• Home
• /
• Healthcare

Health insurance scheme in Dubai to be linked with visa

Health insurance will be linked to the residency visa in collaboration with the relevant authorities and will be applicable in free zones as well, says DHA official.

The mandatory health insurance scheme for Dubai currently being rolled out in phases will be linked to residency visas, according to a senior health official.

Essa Al Maidoor, Director-General of the Dubai Health Authority (DHA), has said DHA will soon use direct electronic links with relevant government stakeholders to enforce the Dubai Health Insurance law passed in 2013. “Health insurance will be linked to the residency visa in collaboration with the relevant authorities and will be applicable in free zones as well,” he said.

Medical insurance is already compulsory for visitors coming to Dubai.

The first phase of implementation of the law will end by this month. This requires all employers with over 1,000 employees on their sponsorship to have health insurance in place for their workers by October 31.

“This phase of implementation applies to approximately 700,000 employees in Dubai,” said Al Maidoor.

“By mid-2016, everyone in Dubai will have mandatory access to health insurance. So far, we are pleased with the results of the roll-out and are thankful to all those employers who have supported us by adhering to the deadline, however, there are still some employers who have not yet met the deadline and we urge them to act promptly,” he said.

Multiple benefits

Implementation of the law, which came into effect in mid-February 2014, seeks to enhance the competitiveness of Dubai, regionally and globally. “Implementation of the mandatory health insurance law has multiple benefits. First and foremost, it provides everyone in Dubai – citizens, residents and visitors – with universal access to health care,” he explained.

“It also helps contribute to building a robust health system that is flexible and financially sustainable. Mandatory health insurance is a tool of sustainability of the health sector in Dubai, it helps promote healthcare investment, leads to positive competition between health players; which benefits patients and helps boost medical tourism,” added Al Maidoor.

Dr Haider Al Yousuf, Director of Health Funding, said that the authority would soon start a review of the compliance. “We will soon begin to review the extent of compliance and those employers who are not insuring their workers could face fines,” he said.

He also said that the 44 insurance companies that have Dubai Health Insurance Permits – a requirement to be able to offer insurance services in the emirate - have witnessed substantial queries from phase one employers as well as other employers requesting for quotations for insurance packages that are compatible with the law for all of their employees.

Medical cover for dependents

Dr Haider added that while it is not mandatory, as per the law, for employers to provide cover for the dependents of their employees, the DHA strongly encourages employers to do so.

The roll-out will continue to take place in phases. Companies with 100-999 employees will have until the end of July 2015, and companies with below 100 employees have until end of June 2016 to cover their employees. All spouses, dependents and domestic workers will also have to be covered by June 2016. “They can start providing cover earlier, however, these dates are deadlines they must meet,” he said.

Employers can find all information they need in an Employer Information Pack downloadable from www.isahd.ae, the website dedicated to information on the law.

asmaalizain@khaleejtimes.com

EHB coverage

> 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