OBJECTIVES: Identify the main methodologies used to include patients' preferences in the decision making process to determine the content of health benefit plans. METHODS: We systematically searched electronic databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, The Campbell Collaboration, JStor, Health System Evidence, DoPHER and LILACS) for studies that were published from the inception of the databases to September 16 2013. We excluded editorials, letters to the editor, communications, abstracts and any article related to preferences for particular technologies or studies describing decisions about specific diseases.  RESULTS: We found 1.868 non-duplicate citations in the electronic search; 33 were assessed for eligibility and finally, 12 studies were included in the analysis (3 reviews and 9 individual studies). The reviews concluded that it is important to use simple, objective and inclusive methods to include patients' preferences in decision making processes but don’t recommend any specific methodology. The other studies used methodologies favoring public engagement and public participation, citizens' jury, conjoint analysis, discrete choice experiment method and CHAT (Choosing Healthplans All Together). These studies were mainly conducted in High Income Countries (USA, Germany, Canada, UK and Hungary). CHAT was the methodology most commonly used because it is an exercise that patients understand easily, and researchers recognize as practical and objective.  CONCLUSIONS: There is a growing interest in public engagement in priority setting in health. The methods and characteristics of the studies evaluating methodologies used to include patients' preferences in the decision making process to determine the content of health benefit plans varied, and it is difficult to make comparisons. Some methodologies such as conjoint analysis methods might need more time to develop. Researchers believe it is important that the methodologies are easy for patients to understand to facilitate their participation.