By end of June, most expatriates in Dubai — if not all — are expected to have valid health insurance with at least basic cover, that includes a range of benefits. To date, almost 75 per cent of expatriates, including all categories of workers and their dependants, have been covered under the mandatory health insurance scheme launched by Dubai Health Authority (DHA) in January 2014.
The implementation seems to be proceeding smoothly, but several challenges remain. For instance, there is a lack of awareness among people about affordable packages. Basic packages start from Dh650 for children, Dh1,700 for spouses and Dh2,500 for dependent parents irrespective of their age. Greater awareness is necessary and the DHA and insurance companies must take steps to inform people.
Secondly, many companies still consider the mandatory cover as an added financial burden. Employers must understand that the benefits of access to quality health care for workers far outweighs the impact on the balance sheets of the company. An insured, healthy worker is more productive than someone who doesn’t have cover and is forced to travel for medical treatment. Similarly, the mandatory cover extends health benefits to workers’ families, including elderly, dependent parents — something that was beyond the reach for many expatriates.
The DHA, however, must introduce checks and balances to prevent overuse of health infrastructure and misuse of insurance by both private hospitals and people. This can be done by standardising the pricing of diagnostic and treatment procedures and close monitoring of both out and in-patient charges. The robustness of a medical system depends upon reliable access to quality health care and all stakeholders — the regulator, service providers and clients — must work together to ensure the success of this ambitious scheme.
