OBJECTIVES:: To describe differences in eating habits and physical exercise practices among beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries of private health insurance plans in Brazil METHODS:: Analysis of data from Pesquisa Nacional de Saúde-2013 (PNS-2013), a population-based cross-sectional household survey conducted by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE). Differences between private health insurance beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries eating habits and physical activities were assessed using the Chi-square test. RESULTS::  According to PNS, 28% (N=55,985,271) of population had private health insurance in Brazil in 2013 (Southeast: 55.66 %; South: 16.86%; Northeast: 15.43%; Midwest: 8.08%; North: 3.97%). Regarding eating habits, 45.82% (IC95% 44.48-47.16) of beneficiaries and 36.53% (IC95% 35.73-37.33) of non-beneficiaries declared they consume fruit and/or vegetables at least five times a day (p-value<0.01). Proportion of beneficiaries that declared eating meat or chicken with excess fat (30.28%; IC95% 29.05-31.52) is smaller than among non-beneficiaries (40.14%; IC95% 39.32-40.97; p<0.01). On the other hand, 25.95% (IC95% 24.75-27.16) of beneficiaries and 19.82% (IC95% 19.14-20.50) of non-beneficiaries declared consuming sweets five times or more a week (p<0.01) and 9.42% (IC 95% 8.61-10.22) of beneficiaries and 5.38% (IC 95% 4.98-5.78) of non-beneficiaries declared replacing meal for sandwiches/pizzas five times or more a week (p<0.01). Regarding physical activities, 56.2% (IC95% 54.87-57.54) of beneficiaries and 73.77% (IC95% 73.01-74.53) of non-beneficiaries declared they have not practiced any type of exercise or sport in the last three months (p <0.01). CONCLUSIONS:: Intake of fruits and vegetables among beneficiaries is more appropriate. On the other hand, consumption of sweets and the replacement of meals for snacks is smaller among non-beneficiaries. Less than half of the Brazilian population did not do physical exercises, and this proportion is markedly higher among non-beneficiaries. Poor eating habits and physical exercise practices are related to higher frequencies of chronic diseases in the population.