Deadline extended for health insurance

Flood of requests leads Dubai Health Authority to relent

DUBAI // The deadline for applications for health insurance has been extended into the new year, Dubai Health Authority announced. The extension followed a flood of applications to insurers in the past few days. It was not clear how long the extension would last.

“More than four million – 98 per cent – of Dubai residents are now covered in the Dubai health insurance,” said Dr Haidar Al Yousuf, director of Health Funding at DHA.

The Dubai Health Insurance Law No 11 of 2013 was adopted on directives from Sheikh Mohammad bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai.

According to the law, which came into effect in January 2014, it is the legal responsibility of every sponsor to provide an essential insurance package – which costs between Dh550 and Dh700 a year – so that those who earn less than Dh4,000 a month have adequate cover. Insurance companies are working to cope with demand from employers and individuals looking for cover, said Dr Al Yousuf.

He said there had also been a large number of online transactions. The DHA launched an awareness campaign in October aimed at companies with fewer than 100 employees. There are an estimated 135,000 small firms in the emirate. These firms must now present health insurance certificates together with other required documentation for visa renewals. New safeguards have also been put in place to prevent health insurance abuse.

So far 99 per cent of employees at 300 large companies and 3,000 to 4,000 medium-sized businesses in the emirate benefit from health cover.