What is underwriting and how it impacts your health insurance plan?

Health Insurance UAE Plans

The above plans and premiums are for AED 1,000,000 Sum insured for 1 Adult of 30 Years for Dubai city.

Let’s be honest — health insurance in the UAE can feel overwhelming, especially when unfamiliar terms like ‘underwriting’ pop up out of nowhere. You’re probably wondering, “Why do I need to go through this process just to get medical coverage?” or “Is this some kind of exam I have to pass?”

Take a deep breath — you’re not alone! Millions of UAE residents and expats go through this every year. If you're applying for your first policy, renewing a plan, or upgrading to premium coverage, there's a hidden step behind the scenes that could shape your health protection: medical underwriting.

But what exactly is it? Why does it matter? And how does it impact your coverage, costs, or claim approvals? Let’s understand everything in more detail!

What is Medical Underwriting?

Medical underwriting is the process used by insurance companies to assess your health condition before issuing a policy.

A medical insurance underwriter reviews your medical history, current conditions, age, lifestyle, and family history. Based on this, they decide —

✅ If you qualify for a policy
📊 What your premium will be
🧾 What exclusions (like pre-existing conditions) might apply

In the UAE, this is particularly relevant for individual health plans or when switching providers. For instance, if you apply for a premium policy from an insurer in Dubai, they may ask you to fill out a medical questionnaire or undergo a basic health screening.

Who is a Medical Insurance Underwriter?

The medical insurance underwriter is like a behind-the-scenes referee (for football fans: think VAR!). They don’t meet you in person, but they decide a lot about your insurance future.

They assess —

Your age (older = higher risk)
Past surgeries, hospitalisations, chronic diseases (like diabetes or hypertension)
Habits like smoking, alcohol use, or a high BMI

Why Do Insurance Companies Use Underwriting in the UAE?

Let’s face it — insurance is a business. In the UAE, just like anywhere else, insurers must balance offering coverage while managing risk. Underwriting helps companies ensure that their insurance plans remain sustainable and accessible to people across various strata.

🔐 Underwriting helps insurance companies —

Avoid unexpected high costs
Design custom plans
Offer competitive pricing while staying profitable

Without this process, insurers would either deny too many people or charge everyone more to spread the risk.

Do All Health Insurance Plans in the UAE Require Medical Underwriting?

This is a common question — and the answer might surprise you:
No, not every health insurance plan in the UAE requires medical underwriting.

In fact, many plans are approved without needing any medical screening or health questions at all. This is especially the case if you're applying for —

✅ Employer-provided (Group) Insurance Plans
✅ Essential Benefit Plans (EBP) for low-income workers
✅ Government-mandated basic policies in Dubai and Abu Dhabi

These types of plans are generally guaranteed issues, meaning they are available to everyone regardless of age, medical history, or lifestyle habits.

UAE Medical Insurance Underwriting Process: Step-by-Step

Here’s what generally happens when you apply for a new health insurance plan in the UAE —

Step	Details
📋 Health Questionnaire	Fill out a form about past illnesses, treatments, or surgeries
🏥 Medical Reports	Some insurers request lab tests or doctor reports
📞 Tele-underwriting	A phone call to verify answers or ask follow-up questions
✅ Decision	Approve, decline, exclude conditions, or add premium loadings

Let’s walk through the process step by step through the example of Sara. She is a 36-year-old expat living in Dubai, who recently applied for a new medical insurance plan with wider maternity and dental benefits.

📋 Step 1: Tell Us About You

The first thing Sara had to do was fill out a health declaration form. This questionnaire asked her about —

Past surgeries or hospitalisations
Current medications, if any
Chronic conditions like asthma, diabetes, high blood pressure, and so on
Family medical history (optional in some cases)
Lifestyle habits like smoking, alcohol, or fitness routines

💡 Sara’s Case
Sara ticked ‘Yes’ for thyroid issues, which she was diagnosed with 5 years ago. She’s on regular medication but in a stable condition.

🏥 Step 2: Proof of Your Health

Depending on the answers, the insurance company might request supporting documents. This includes —

Blood test results
Doctor’s prescriptions
Hospital discharge summaries

💡 Sara’s Case
Since Sara disclosed her thyroid condition, the underwriter asked her for her latest blood test results (TSH levels) and a note from her endocrinologist confirming her condition is under control.

This helps the insurer assess the risk accurately, instead of rejecting her policy outright.

📞 Step 3: Let’s Have a Chat

In some cases, the insurer might follow up with a quick phone call. This is known as tele-underwriting.

It helps them —-

Clarify any unclear responses
Understand your treatment history better
Gauge your general health and honesty

💡 Sara’s Case
Sara received a call from the underwriting team who politely asked about her last hospital visit and whether she had experienced any symptoms in the past year. She explained everything was under control and she hadn’t missed any follow-ups.

✅ Step 4: Here’s What We Can Offer

Once all the documents and data are reviewed, the underwriter makes a decision. There are generally four outcomes —

Outcome	What It Means
✅ Approved Standard	You're covered fully, with no extra cost
💰 Approved with Loading	You're covered, but you’ll pay extra
🚫 Conditionally Approved	You’re approved, but certain illnesses are excluded
❌ Declined	Your application is not accepted

💡 Sara’s Result
She received approval with a 15% premium loading due to her thyroid condition. However, her condition was not excluded, which means her medication and check-ups are covered — a fair outcome for everyone involved.

How Does Medical Underwriting Impact Your Health Insurance Premium in UAE?

Premiums in the UAE are directly influenced by the underwriting outcome. Here's how —

Clean health history: Lower premiums
Minor issues: Slight loading (e.g., +10–20%)
Major illnesses: Higher loading or condition excluded
Serious condition (e.g., cancer): Possible decline

Myths Busted: Medical Underwriting Misconceptions

🧠 Myth	✅ Fact
You will be automatically rejected if you have a pre-existing condition	Many UAE insurers will still approve your policy — either with a loading or condition-specific exclusion
It's better to hide past health issues to get a cheaper plan	If you hide information and a claim arises, your policy can be cancelled and claims denied Honesty is indeed the best policy for your policy coverage!
Underwriting is only about major diseases like cancer	Even minor issues like high BMI, smoking, or past surgeries can impact the underwriting outcome
Once you're rejected by one insurer, no other company will cover you	You can still apply to other insurers — each company has its own underwriting rules and risk limits
Young and healthy people don't need to worry about underwriting	Underwriting still applies — applying young often means lower premiums and easier approval