Dubai: As the deadline of the Mandatory Dubai Health Insurance comes close to an end, the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) on Monday advised individuals, sponsors and businesses in Dubai to get covered by March 31 in order to avoid any fines.
While 99 per cent — 4.3 million people — of the targeted population are already covered, the DHA revealed that there are still sponsors and business owners who have not yet covered their employees and dependents.
The Dubai Health Insurance Law No 11 of 2013 was adopted under the directives of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
According to the Dubai Health Insurance Law that came into effect in January 2014, the legal liability for every sponsor is to provide an essential benefits plan insurance package — ranging between Dh550 and Dh 750.
Dr Haidar Al Yousuf, Director of Health Funding at DHA said that fines will be given to violating individuals and business starting from April 1.
Fine to be slapped on sponsors, employers
“The fine will be imposed on the sponsors and the employers and not the employees. It will be added to the visa renewal and cancelation fees of the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs.”
Dubai residents who fail to secure mandatory health insurance cover will face a fine of Dh500 per month. Apart from the fine, no new visa will be granted and no existing visas renewed ithout health insurance, according to DHA.
As per the new Executive Council resolution no (6), 2017, endorsed by Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum , Crown prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Dubai Executive Council—all employees and sponsors will have to pay fines if they fail to provide insurance employees by March 31, 2017. Coverage for visitors must also be provided by December 31, 2017 as per the new resolution issued by the Dubai Executive Council.
The Resolution stipulates that the health insurance requirements should include the provision of an essential health insurance plan approved by the DHA.
A total of 12 insurance companies provide the Essential Benefits Plan insurance package, ranging between Dh550 to Dh750, so that those with salaries under Dh4,000 receive adequate cover.
The 12 Companies that provide the essential benefits plan package include:
Noor Takaful Insurance, Abu Dhabi National Insurance Company and Union Insurance, Axa Gulf Insurance, Takaful Emarat, Dar Al Takaful, Orient Insurance, Ras Al Khaima Insurance Company, Daman Health Insurance, Oman Insurance Company, Melife, National General Insurance.
Dr Al Yousef said the essential benefits plan package covers many services that include maternity, emergency, medical tests, referrals, medication etc.
He added that the essential benefits plan package ranges from Dh550 to 750 per year with an average of 584 dirhams, 5 per cent less than the average last year.
Meanwhile the family packages start from Dh650 and the elderly packages start from Dh2,500 per year.
Al Yousef advised those wishing to seek health insurance to read the health insurance policy to learn about the clinics covered in order to benefits from the insurance as much as possible.
Deadline for Phase I that covered companies with 1,000 or more employees, ended on October 31, 2014. Similarly, deadline for Phase 2 covering all companies with 100-999 employees ended on July 31, 2015. Phase 3 that was covering companies with 100 or less employees and includes every resident, including domestic workers and dependents of employees, ended on June 30, 2016. However, owing to delays and massive number of applications, the deadline was extended up to December 2016. The new deadline issued by the Executive Council Resolution stipulates that all residents must have health insurance cover by March 31, 2017.
