Brazil Olympics Health Insurance

The Summer Olympics 2016, officially named the Games of the XXXI Olympiad, will be the first ever games to be held in South America. Following three previous attempts to host the Olympic Games, Brazil won the bid to host the Summer Olympics of 2016, creating the motto ‘live your passion’. The sporting venues will be held in Rio de Janeiro, the former capital city, which will be divided into four Olympic zones - Barra, Copacabana, Deodoro, and Maracana.

Due to the current social and infrastructural issues in Rio de Janeiro, security and development will be issues of priority in the lead up to the Olympic Games 2016. Spectators will be confined to the city of Rio de Janeiro, a city which has experienced a long history of crime, political instability, and poor access to sanitation and power supply; factors which can pose a major threat to the security and facilitation of the Olympic Games 2016. The organization of the event will be administered through the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA), a Government body comprising the Federal Government, the State of Rio de Janeiro and the City Council of Rio de Janeiro. Despite these challenges, major plans have been put in place by the ODA to make the Brazil Olympic Games 2016 a success.

In preparation of the Olympic Games 2016, billions of dollars will be invested to meet the demands of the major sporting event. A pacification plan will see thousands of police force enter the slum areas of Rio de Janeiro, also known as ‘favelas’, with the aim to drive out criminal gangs and violence. Water treatment facilities and power generators will be improved. The Rio de Janeiro international airport will be refurbished to accommodate the large influx of travelers to the city. Transportation services will be increased with a Bus Rapid Transit Line and the construction of a high speed rail service; reducing travel time intercity and between Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo. However, concerns have been raised with reference to time constraints, lack of financing, and inexperience. The ODA and other supporting organizations are confident that Rio de Janeiro will be a transformed city by 2016 and prepared for the big event.

Pacific Prime highly recommends that anyone traveling to Brazil during the Olympic Games 2016 obtain a travel health insurance plan. Security issues will be heightened in the country during the major sporting event, adding to the risks that are already associated with traveling to Brazil. The below will outline some of the major issues surrounding the preparation of the Olympic Games in Brazil, along with some general advice on how an IHI-BUPA plan can benefit you:

• Getting to the Brazil Olympic Games 2016
• Crime and other security issues in Brazil
• Emergency medical services in Rio de Janeiro
• Travel health insurance for the Brazil Olympic Games 2016

Getting to the Brazil Olympic Games 2016

Brazil is transforming its city in light of the Olympic Games 2016. Thousands of spectators will be traveling intercity to the various venue sites including the Maracana, where the opening and closing ceremonies will be held, the Estádio Olímpico João Havelange which will hold the athletic events, the Copacabana Beach where the beach volleyball and the triathlon will take place, and the Sambodromo where the athletics marathon and archery will be held.

The Brazil Government has invested billions in the implementation of the Growth Acceleration Programme, a development plan which will see a large upgrade of infrastructure, including transportation services. The Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) in Rio de Janeiro will be expanded to allow a 50 percent increase in capacity, up to 700,000 passengers per day. The BRT transportation plan will provide the main mode of transportation in travel to and from sporting venues, as well as monorail and light rail systems.

As part of the Growth Acceleration Programme, the Brazil Government is investing billions to upgrade the airports of Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo; Brazil's major gateways of international flights. Travel intercity will be improved with the construction of a high-speed rail service, known as TAV (standing for a Spanish acronym) that will reduce the travel time between Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo from five hours to 90 minutes. The high-speed train is expected to be ready by 2016.

Despite major plans to increase transportation during the Olympic Games, roads and transport routes are expected to be combusted in Rio de Janeiro. If you get sick or injured, a travel health insurance plan will ensure you are provided with quick and easy access to medical transportation to a medical facility of the highest quality available. If the medical care you require is not available in Brazil, a travel health plan will medically evacuate you overseas to the United States or to your home country. Medical evacuation can be highly expensive and can add up to more than USD$50,000. As such, a travel health plan is highly important when traveling outside of your home country. An IHI-BUPA travel plan also has extensive coverage for compassionate emergency repatriation and accompaniment. If you are seriously ill, a family member or close friend can be transported to accompany you while you recover.

Crime and other security issues in Brazil

Brazil has one of the highest crime rates worldwide, dealing with homicide, kidnappings, muggings and criminal gangs. One fifth of the Rio de Janeiro population are slum dwellers, living in crime ridden towns. These slum areas, also know as ‘favelas’, are ruled by criminal gangs that partake in drug trafficking and other criminal related activity. In Brazil's quest to provide a safe environment for the Olympic Games 2016, the Brazil Government have put in place a pacification plan that will employ over ten thousand police officers to drive out and patrol some of the most dangerous slums in Rio de Janeiro. Pacification Police Units (PPUs) will be placed in Rio de Janeiro's favelas to control criminal gangs from re-entering the areas.

It is highly advised that those attending the Brazil Olympic Games 2016 avoid entering the favelas. Although many of these slum areas will be patrolled by PPUs, the risk of criminal activity is still high and riots between criminal gangs and police forces can occur at any time without notice. To avoid risk of muggings and theft, those should avoid carrying valuable items such as jewelry and large amounts of cash. Traveling after dark can also increase the risk of an attack, as well as traveling alone.

An IHI-BUPA travel plan has a Non-Medical Option that can be added onto your travel health insurance plan that can benefit you in the case of a criminal attack. A Non-Medical Option provides protection of theft and baggage; covering items brought with you on holiday such as electronic equipment, cash, passport, credit cards, and jewelry. An IHI-BUPA travel plan with a Non-Medical Option can also provide protection against flight delay, trip cancellation, personal liability, security and legal assistance.

Emergency medical services in Rio de Janeiro

Brazil is emerging as a medical tourism destination, with many patients traveling to Rio de Janeiro where some of the best hospitals in South America are available. There are many hospitals in Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo that have received Joint Commission Accreditation (JCI), an international accreditation that will ensure quality medical standards are met. If you need to see a Doctor in Brazil, it is highly important that medical facility has received international accreditation, from a recongised body such as the Joint Commission Accreditation (JCI), the International Standardization Organization, the Canadian Council on Health Services, or the Commission on Laboratory Accreditation of the College of American Pathologists. Any doctor you consult in Brazil must also be approved by the Brazilian Medical Association (Associação Médica Brasileira) and the Sociedade Brasileira de Clínica Médica.

If you get sick in Rio de Janeiro, it is highly advisable you attend a private medical facility. The public health care system in Brazil generally lacks the resources to provide good quality medical care, and as such many travelers and residents of Brazil opt for private health care to ensure they receive the highest level of health care available. Private hospitals in Brazil, as with other private health care facilities worldwide, are highly expensive. An IHI-BUPA travel health plan provides the highest level of medical coverage, ensuring you have access to the highest level of medical care in Brazil.

The emergency contact number in Brazil is 1-9-2. All calls are answered by a 24 hour emergency operations center and dispatched to the appropriate emergency service. The emergency service is known as SAMU (the Serviço de Atendimento Móvel de Urgencia) and is a 24 hour service funded by the government. It is important to note that emergency response can be delayed through lack of staffing and poor transportation networks in Brazil.

Travel health insurance for the Brazil Olympic Games 2016

Mega-events, such as the Olympic Games, impose a greater threat to traveler's health, security and safety; along with the travel risks associated with visiting Brazil. As such, a travel health insurance plan is highly recommended for those visiting Brazil during the Olympic Games 2016.

Pacific Prime offer Travel Health Plans underwritten by IHI-BUPA, a leading international insurance provider. IHI-BUPA offers a high level of insurance coverage which extends beyond a basic travel health plan. Travelers are provided with comprehensive health coverage and a wide range of benefits while they travel overseas.

Travel Health Insurance Plans offered through Pacific Prime will typically afford a wide range of benefits such as:

Unlimited Maximum cover per person per trip

Hospitalization

Outpatient treatment

Prescribed Medicines

Medical Evacuation

Return Trip

Compassionate Emergency Repatriation

Next-of-kin accompaniment

Compassionate emergency visit

Home transportation of the deceased

Statutory arrangements in case of death

Board, lodging and local transport for a person summoned or accompanying the insured, per day.

Additional non-medical coverage options are available through IHI-BUPA including theft and other travel related options such as trip cancellation; personal accident; baggage theft, loss or damage; baggage delay; flight delay; and personal liability.

For additional information about the IHI-BUPA travel insurance plans which we offer, please see the list of travel insurance benefits.