HAAD
to reimburse insurance fines

This was announced on Monday by Dr Jamal Al Kaabi, head of Customer Services and Corporate Communications at HAAD at a Press briefing.

His announcement followed the official pardon by the President, His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan on Sunday to exempt all offenders from paying their fines after an overwhelming rush by card holders to renew their health cards.

Dr Al Kaabi said the holders came to the authority on Wednesday and Thursday and insisted on paying their fines of Dh300 for late renewal as their insurance companies refused to take their payments.

Dr Al Kaabi clarified that the circular No 30 it issued on May 4, which precipitated the rush, was to remind insurance companies to renew the health cards on time and that they need to inform the policy holders about the expiry a month in advance, and has nothing to do with fines.

“People misinterpreted that we are starting to take fines for those who got an expired card and they are coming for renewal... We asked them to pay the fines to their insurance company, it has nothing to do with HAAD,” he explained.

“This is a misinterpretation from the insurance companies who asked them to come to HAAD,” said Dr Al Kaabi.

Dr Al Kaabi said they have taken payments from around 80 violators and will reimburse them back as soon as they return to the authority with the receipts.

He said HAAD will allow violators a two-month grace period.

olivia@khaleejtimes.com