HEALTH CARE
Supreme Court narrows access to costly treatments not covered by health plans
Brazil’s Supreme Court has overridden Congress to favor health plans in their dispute with patients. Photo: Joa Souza/Shutterstock
Brazil’s Supreme Court on September 18 imposed stricter criteria on patients seeking medical procedures not typically covered by private health insurers.
The ruling came after Unidas, an association of private health plan providers, challenged a 2022 law requiring insurers to cover treatments beyond those on the National Supplementary Health Agency’s (ANS) mandatory list — comparable to the “essential health benefits” under the Affordable Care Act in the United States.
When Congress passed the law…
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