Health Insurance Laws in Dubai

The new law regarding health insurance in Dubai, which was passed on January 1 2014, makes it compulsory for all residents and expats living in the emirate to have an active health insurance policy. 

According to this health insurance law, the dependents of such individuals must also come under the coverage of a health insurance plan. The Insurance System for Advancing Healthcare in Dubai, or the ISAHD, influenced the passing of this law. It primarily aims at reducing the overall costs related to healthcare in the UAE.

Read on to know more about the mandatory health insurance clause of Dubai.

A glimpse at the new health insurance law in Dubai

The primary objective of this law is to ensure that all employees working in Dubai enjoy a certain level of health coverage, allowing them to obtain quality healthcare without worrying about their finances. 

That said, all the new policies issued on or after January 1 2015, should comply with the Essential Benefits Plan (EBP) clause. Therefore, all such policies must exceed, or at least meet, the benefits of an EBP. Additionally, exclusions of the policy must not exceed that of the Essential Benefits Plan.

Requirements to be fulfilled by employers

The health insurance law in UAE mandates every employer to provide a minimum level of medical policyx to all employees. These policies should provide extensive coverage benefits pertaining to emergencies, in-patient and out-patient treatments, maternity care, tests and diagnostics and more.

Having said that, employees are eligible to obtain basic medical cover with an annual premium of AED 500 to AED 700. The maximum coverage for such plans should be at least AED 150,000 per annum. However, it is important to keep in mind that the employer will deduct this premium from the salaries of employees. Instead, the employer must fulfil this requirement. 

Furthermore, visa renewals hugely depend on the fulfilment of the health insurance dubai policy by the company in which an individual works. This health insurance law is in place to ensure that every employee in Dubai adheres to the law set up by the governing body.

Key points to remember

The UAE is well-known for top-notch healthcare services. To make the country's healthcare system even more accessible, the government has brought mandatory health insurance clauses for expats and citizens. 

Here are a few crucial points you should remember regarding health insurance policies in Dubai:

• As per labour laws, you are entitled to receive a health card. This allows you access to a few hospitals and clinics that make up the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) facilities.
• Health insurance law number 11 mandates every individual residing in Dubai to have a certain level of medical coverage that meets or exceeds the minimum requirements set by the DHA.
• The health insurance mandate's entire responsibility lies in the employer's hands, and the employee is not responsible for any part of it.
• It is the duty of the employer to provide the health insurance premium for the employee by the policy applied.
• It is crucial to note that employers do not have the right to deduct employees' salaries to comply with health insurance Dubai.
• If the employer does not insure an employee's family members, the employee can avail of a separate health insurance policy for them. The premium for a dependent's health insurance usually ranges between AED 600 and AED 6,000.

Areas covered by the health insurance plan

The minimum coverage level by the DHA under the EBP covers the emirate of Dubai, limiting only in-patient and out-patient treatments for emergencies only. Moreover, pre-existing conditions bear a waiting period of 6 months and are subject to the terms and conditions as stated in the policy documents. 

Married females also get the option to avail of maternity benefit, which comes with no waiting period. 

A few employers might also offer their employees additional benefits, including a nil waiting period for pre-existing conditions, international territorial limit and more.

Methods to register a health insurance claim

You can file a claim for your EBP in two ways:

1. Direct claim

Under this method, you need not pay for any expenses upfront. Instead, your insurer will pay for the medical expenses right away. This is one of the most convenient claim methods on offer from insurance companies.

1. Reimbursement claim

Unlike direct claims, here you have to pay the medical expenses first. Upon that, you can visit your insurer with all the necessary documents to file a reimbursement. Your insurer checks the documents and reimburses the applicable amount in due time.

To sum up, the latest health insurance law in Dubai is a step toward making quality healthcare affordable and accessible to everyone in the emirate. Thus, every individual needs to comply with the rules set by the regulatory body. At the same, as an individual, you have the right to find other health insurance policies that will suit your needs better. In any case, you must remember to always read through the policy terms and conditions before agreeing to anything. You can also contact us at Policybazaar to get assistance choosing the right health insurance policy for you.