As a foreigner living in Rio de Janeiro, will I have access to public healthcare? What is it like?

"As a foreigner living in Rio de Janeiro, you will have access to Brazil's public healthcare system, known as the Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS). The SUS provides free healthcare services to all residents, including foreigners. However, the public healthcare system in Rio de Janeiro can be quite overwhelmed, with long waiting times and limited resources. It is common for people to face challenges in accessing specialized treatments and surgeries. Additionally, the quality of care may vary between different facilities, and language barriers can be an issue if you don't speak Portuguese. Many foreigners and middle-class Brazilians opt for private healthcare insurance to access better quality services and avoid long waiting times," explained one expat living in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.