foreign countries are not. If a Canadian citizen returns to Canada to live, they must prove residency in a province for three months before being eligible for free provincial health care.
That always made sense to me. Permanent residents contribute tax dollars to the system. Canadians living abroad do not.
In Canada permanent residents are eligible for free health care. Canadian citizens who are residents of foreign countries are not. If a Canadian citizen returns to Canada to live, they must prove residency in a province for three months before being eligible for free provincial health care.
That always made sense to me. Permanent residents contribute tax dollars to the system. Canadians living abroad do not.
I think in every country foreign residents are eligible for healthcare as well, but you need to pay the premium (which is the case here) or contribute to the healthcare system however the country's law stipulates (pay taxes or whatever). The OP however seems to be asking if he could just visit another country, walk in a hospital, and get treated for free.
I guess Medecins sans frontieres do that, but that's about it.
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