Health Upp Health insurance is important to safeguard the health and well-being of residents of the UAE. Moreover, it’s a mandatory requirement for visa issuance and renewals in the emirates of Dubai and Abu Dhabi. The UAE is a country with a high standard of living with an advanced healthcare sector. Health insurance is essential for your family’s well-being. Insuring yourself and your loved ones can help protect against the financial repercussions of rising healthcare costs, chronic conditions, and even injury or illness. Depending on your needs and coverage requirements, you can consult with an insurance broker to understand the various health insurance plans available in the UAE that are the best fit for you and your family.
What is Health Insurance?
Health insurance is a form of protection against potential health-related costs. It provides financial protection in the event of any medical conditions including of injury, sickness, accidents, or death. Health insurance can help pay for the cost of medical treatments that can include doctor’s visits, prescription drugs, hospitalization, and also other medical services. When you have health insurance, you can get access to hospitals, clinics, doctors’ consultation, health checkups without having to worry about paying out-of-pocket first.
You can consult with an insurance broker to select from a variety of types of health insurance plans available in the UAE. Even if you are staying in any of the northern emirates of Sharjah, Ajman, Ras-al-khaimah, Umm-al-Quwain, Fujairah, you can avail medical insurance as per your choice and needs. There are also special health insurance categories if you are an investor, dependant (senior citizen), resident of northern emirates, employee earning less than AED 4000 per month.
Health insurance in UAE includes worldwide coverage, which means you can opt for treatment in the country of your choice. Every health insurance policy in UAE also has a hospital network which determines the hospitals and clinics you can avail treatment from, this usually varies between different health insurance plans and coverages.
Types of Health Insurance Plans in the UAE –
Individual Health Insurance
Individual health insurance covers an individual only, it is meant for one person. It covers basic healthcare such as hospitalization, doctor’s visits, and medications. You can opt for a wider coverage by shifting to an enhanced health insurance plan, the premium for an enhanced plan will be higher than that of a basic plan. Individual plans provide a monthly or annual cap on how much the insured person can be expected to pay.
Dubai Health Authority (DHA), Dubai, and the Department of Health (DOH), Abu Dhabi mandate health insurance to be taken by all citizens and residents of the emirate. Individual health insurance covers in-patient healthcare services, emergency treatments, maternity, diagnostic and also laboratory tests, general physician (GP) consultations, pharmacy, physiotherapy, dental, hearing/vision aids, vaccination, alternative medicine, etc.
Family Health Insurance
Family health insurance covers the entire family and is meant for two or more people for a fixed sum assured in exchange for a single annual premium. It usually covers the cost of basic healthcare like hospitalization and doctor’s visits. this also provides coverage in case two or more members of a family are hospitalized or are diagnosed with any ailment at the same time.
It usually covers healthcare services which include in-patient hospitalization, physician consultation, pharmacy, physiotherapy, maternity, alternative medicine (viz Homeopathy, Acupuncture, Ayurveda), vaccination benefits, dental benefits, etc.
Employee Health Insurance / Domestic Workers Health Insurance
Employee health insurance covers the employee and sometimes their family members. It is a mandatory benefit offered by companies in Dubai and Abu Dhabi to their employees. It covers basic healthcare, like hospitalization and doctors’ visits. Some health insurance plans are designed for those who are about to become self-employed or are about to change jobs.
You can also cover your domestic help/maids if their gross monthly salary is under AED 4000 per month. Such insurance is currently mandatory for Dubai Visa Holders and Abu Dhabi Visa Holders.
Dependents Health Insurance
Dependents’ health insurance covers non-working dependents / aged parents in a family. This could include children under the age of 21 or parents who are senior citizens.
It usually covers healthcare services which include. hospitalization, physician consultations, diagnostic tests/procedures, pharmacy, physiotherapy, maternity benefits, medical conditions or bodily injuries requiring Hospitalization, Hospitalization, Emergency hospital services, etc.
Investors Health Insurance
Investor health insurance is meant for those who are looking to protect their health and financial future at the same time. This type of health insurance plan offers medical coverage for investors and their dependents.
It usually covers healthcare services which include basic healthcare services, like hospitalization, doctors’ visits, and treatments. hospitalization, physician consultations, diagnostic tests/procedures, pharmacy, physiotherapy, maternity benefits, medical conditions, or bodily injuries requiring hospitalization, day-care services, Emergency hospital services, etc.
Insurance for Citizens or Residents in the Northeastern Emirates
Holders of Northern Emirates Visas are covered by the standard package of individual medical insurance known as NEMed (Ajman, Fujairah, Ras Al-Khaimah, Sharjah, and Umm al-Quwain). It covers a comprehensive range of medical services, which are hospitalization, physician consultations, diagnostic tests/procedures, pharmacy, physiotherapy, maternity benefits, etc.
How to buy health insurance in the UAE
To buy health insurance in the UAE, it is best to consult with an insurance broker. Insurance brokers in the UAE have access to a vast database comprising all the insurance providers and updated health insurance plans in the region. With this, they are better equipped to understand your needs and also suggest the right plan for you. They even act as a liaison for you when you need to register a claim with the insurance company
The Bottom Line
Health insurance in UAE safeguards your from the financial repercussions of an illness or injury, since it includes Covid-19 coverage, pre and post hospitalization costs, annual health checkups and more, it also gives you peace of mind. It protects your hard-earned savings and prevents you from borrowing loans during any healthcare crisis. It’s, therefore, important to choose the right health insurance plan as per your life stage and family requirements. The premium that you pay for health insurance should be considered an investment for a long and healthy life.