Brasília – The Superior Court of Justice (STJ) has unanimously ruled that the National Regulatory Agency for Private Health Insurance (ANS) is responsible for overseeing and regulating health discount cards, rejecting the agency’s own appeal that sought to exclude such products from its authority. The decision, issued in October 2025, reinforces that these cards operate in the same consumer protection framework as traditional health plans.

According to the ruling, the cards offer access to discounted consultations, exams, and medications in exchange for a monthly fee — a model now reaching nearly 60 million users in Brazil, many of whom are not covered by private insurance. The court found that, despite not being risk-sharing contracts, these products require regulation to ensure transparency and protect consumers.

The STJ decision now obliges ANS to establish clear rules for this market segment, addressing challenges such as product classification, compliance standards, and oversight mechanisms.

Source: Futuro da Saúde

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