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Dubai residents seek 'decent' cover for alternative treatment

Dubai - Insurance companies have started offering better cover, but for those linked with high-end insurance.

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Practitioners and people who vouch by alternative medicine have said that only a few insurance companies provide cover for this form of treatment though the trend has been picking up in the recent years.
They also say that acceptance by insurance companies has been slow but following the international trend, the companies have started offering a better cover to those interested in alternative forms of treatment. Again, coverage is for those linked with high-end insurance.
Dr Hu Qiwen from the Abu Dhabi based Gulf Medical Centre told Khaleej Times that patients who come to him say that decent coverage is provided only when they pay a higher premium.
"There has been a lot of improvement over the past 25 years that I have been here," said the doctor, who specialises in acupuncture.

55% prefer alternative medicine  The UAE's alternative medicine market has grown in recent years. In a survey conducted by Dubai Healthcare City (DHCC) a few years ago, up to 55 per cent of UAE residents said they would prefer alternative medicine. Although there are no official statistics showing the exact growth figures, estimates suggest around 200 homeopathy practitioners operate in the country with the majority based in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah. Treatments not covered in basic plan   > Acupuncture > Acupressure > Hypnotism > Massage therapy > Aromatherapy > Ozone therapy > Homeopathic treatments > All forms of alternative medicine

The centre offers treatment in acupuncture, acupressure, reflexology and therapeutic massages that are especially effective for chronic headaches, neuralgia, insomnia, paralysis, arthritis, neck, chest and back pain as well as diabetes, hypertension, acne and obesity among others.
"People are realising the benefits of this form of treatment since allopathy has lot of side effects," he said.
Kartik Bhatt, International CEO from Dr Batra's Homeopathy Clinics said: "Homeopathy is covered by a number of insurance companies in the UAE."
"It is covered for either a fixed amount or number of sessions, depending on the insurance plan that a patient selects," he said.
He also said: "As far as homeopathy is concerned, for the last four years, we have noticed an increasing number of insurance companies including it in their coverages."
According to Dr Hu, four to five sessions of acupuncture cost up to Dh1,000.
"People pay us in cash and get reimbursements from their insurance companies," he said adding that people do voice their opinion and say the treatment methods should be part of basic coverage.
For homeopathy, again the coverage depends on the plan or cover that the patients have purchased.
"However, most insurance companies cover between Dh2,500 to Dh5,000 of homeopathy on an annual basis," said Kartik.
"Insurance cover provides access to 100 per cent natural stream of treatment at affordable costs. It also allows the patient to reach out to professional chain of clinics and benefit from qualified and authorised doctors - and not get restricted," he explained.
Most insurance companies provide cover for limited modalities of alternative medicine such as chiropractic, osteopathy, homeopathy, acupuncture and ayurveda.
A number of insurance companies say that the cover for alternative medicine is included as an optional benefit with a limit because more medical research on an international level is needed.
A spokesperson for a top insurance in Dubai said on the condition of anonymity: "We want to protect our members' funds so we want to focus on conventional treatments that have documented research to prove the effectiveness of the treatment."
The Essential Basic Plan (EBP) that is available to all Dubai residents excludes alternative medicine and considers it as a non-basic healthcare service.
Healthcare services and treatments by acupuncture, acupressure, hypnotism, massage therapy, aromatherapy, ozone therapy, homeopathic treatments, and all forms of treatment by alternative medicine are not covered in the EBP.
asmaalizain@khaleejtimes.com