Dubai sees ‘impressive demand’ for health insurance ahead of deadline

While penalties will not immediately be imposed on individual sponsors who fail to insure themselves, employees and dependents, DHA stressed that next week’s deadline for the mandatory Dubai health insurance plan remains.

To help individual sponsors meet this deadline with ease Dr Haidar Al Yousuf, director of health funding at DHA said the authority has launched roadshows at hospitals and health centres across Dubai.

“At these workshops and roadshows, the companies who have been shortlisted to provide the basic insurance package – fixed between AED550-700 – were invited to meet the public to help them acquire the insurance,” he said.

Further roadshows and workshops will take place at Rashid Hospital from June 26-30, Hatta Hospital from July 11-14, Nad Al Hamar Health Centre from July 17-21, Al Barsha Health Centre from July 24-28 and Mizhar Health Centre from September 1-4.

The Health Funding Department of DHA said it has also issued a circular regarding the marketing activities of health insurance providers to insure credibility and transparency.

“We urge everyone to abide by the law, which aims to protect not only their dependents but also the sponsors,” said Al Yousuf.

The mandatory insurance plan is currently in its third phase, which covers companies with 100 or less employees and includes every resident, including domestic workers and dependents of employees.

Al Yousuf revealed that 30 to 40 percent of those who fall under the third phase have already been covered.

According to the Dubai Health Insurance Law No 11 of 2013 that came into effect in January 2014, the legal liability for every sponsor is to provide an essential insurance package fixed between AED550 and AED700, so that those with salaries under AED4,000 receive adequate cover.

In 2017, visitors to the emirate will also have to pay for medical insurance before being able to obtain a visit visa.