What is Health Insurance Law Dubai?
The Dubai health insurance law no 11 of 2013 which came into passing on the 1st of January 2014, decreed medical insurance mandatory in Dubai. According to this law, all Emiratis and Dubai expats, along with their dependents, are required to have health insurance. The decision to implement this was influenced by the ISAHD (Insurance System for Advancing Healthcare in Dubai) initiative by the Dubai Health Authority (DHA). With this health insurance law, Dubai has since been able to reduce healthcare costs associated with routine check-ups, treatment of chronic illnesses, emergency care and for several other medical services.
What happens if I am not covered by health insurance in Dubai?
Whether you are an Emirati or a Dubai expat, you along with your dependents, need to have health insurance in Dubai as it is a legal requirement. Abu Dhabi and Dubai are the only two emirates of the UAE that have mandatory health insurance laws. The mandatory health insurance law in Dubai ensures that every resident and national in Dubai can get access to healthcare services. The health insurance law in Dubai requires the employer to offer a minimum level of healthcare coverage to their employees without deducting the premium amount from them or reducing their salary to compensate for the premiums. Some employers may extend the health insurance cover to their employee’s dependents, including a spouse and up to three children (up to the age of 18 years). If employees have more than three children, then it is the responsibility of the employees to cover the health insurance cost for their family members from their pocket. Also, if the dependents aren’t covered by the employer, then the individuals/employees must sponsor the health insurance cover for their dependents. The mandatory medical insurance Dubai law can impose penalties on individuals, employers, sponsors, or healthcare providers if the law is violated. Also, a monthly penalty of AED 500 to AED 150,000 can be imposed on an employer or sponsor in Dubai if they fail to provide the minimum health insurance coverage as laid out by the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) to their employees or those under their sponsorship.
What does Medical Insurance Law Dubai mean for Employees?
Dubai medical insurance law requires that employers ensure health cover for their workforce. A basic health plan that employees can benefit from ought to have an annual premium ranging between Dh 500 – Dh 700 with a maximum insurance cover of Dh 150,00 per person per annum. The cost of insurance must be covered by the employer, and this amount is not deductible from employee salaries. This medical insurance Dubai law is applicable in every region of the emirate, including the free-trade areas.
What does the Mandatory Health Insurance Law state for dependents of employees?
While organizations in Dubai are accountable for the health insurance of their employees, this responsibility does not extend towards their employee’s dependents. In cases where family members are not insured by a company, the employee may avail a separate policy for their benefit. The cost of a dependent’s health insurance generally ranges between Dh 600 to Dh 6000.
Obligations on Employers post Health Insurance Law Dubai
As per the mandatory health insurance law in Dubai, all employers are required to provide minimum level of health benefits as part of the health insurance plans offered to their employees. These plans must cover healthcare benefits such as inpatient and outpatient treatment, emergencies, surgeries, medical tests, medication, and maternity care. In the case of Dubai nationals, additional preventive and therapeutic health services may be covered too. All employees are eligible for a basic health coverage plan that has an annual premium between Dh 500 to Dh 700 and a maximum insurance cover of Dh 150,000 per annum. It is imperative that this cost is not withdrawn from staff salaries. Furthermore, the renewal of employee visas depends on the fulfilment of health insurance coverage by the employer organization. This is to ensure that all employers adhere to the health insurance law, regardless of where in Dubai they may be based out of.
What The Plans Must Include?
All employees, regardless of whether they are nationals or residents, can benefit from a minimum cover of general practitioner visits, emergency treatments, referral to specialists as well as surgical, investigative and maternity procedures. Enhanced products would include health insurance plans which offer additional benefits such as dental treatment, optical care, wider network coverage and higher annual maximums.
Choose The Right Benefits For Your Employees With Cigna Group Health Insurance Plans
At Cigna, we focus on designing the perfect plan to improve affordability, predictability and simplicity for you and your employees. Our GlobalCare plans are customizable with comprehensive core coverage befitting your company’s unique needs. The standard cover includes inpatient and outpatient treatment, mental health, pre-existing or chronic conditions including cancer and maternity care. We also have optional add-on modules for dental treatment, optical care and routine wellness. To learn more about our features, please visit our Group Health Insurance page for employers and business owners.
Cigna Also Offers Health Insurance Plans For Expats And Their Families
At Cigna, we believe in providing the best care for you and your families. Our health insurance plans offer tiered network cover at flexible prices with increased benefits. You can easily build your own plan by deciding the areas of cover, the network and which benefits you prefer. For an in-depth understanding of how our plans work,
