With health insurance being mandatory for all residents in the UAE, insurance companies in Dubai have had to create low cost options to provide to individuals. One thing to keep in mind, however, is that although employers are encouraged to do so, they have no legal obligation to provide cover for dependents of their employees.
Because of this, some companies in Dubai do not provide an option for insurance cover for their employees’ dependents to save costs. As a result, employees have no choice but to look for a good health insurance cover for their families on their own, which can be challenging and financially stressing to find.
As per Dubai Health Insurance Law (ISAHD) and the mandatory Essential Benefits Plan (EBP) rolled out at the end of 2016, companies with 100 or less employees, residents, domestic workers, and dependents of employees must be covered by medical insurance in Dubai. This ensures that children, dependents, domestic workers, and non-working residents can have access to good health insurance plans at an affordable cost.
Usually, an EBP plan is the best option for residents earning less than 4,000 AED per month, or for those who do not work and cannot afford to get health insurance for their dependents. Offered at a reasonable cost, its standardized packages with premiums range from AED 650 to 725 per year, with basic coverage including access to a general physician, specialist referrals, certain surgical procedures, laboratory tests, emergency services, check ups, medication, and maternity care.
When it comes to certain in-patient coverage, such as diagnostic tests, treatments and surgeries in non-life threatening cases, it is required to get prior approval or pre-authorization from the insurance company first, as it might not be covered. Plus, as part of being a basic plan, there are restrictions and limitations to be aware of when it comes to EBP, including a maximum coverage per year of up to AED 150,000.
For basic in-patient healthcare services, co-insurance payments are important to know. Set at 20% of the total bill, co-payments are capped at AED 500 per visit. However, there is an annual aggregate cap of AED 1,000, after which the insurer will need to cover 100% of the treatment. The basic package limits medicine purchases of up to AED 1,500 each year, while the insured covers 30% of the cost of the prescription from their own pocket.
In the case of pre-existing or chronic conditions, you need to make sure the insurer is aware of them in order to provide complete coverage after the six month waiting period. However, if there are any emergency health issues related to the condition, the insurer will cover them through medical claims.
Finding the best option for EBP cover
Health insurance companies in Dubai immediately started to offer affordable EBP packages as soon as most people were forced to get medical insurance by law. But especially during these times, it is essential for all insurance companies to have an EBP as an option, giving people a form of relief when it comes to their health and financial wellbeing.
Whether you are looking to get an EBP for your spouse, children, or domestic help, here are some of the top insurance companies where you can benefit from:
| AXA insurance | Cost: 677 AED per year Coverage: – Direct billing for in-patient and out-patient treatment within the UAE, pre-existing and chronic conditions, maternity cover. |
| National Health Insurance Company | Cost: from AED 615 to 800 (depending if it’s a domestic helper or dependent) Coverage: – in-patient, out-patient, maternity and emergency services, local health insurance plans with options for worldwide benefits, access to the largest network in the UAE with over 2,000 hospitals,clinics and pharmacies. |
| Oman Insurance | Cost: AED 560 Coverage: – In-patient and out-patient services, emergencies, laboratory, maternity, over 500 hospitals / clinics and 1,400 pharmacies. |
| Metlife Alico | Cost: AED 761 (for domestic help), AED 1,312 (for dependents) Coverage: -Medical visits to a general doctor in UAE, in-patient treatments, emergency medical treatments or hospitalization, diagnostic tests, maternity services, prescription drugs, physiotherapy, preventive services (DHA mandatory vaccines and immunizations). |
| Takaful Emarat | Cost: starting from AED 525 Coverage: – Tests, diagnosis, treatments and surgeries in hospitals for non-urgent medical cases (Prior approval required), in-patient and outpatient services, maternity cover. |
| RAK Insurance | Cost: starting from AED 485 Coverage: – tests, diagnosis, treatments and surgeries in hospitals for non-urgent medical cases (Prior approval required), in-patient and outpatient services, maternity cover, day care services, emergencies. |
Choosing an insurance plan that suits your needs
The health insurance plans that may suit your colleagues or friends could not be the right fit for you. So before opting for the policies that they’ve purchased, take a step back to think about what your specific needs.
Here are a few of the key factors that you should consider while making this decision:
- Do you want a basic coverage health insurance policy or a comprehensive plan?
Basic healthcare plans only have the minimum benefits required by the Dubai Health Authority. The deductibles are higher for these plans but the premium are generally much lower. However, for most Essential Benefits Plans, the applicant must have a salary of AED 4,000 or lower.
- Deductible vs. Coinsurance – which should you opt for?
The main differences between the two is how your share of medical costs would be calculated (fixed amount vs. percentage). Healthcare insurance plans may offer either only one of these or a combination of the two for different depending on the policy. Your decision to go for either or should depend on whether you think you’ll be using your policy for more expensive treatments or not.
- How much are you willing to spend on a health insurance policy?
It is important to balance-out the cost and the comprehensiveness of the policy you purchase. Try to figure out how much you might spend on excluded treatments and accordingly decide how extensive your coverage should be (of course, it would be difficult to factor in emergency treatments as they are not possible to predict). You also have to consider whether you’ll have to add your spouse and children onto the plan.
- Are the doctors and hospitals you usually go to in the network?
Insurance companies will provide you with a list of medical facilities that you can access without having to pay out of pocket depending on the plan that you choose. Make sure that you choose a policy that has all (or most) of the healthcare providers that you usually use. Otherwise, you’ll have to pay for the consultation or treatment and get reimbursed. It usually takes a few weeks to do so and you end up getting back around 80% of your money back.
- Do you need a plan that has worldwide coverage?
If you are a frequent traveler you need to ensure that your plan covers you in all geographic locations that you are usually in to make sure that you get reimbursed for the medical costs that you incur. Some policies also offer direct billing facilities abroad.
So remember, it is very important to take some time time to evaluate not only the healthcare plans available, but also your own needs. You can contact one of our insurance consultants or use our comparison platform to make an informed decision. Medical emergencies are not in your control, but a smart choice early on, can help you be prepared for one.
Conclusion
Finding the most convenient insurance option for you and your family is essential. By partnering with leading providers, Bayzat gives you a wide range of options to choose from so you can ensure to access and use your insurance like never before. Contact us today if you want to get started.
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