Dubai Health Authority (DHA) on Monday urged sponsors and businesses to register under the mandatory health insurance programme before March 31 deadline or face fine of $136.24 (AED500) per month per person.
Following the massive applications and delays in issuing of insurance policies, the emirate extended the December 31st deadline by three months to March 31.
The Dubai Health Insurance Law No 11 of 2013 came into effect in January 2014 and puts legal liability for every sponsor to provide an essential benefits plan insurance package ranging between $150 (AED550) and $204 (AED750) for its employees.
According to DHA, 99 percent or 4.3 million of residents are covered under the plan with just one percent of the population left to register.
Dr Haidar Al Yousuf, director of health funding at DHA confirmed fines will be imposed on sponsors and employers and not on the employees.
“The fines will be added to the visa renewal and cancelation fees of the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs. Besides, no new visa will be granted and no existing visas renewed without health insurance,” he added.
A total of 12 insurance companies provide the essential benefits plan insurance package for individuals with salaries under AED4,000 a month.
The companies include Noor Takaful Insurance, Abu Dhabi National Insurance Company, Union Insurance, Axa Gulf Insurance, Takaful Emarat, Dar Al Takaful, Orient Insurance, Ras Al Khaima Insurance Company, Daman Health Insurance, Oman Insurance Company, Metlife Alico and National General Insurance.
Al Yousef said prices of essential benefits plan have dropped by five percent this year compared to 2016, with packages ranging from $150 (AED550) to $204 (AED750) a year, family packages start from $177 (AED650) and packages for elderly range from $681 (AED2,500) a year.
Link of companies providing the essential benefits plan www.isahd.ae/Home/DHAPIResults2016
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