Insurance must from July for dependant visa

Dubai - Already 75 per cent of Dubai expatriates are covered by the insurance, said Dr Haidar Al Yousuf, director of Public Health Funding.

No new visas will be issued or renewals done for spouses, dependants and domestic workers after June if they are not covered by Dubai's compulsory health insurance scheme, the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) has reiterated.
The authority said on Saturday that the implementation process of ISAHD (Bringing Happiness) will be completed by the end of June when the third and final phase of the scheme is implemented on companies with less than 100 employees as well as all spouses, dependants and domestic workers in the emirate.
Already 75 per cent of Dubai expatriates are covered by the insurance, said Dr Haidar Al Yousuf, director of Public Health Funding.
"This means we have 25 per cent left to cover by June, we hope to have close to 100 per cent of Dubai expatriates covered by the end of June," he said.
He added that the implementation of the scheme - to have all Dubai residents covered by health insurance - is going according to the adopted timeframe.
He also said that linking the health insurance scheme to visa issuance and renewal, in partnership with the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA), contributed to the success of the implementation process.
Dr Haidar called on all companies to hurry in insuring their employers before the end of June 2016 to avoid penalties imposed by Executive Council Resolution No. 7 of 2016 that can see fines of up to Dh500,000 issued to those who fail to comply.
The DHA has completed the first phase that included companies with more than 1,000 employees in 2014 and the second phase, which included companies with 100 to 999 employees in 2015.
Companies can get health insurance packages that are in line with the scheme from 46 health insurance companies permitted by the DHA, including nine companies that provide the essential benefits package, Dr Haidar said, adding that many of these companies now provide competitive and affordable packages to employers, sponsors and individuals.
asmaalizain@khaleejtimes.com
Essential Health Benefits (EHB) package
* Access to general physician/ family physician.
* Referral to specialists
* Surgical procedures
* Laboratory services: Tests and investigations provided to help a doctor diagnose an injury, illness or condition, or to monitor the effectiveness of a particular treatment.
* Emergency services: Medical attention required for conditions that could lead to serious disability or death if not treated immediately such as accidents or sudden illness. Prior authorisation is not required for such cases.
* Maternity care

• UAE