Healthcare Growth in Brazil
What is and how does Supplementary Health work in Brazil
The Supplementary Healthcare System complements the services provided by Brazil’s Unified Health System (SUS), enabling individuals and companies to access private healthcare through plans contracted directly with payors. This market comprises a broad value chain that includes hospitals, clinics, laboratories, physicians, payors, and specialized companies responsible for distributing and managing these products. Together, these players ensure that beneficiaries have access to the necessary networks and services, across different coverage levels and conditions.
Payors, which are responsible for offering and managing health plans, operate under different models, including medical and dental cooperatives, self-managed plans linked to large employers, group medicine or dentistry companies, and philanthropic institutions. Plan distribution is carried out by brokers, specialized consulting firms, and also by Benefits Administrators, such as Qualicorp, which structure eligible groups, manage enrollment processes, and enable consumers to access the solutions offered by payors.
The sector is regulated by the National Supplementary Health Agency (ANS), which establishes the rules governing market operations, including coverage requirements, price adjustments, beneficiaries’ rights, and the structure of each type of plan. Individual plans, for instance, have price adjustments controlled by ANS and tend to have more limited availability. Collective plans, corporate or affinity-based, follow specific rules and offer greater flexibility, as their conditions are negotiated directly between payors and contracting entities.
Within the collective segment, the affinity model plays a particularly important role. It allows professionals associated with councils, unions, and professional associations to contract healthcare plans under conditions similar to those offered to large corporate groups. In this context, Benefits Administrators are key players, as they organize eligible entities, manage operational processes, and ensure full compliance with ANS regulatory requirements. This model has become an important alternative for individuals who do not have access to an employer-sponsored plan, supporting the expansion of supplementary healthcare across the country.
The nationwide distribution network plays a critical role in guiding consumers, explaining product differences, supporting coverage comparisons, and facilitating contracting. This ecosystem enhances user experience, strengthens competition, and broadens the reach of payors. Within this environment, Benefits Administrators such as Qualicorp contribute by structuring eligible affinity groups and organizing the contracting process, ensuring a simpler, more transparent, and more tailored experience for different customer profiles.
Thus, Brazil’s Supplementary Healthcare System operates as an integrated structure, in which each participant plays a specific role in ensuring that beneficiaries have access to quality medical and hospital services. Regulated by ANS and composed of multiple contracting and distribution models, the system enables millions of people to complement SUS services and find private healthcare options aligned with their life stage, professional activity, and health needs.
Qualicorp operates within this environment as one of the leading facilitators of access to affinity-based collective plans and solutions designed for small and medium-sized companies. The company structures eligible groups, supports professional entities, and manages the contracting journey, helping expand access to supplementary healthcare in compliance with ANS regulations.
For the latest information on the sector, including beneficiary statistics, financial data from payors, and regulatory updates, please visit the ANS portal by clicking here.¹
Last update: March 23, 2026
¹Portuguese only