Moving to a new country can be stressful and it will take time to adjust. It's crucial to choose the right healthcare during times of emergency. The emirates of Dubai and Abu Dhabi make health insurance mandatory for residents, so you will need to buy it. As a result, you will not be able to obtain a residency visa without an insurance policy. Despite other emirates not having a mandatory health insurance policy, it is advised to obtain one since healthcare costs can mount quickly during times of illness.

Below is a comprehensive guide to getting health insurance in the UAE:

Do you need health insurance in the UAE?

A health insurance policy is either required or optional depending on the emirate you reside in. Although health insurance is not mandatory in some Emirates, it is wise to get yourself covered since medical expenses can become significant in the event of an emergency or chronic condition.

Abu Dhabi

Health insurance in Abu Dhabi For UAE Nationals: 

A government program, known as 'Thiqa', provides full medical coverage for all UAE nationals living in Abu Dhabi. Thiqa cards give citizens access to a wide network of private and public health providers registered within Daman's network. This card also offers broader geographical coverage as well as additional health benefits.

UAE citizens aged 18 to 75 living in Abu Dhabi need to undergo the Weqaya screening run by the Department of Health - Abu Dhabi in order to be eligible for the Thiqa programme. The health check is done in order to identify cardiovascular risk factors, and may be waived only in exceptional cases.

Health insurance in Abu Dhabi For Residents of the UAE 

It is the employer and sponsor's responsibility to provide medical insurance coverage to their employees and their families (1 spouse and 3 children under 18).

Abu Dhabi Department of Health states that anyone with a monthly salary under Dh5,000 or under Dh4,000 plus housing allowance is required to have the Basic Product Policy.

All others should have the Enhanced Policy.

To obtain health insurance for more than three children or to obtain better coverage than the one provided by your employer, read the steps listed below on "How to obtain health insurance" section of this article.

Dubai

Health insurance in Dubai For UAE Nationals: 

The Saada program provides health insurance to the citizens of Dubai. Those who do not currently have access to government healthcare in Dubai are covered by this insurance plan. A large network of healthcare providers in the private sector and DHA healthcare facilities provides treatment under the program. Saada details can be found on citizens' Emirates ID cards.  

Health insurance in Dubai For Residents of the UAE 

The Dubai Health Insurance Law, which took effect in January 2014, made health insurance mandatory in Dubai. The law says that sponsors are legally responsible for providing essential benefits plans (EBP)  insurance package to workers earning between AED 550 and AED 650  so that they can also receive good healthcare.

Blue collar workers in the emirate now have affordable access to healthcare because of the law.

In accordance with the law, the sponsor is responsible for providing health insurance. You may receive insurance coverage from your company if you are a working professional. If your company does not offer health insurance coverage to your family, you are legally required to provide health insurance for the dependents on your sponsorship (spouse, parents, or children).

Health insurance in Other emirates

Health insurance is not mandatory in Sharjah, Ajman, Ras Al Khaimah, Umm Al Quwain, and Fujairah. Many employers do provide some coverage, though. You should ask your employer about group insurance plans. Here are the steps you can take if your company does not offer health insurance.

You can do it online! By visiting a website of an insurance company or broker in the UAE, you can obtain a health insurance policy. According to the UAE Insurance Authority's 2017 annual report, the country has 62 insurance companies and 160 brokers, so options are not lacking. Brokers can provide you with options from several insurance companies. InsuranceMarket.ae's CEO, Avinash Babur, says the insurance market has become heavily digital.

You can submit your inquiry online and someone will contact you. You can get a quote online after providing basic information such as your gender and the type of hospital you would prefer. Almost everything is done online now.

Insureds are getting even easier to buy now. It is possible to purchase a Basic Health Insurance policy online, and the Policy Certificate is instantly generated once all the required information has been provided.

What are the health insurance plans available in the UAE?

1. Basic plan

-With lower premiums, between AED 550 to AED 650 per year.

-Limited network of hospitals and clinics.

-Lower annual limit, maternity coverage, medicine coverage.

-Available primarily in the UAE.

-Exclusions from the list include organ transplants, traffic accidents, and kidney dialysis.

Essential Benefits plan: The first, most basic plan in Dubai, known as the Essential Benefits plan, should offer enough coverage for most people. As per the annual limits of the policy, most major conditions including cancer are covered by the basic plan.

Annual limit for basic plans is: AED 150,000. 

Medicine is covered up to:  AED 1,500 annually. 

Maternity cover: For a normal delivery AED 7,000 and for C-section AED 10,000.

Limitations of Basic plan: 

1. There is however a limited network of clinics and hospitals covered in the basic plan, so it has a small network of coverage. 

2. You would not have immediate access to a specialist even if the clinic or hospital was covered by your insurance. Treatment, consultation, and medicines are covered only with the consultation of a General Practitioner. Hence, if you have a preference for a particular doctor or hospital, check with them to see if they accept basic health plans. If not, you should consider purchasing more comprehensive insurance.

3. Organ transplants, road traffic accidents, and dialysis are all excluded from EBP. Moreover, you will be covered primarily in the UAE. However, you may not be covered if you travel outside the UAE.

2. Comprehensive plan

Next, you can purchase a comprehensive health insurance plan that provides coverage both in the UAE and in other countries of your choice.

If you don't need just basic coverage, we recommend this plan. A comprehensive plan is better if a person prefers a specific type of hospital, since it has a larger network. There are also much higher annual limits, sometimes going as high as $1 million. There are also times when the policy covers you worldwide.

There are also higher sublimits for medicine and maternity, as one would expect. Since this plan covers most major conditions and is accepted at most hospitals across the country, residents receive much better healthcare.

Due to certain complex pre-existing conditions, premiums can range from AED 2,000 to AED 1m.

3. Enhanced benefits plans

The plan is best suited for employers, as it offers a little flexibility and reduces co-pays with an increase in some annual limits.

Insurance Coverage Provided by the Employer

When you are covered by your company's health insurance, you'll receive an insurance card. You should keep this card with you at all times. Your employer should be able to provide a list of benefits and the network that you can utilize. Talk to your employer if the plan is not satisfactory and see if they can offer a better plan for an additional fee. Otherwise, you can get insurance on your own by following the steps below.

Documents needed to get your own health insurance ( How to obtain health insurance )

The first thing you will need to do is provide basic information about yourself, such as your name, gender, and age. For family members or dependents, you must specify your relationship and may also have to fill out a medical underwriting or health declaration form to declare any pre-existing medical conditions. A comprehensive plan requires this because your premium is determined by your age and previous health conditions.

You will need to provide the following information in order to obtain a quote from the company or broker:

-Passport
-Visa
-Emirates ID
-A proof of your previous insurance will also be required if you are renewing your policy.

How long does this process take?

Basic Plan: A basic policy can be processed in one working day if all the documents have been submitted.

Comprehensive plans: This may take longer, generally 3 to 5 working days, since some companies may require previous medical reports if you have health complications such as diabetes or heart disease.

Health insurance for family

Buying insurance for your family is incredibly important, and residents are urged to purchase it as early as possible.

It is common for customers to purchase policies after they have a medical emergency, such as when their wives are pregnant, so that they are covered for maternity expenses. It is obvious that the insurance company raises its premiums since they are anticipating a claim in the near future.

Newborns are covered by the essential benefits plan for vaccinations up to the age of six.

Elderly parents can often be expected to pay a high premium because of the increase in rates based on their age and health status.

The essential benefits plan even costs AED 4,500 over the age of 65, which is on the expensive side. In addition, a comprehensive plan will cost you a minimum of AED 20,000 and possibly as much as AED 50,000.

This concludes the guide about health insurance in the UAE. Let us know your suggestions for correction in the comment section. Please share it widely to assist others.

Thanks for reading!!