Image: Getty Images/ For illustrative purposes
The UAE’s Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) has launched a new basic health insurance package for private sector employees and domestic workers who are currently not covered by any insurance.
The initiative is part of the Health Insurance Scheme approved by the UAE Cabinet and is set to extend coverage across the country starting from January 1, 2025.
The scheme is being implemented in collaboration with the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs, and Port Security, the Ministry of Health and Prevention, and several insurance companies.
The new insurance package is designed to ensure that 100 per cent of the UAE’s workforce, including workers in Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Qaiwain, Ras Al Khaimah, and Fujairah, have access to healthcare services.
Details of the health insurance scheme
- Coverage: The scheme covers private sector employees and domestic workers who are not currently insured.
- Implementation timeline: Coverage will extend to workers in Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Qaiwain, Ras Al Khaimah, and Fujairah starting on January 1, 2025. The system is already mandatory in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
- Eligibility: Employers must purchase the insurance as a condition for issuing or renewing residency permits. The mandate will not apply to workers with work permits issued before January 1, 2024 until their residency permits are up for renewal.
- Insurance cost: The new health insurance package costs Dhs320 per year. There is no waiting period for chronic illnesses.
- Coverage age range: The insurance is available for individuals aged 1 to 64 years. Those over this age must submit a medical disclosure form and recent medical reports.
Key benefits and terms
- In-patient care:
- 20 per cent co-payment for hospitalisation or surgery.
- A maximum of Dhs500 per visit for inpatient care, with an annual cap of Dhs1,000, including medications.
- Beyond this limit, the insurance company covers 100 per cent of treatment costs.
- Outpatient care:
- 25 per cent co-payment for medical visits, diagnostic tests, or minor procedures.
- Maximum Dhs100 per visit for outpatient care.
- No co-payment for follow-up visits for the same condition within seven days.
- Medications are subject to a 30 per cent co-payment, capped at Dhs1,500 annually.
- Network:
- The insurance covers treatment at seven hospitals, 46 clinics and medical centres, and 45 pharmacies across the UAE.
- Family dependents of the insured workers can access the same benefits and pricing as specified in the policy.
- Refund option: The policy is valid for two years. If a worker’s visa is cancelled, the second-year premium can be refunded.
Employers’ role and compliance
Employers are required to buy the insurance package through the DubaiCare Network or accredited insurance companies.
This must be done via multiple channels including the Insurance Pool website, smart applications, and business service centres across the country.
MoHRE launches a basic health insurance package for private sector employees and domestic workers across the UAE who are not currently covered by any insurance, starting from 1 January 2025, as part of the Health Insurance Scheme approved by the UAE Cabinet.
This package covers… pic.twitter.com/qR1tdlogeJ
— وزارة الموارد البشرية والتوطين (@MOHRE_UAE) December 16, 2024
Government officials weigh in on the scheme
Khalil Al Khoori, undersecretary of Labour Market and Emiratisation Operations at MoHRE, highlighted the UAE’s commitment to providing comprehensive protection to all workers. “The health insurance scheme reflects the UAE’s commitment to extending the comprehensive protection system to all workers across the labour market, ensuring a decent life for all by providing access to high-quality healthcare services for private sector employees and domestic workers,” Al Khoori said.
He added, “The initiative represents another major milestone in the series of accomplishments seen across the UAE labour market, and it forms part of a broader vision to expand the integrated social protection umbrella, which includes the Worker Protection Programme, Unemployment Insurance Scheme, and the voluntary ‘Savings Scheme’.”
Major General Saeed Salem Balhas Al Shamsi, acting DG of Identity and Foreigners Affairs at the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs, and Port Security, also stressed the importance of the scheme. “This essential step aligns with the wise leadership’s vision to enhance the community’s quality of life, uphold human rights, and ensure healthcare access for all,” Al Shamsi said.
Dr. Mohammed Salim Al Olama, undersecretary at the Ministry of Health and Prevention, noted that the new scheme is part of the UAE’s ongoing efforts to enhance healthcare access for all workers. “The system expands insurance coverage to include groups previously not covered, providing them with access to high-quality health services,” Dr. Al Olama explained.
Impact of the health insurance scheme
The new health insurance scheme is expected to boost productivity and improve the quality of life for workers by reducing the financial burden on employers for medical treatment and reducing absenteeism caused by uninsured workers. It will also enhance early disease detection and chronic disease prevention, aligning with the UAE’s overall strategy for a preventative and integrated healthcare system.
Dr Al Olama also noted that including these groups under the insurance coverage will expand the national health database, facilitating more accurate health research, strategic planning, and better resource allocation.
Read: Senior citizens in the UAE get new health insurance plan
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