OBJECTIVES: Streptococcus pneumoniae is the most significant causal agent of invasive bacterial infections among children and adults1,2. Pneumococcal infections are responsible for severe clinical manifestations such as bacteremia, meningitis and pneumonia, being associated with a high economic burden to healthcare systems1,3,4. Our study aimed to evaluate the impact of the main pneumococcal diseases on Brazilian Private Healthcare System (PHS) and how this may affect Brazilian population.  METHODS: The average number of hospital admissions, as well as the average hospitalization cost for pneumococcal diseases (pneumonia, meningitis and sepsis [PDs]) cases, were analyzed in all age groups, between October 2010 and December 2013, using a PHS database containing over 18 million lives5. The economic impact of absenteeism due to PD was also analyzed, considering the average number of hospital admissions in the PHS and Brazilian average cost of absenteeism per day of BRL 254 (Brazilian data on economically active population [EAP]6 and Brazilian gross national product [GNP]).  RESULTS: From 70,850 PD episodes identified in all age groups, 68,717 (96.99%) were pneumonia episodes, 1,745 (2.46%) were bacteremia episodes and 388 (0.55%) were meningitis episodes. The average length of stay was 7 days for pneumonia and meningitis, and 14 days for bacteremia. The average hospitalization cost in the age groups of 0-6 years, 7-49 years and > 50 years was BRL 4,554, BRL 7,110 and BRL 20,079 for meningitis, BRL 1,479, BRL 1,569 and BRL 18,800 for pneumonia and BRL 17,456, BRL 11,868 and BRL 53,524 for bacteremia, respectively. The average cost due to EAP absenteeism was BRL 1,778 for meningitis and pneumonia, and BRL 3,556 for bacteremia. CONCLUSIONS: Hospitalizations for PD were associated with a high economic impact on PHS. EAP absenteeism for pneumonia may impact 25% on monthly work. Therefore, developing and promoting PD preventive strategies could reduce the costs associated with these diseases.