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Varsities Offer Health Insurance Schemes to Students

DUBAI — The health of students is fast becoming the top agenda for educational institutions in the UAE, who are now mandating insurance to safeguard their welfare while at college.

Some colleges, including American University in Dubai (AUD) and University of Wollongong in Dubai (UOWD), have started offering insurance to students from this academic year.

“Already, we provide them (students) free on-campus clinic and we have our health centre that does not cover serious illnesses or operations.

“However, given the fact that we have students from 95 countries studying here, we thought they should be able to get, like anyone else employed in this country, proper health treatment,” said Elias N. Bou Saab, Executive Vice-President of AUD.

AUD has made health insurance for students compulsory from last month. Nearly 2,000 students from the college have enrolled for insurance, which does not include students with an existing UAE policy. The annual premium is Dh1,000 and covers students for consultations, pharmacy, operations and other medical needs up to Dh200,000.

UOWD students on the college’s visas also have access to the institution’s group medical insurance.

“The scheme is compulsory for visa sponsored students and will provide round the clock cover in a wide network of hospitals and clinics in the UAE, whether as an outpatient or inpatient for emergencies as well as for routine expenses incurred due to an illness.

The scheme also pays for any expenses on diagnostic tests and examinations, like MRI and CAT scans and X-rays,” says the college web site, while adding that the premium for this is Dh1,200 per annum.

Students, on the other hand, say insurance provides them financial respite, especially when living far from home.

“Health insurance is a good idea since there is always a backup in case something happens,” said Max Stanton, a student at the American University in Sharjah (AUS), which has been providing cover for over two years now.

“I have been in Dubai for over two years now.

“I think insurance is great for the student community, as we usually have only pocket money while studying,” said Manuel Mundia, a student at AUD.

American University in Sharjah also offers students two types of health insurance, which are both available at initial enrolment for semesters and the coverage will continue after student has left/graduated from the university.

It covers full medical and hospitalisation insurance up to Dh 50,000 for hospitalisation and Dh 7,000 for outpatient expenses.

While Plan I is compulsory for AUS-sponsored students, and for those who do not have health insurance cover of their own, Plan II is for those who have their own private insurance or a MOH Health Card.

The Gems network of schools, however, are offering students an optional educational cover ‘EduShield’, at an annual premium between Dh300 and Dh500 beginning this November, said Himmat Sandhu, director for School Business Operations.

“There have been families where the primary bread winner has suffered from a permanent disability or lost his life due to which the students’ future suffers. That’s why we decided to come up with this programme,” he noted.

EduShield will facilitate students’ education in any part of the world and the scheme could even support a couple of years of college education.

preeti@khaleejtimes.com