While penalties will not immediately be imposed DHA stressed that the deadline for the mandatory Dubai health insurance plan remains as June 30th

UAE, Dubai, June 23, 2016

Dubai Health Authority (DHA) recorded an impressive demand by Mandatory Health Insurance buyers ahead of the Dubai Mandatory Health insurance June 30th deadline.  

While penalties will not immediately be imposed on individual sponsors who fail to insure themselves, employees and dependents, DHA stressed that the deadline for the mandatory Dubai health insurance plan remains as June 30th.

DHA launched workshops and road shows to help the public easily meet the Dubai Mandatory Insurance-- as it approaches its June 30th deadline.

To help individual sponsors meet this deadline with ease Dr Haidar Al Yousuf, Director of Health Funding at DHA said the authority launched road shows that took place in different hospitals and health centres across Dubai.

"At these workshops and roadshows, the companies who have been shortlisted to provide the basic insurance package--  fixed between Dh550 and Dh700--  were invited to meet the public to help them acquire the insurance," he said.

The roadshows and workshops will be taking place at Rashid Hospital from June 26th to 30th , Hatta Hospital from July 11 to 14th, Nad Al Hamar Health Center from July 17 - 21, Al Barsha Health Center from July 24 to 28 and Mizhar Health Center from September 1 to 4.

The roadshow already took place at Latifa Hospital from June 14-19 and Dubai Hospital from June 20th to 23rd.

The Health Funding Department of DHA issued a circular regarding the marketing activities of health insurance providers to insure credibility and transparency, which states that all marketing material in regards to Mandatory Health Insurance must be approved by the department prior to circulation.

This applies to all forms of media and is applicable to any parties involved in marketing of the medical insurance.

According to the Dubai Health Insurance Law No 11 of 2013 that came into effect in January 2014, the legal liability for every sponsor is to provide an essential insurance package--  fixed between Dh550 and Dh700-- so that those with salaries under Dh4,000 receive adequate cover.

 "We urge everyone to abide by the law, which aims to protect not only their dependents but also the sponsors," said Al Yousuf , who added that there has been many cases where a depended suddenly fell ill and required immediate treatment causing the sponsor to cover costs that can reach to tens of thousands if dirhams.

"Having your dependents insured will not only protect and save their life in the case where they might need urgent medical intervention; it also protects the sponsor. If the sponsor insures the employee they will only have to pay around Dh500 to get him/her medically covered for a whole year instead of paying thousands for one case."

In fact, Al Yousuf said a study found that the cost of the essential benefits package is less than 1.5 per cent of employees' monthly salary on average.

 Around 75% of the Dubai population already have Dubai Visas that have mandatory health insurance and it is expected that almost 95 per cent of resident with Dubai visas will have to come under the mandatory health insurance cover.

The mandatory insurance plan is currently in its third phase, which covers companies with 100 or less employees and includes every resident, including domestic workers and dependents of employees.

Al Yousuf revealed that 30 to 40 per cent of those who fall under the third phase have already been covered.

Employers can find all the information they need in an Employer Information Pack downloadable from www.isahd.ae, the website dedicated to providing information on implementation of the Law.

-Ends-

For further information, please contact:
Mahmoud Al Ali
Head of Media
Dubai Health Authority
myalali@dha.gov.ae
+9714 219 7260

Kamakshi Gupta and Noor Nazzal
Communications Analysts- Media Dept.
Dubai Health Authority
klgupta@dha.gov.ae nnnazzal@dha.gov.ae
+9714 2197455

About the Dubai Health Authority:
The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) was created, in June 2007, by Law 13 issued by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, Ruler of Dubai, with an expanded vision to include strategic oversight for the complete health sector in Dubai and enhance private sector engagement. His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and UAE Minister of Finance is the President of the Dubai Health Authority and His Excellency Humaid Al Qatami is the Chairman of the Board and Director-General of the Dubai Health Authority.

The DHA's aim in Dubai is to provide an accessible, effective and integrated healthcare system, protect public health and improve the quality of life within the Emirate. This is a direct translation of the objectives of the Dubai Strategic Plan 2015 launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Keeping the strategic plan in mind, the DHA's mission is to ensure access to health services, maintain and improve the quality of these services, improve the health status of nationals, residents and visitors and oversee a dynamic, efficient and innovative health sector.

In addition to overseeing the health sector for the Emirate of Dubai, the DHA also focuses on providing services through DHA healthcare facilities including hospitals (Latifa, Dubai, Rashid and Hatta), specialty centres (e.g. the Dubai Diabetes Center) and DHA primary health centres spread throughout the Emirate of Dubai.

The main pillars of service delivery at DHA health facilities are quality, efficiency, patients and staff.  It is our aim to maintain and improve the quality and efficiency of DHA health services. An important aspect of the service delivery strategy is to focus on patients, their needs and satisfaction as well as attract, retain, nurture and support outstanding staff.

Prior to the establishment of the DHA, the Department of Health and Medical Services (DOHMS), which was established in 1973, was the functioning authority that almost exclusively focused on health service delivery.

© Press Release 2016