One of the key legal responsibilities for organisations in the UAE is to ensure that all employees have medical insurance that meets the minimum requirements of the appropriate law.
To help you find your way through the various rules and regulations, we’ve gathered the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions on the subject.
Yes. Health insurance is mandatory in the emirates of Abu Dhabi and Dubai. Consideration on insurance policies for other emirates is still underway.
Yes, there are different medical insurance requirements for UAE Nationals and expatriates.
The coverage for employers and their dependents is determined by the employee’s salary, designation etc. The cost of medical services is based on the extent of coverage and type of policy/scheme.
In the emirate of Abu Dhabi, employers and sponsors are responsible for providing health insurance coverage for their employees and their families (1 spouse and 3 children under 18 years).
In the emirate of Dubai, employers are required to provide health insurance coverage for their employees. Sponsors are required to get insurance cover for their resident dependents.
Abu Dhabi – The government of Abu Dhabi provides full medical coverage for all UAE Nationals who live in Abu Dhabi under their “Thiqa” programme. To qualify for this coverage, those who are 18 to 75 years old need to complete Weqaya screening run by the Department of Health. Coverage is via a large network of private and public healthcare providers registered within Daman’s network.
Dubai – Citizens in Dubai have medical cover via a government programme called “Saada“. It provides insurance cover to those not covered by any other health programme and provides treatment through a large network of private and DHA healthcare centres. Details of the Saada programme are included on Emirates ID cards.
Ajman – The Government of Ajman provides all its employees with health insurance.
The official website of the Insurance Authority provides a list of registered insurance companies in the UAE https://ia.gov.ae/en.
You can find an online directory of UAE healthcare related services provided by the respective health authorities at https://u.ae/en/information-and-services/health-and-fitness/eservices-for-health.
Employees need to show their Emirates ID card and/or their insurance card to avail of healthcare services.
No. The law stipulates that employers cannot pass on the cost of the cover to their employees. The renewal of an employee’s visa is subject to the employee having appropriate medical insurance in place.
If you want to see how you can simplify managing your employee medical health insurance, visit us at HRBluSky.
The information in this article was updated on 10 Sep 2020. For the latest information please refer to the official government website at https://u.ae/en/information-and-services/health-and-fitness/health-insurance
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