Sharjah: The Sharjah Health Authority (SHA) has announced the introduction of a new unified health insurance scheme for Emirati employees and their families which will begin in June.
The Authority informed government departments in the emirate to collect old insurance cards from employees and replace them with new insurance cards from the beginning of next week. The new system will be effective from June 1 and old insurance cards will be invalid after May 31.
“This insurance plan is a unified scheme with new categories for local employees of the government of Sharjah. It follows the orders of His Highness Dr Shaikh Sultan Bin Mohammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, to unify all the benefits and networks for the employees,” said Dr Abdul Aziz Saeed Al Meheiri, Director of the Health Regulation Department at the Health Authority.
The health authority also stressed that old insurance cards must not be used after their expiry date as the cost of treatment will be charged to the user. The new insurance scheme will include a network of hospitals and clinics and will provide the same benefits to all Sharjah Government’s employees, both nationals and residents.
“Whether an employee is a chairman, or general director or a newly employed person, they will all receive the same unified health insurance,” said Al Meheiri.
He also added that employees will continue to have the same serial number on their new health insurance cards which will be replaced by their HR departments before the end of the month.
“The aim of this is to boost employees’ sense of belonging within the workplace, stimulate them to exert greater efforts, and ensure that employees and their families have peace of mind. The new scheme also helps increase investment opportunities in the health care sector in the emirate of Sharjah,” said Sharjah Health Authority Chairman Abdullah Ali Al Mahyan at a recent meeting discussing the new scheme.
The health insurance is valid for all beneficiaries of Sharjah Government employees, both nationals and residents, and covers the Emirati employee, spouse and all children as per the family records (with the exception of married or employed adults). The health insurance also covers the retired employee and spouse, widow of a retired employee and all children as per the family record (with the exception of married or employed adults). For residents, the health insurance covers the male employee, wife and three children below 18 years, or the female employee only.
