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United Arab Emirates, Dubai: As the date for enforcing penalties for those who have not complied with the Dubai mandatory health insurance scheme nears, Dubai Health Authority (DHA) officials are urging sponsors who have not yet provided their employees and dependents with insurance to complete the process as soon as possible.
The last and final phase in the three-year rollout ended on 31st July 2016, however DHA extended the issuance of penalties on individuals until 31st December, 2016. Penalties are already in place for those companies who fall into the earlier roll out phases ( phase 1 and 2) and have not complied with the deadline of the phase.
Presently, approximately 88 per cent of the population with Dubai visas have mandatory health insurance. “Those who have not complied with the law are already in violation and the penalties on individuals with begin after the year ends. However, we urge the public not to wait until the last day,” said Dr Haider Al Yousuf, Director of Health Funding at the DHA.
DHA has partnered with General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs ( GDRFA) so that no new visa will be issued or an existing one renewed where the individual concerned does not have health insurance coverage in place at the time of visa application or renewal.
“The cooperation with GDRFA is to ensure compliance but people who fall under phase three need to understand that the fines will apply after December 31, so they cannot wait until their visa renewal date unless it is earlier than December 31, because they will accumulate fines,” said Al Yousuf.
The fine is Dh 500, per employee, per month and will be applicable from January 1, 2017. “The cost of the Essential Benefit Package ( EBP) itself is almost the same for the full year, so it is much cheaper to insure your employee/dependent than to pay the fine.”
“The premium for the EBP-the bare minimum package which every sponsor has to provide his employees/dependents ranges between Dh 565 to Dh 650. Similarly, premiums for the elderly dependents were extremely expensive before the scheme and are affordable today. The way the EBP is designed ensures that maternity, emergency, specialist referrals etc. as all covered as part of this package. For Dh 650 a year, this scheme provides patients will all their essential insurance needs and provides them an opportunity to add-on additional cover. It’s a very minimum cost which provides health security and stability to individuals.”
Out of the 46 health insurance companies that are licensed to provide insurance, nine companies have been licensed to provide the EBP for anyone who earns less than Dh4000. “These nine companies cannot deny providing the EBP to anyone who falls in this category.”
The DHA also provides SAADA health insurance to Emiratis and so far, more than 108,000 Emiratis have this insurance.
BOX- Statistics:
Presently, approximately 88 per cent of the population with Dubai visas have mandatory health insurance.
Insurance pyramid:
End of 2013 1.1 million insured
End 2014: End of phase 1: 1.9 million insured
Mid 2015: End of phase 2: 2.6 million insured
End of June 2016: End of phase 3: 3.4 million insured.
50 insurance companies have DHA permit to provide health insurance services in Dubai
9 of which provide EBP to employees earning AED 4000 and less.
In 2015, health insurance services provided to individuals through the health insurance system in Dubai were approximately 44 million services.
The cost of the services amounted to AED 6.8 billion
32 million individual diagnosis made in 2015
17.4 AED million Prescriptions issued
20,602 doctors used the Dubai e-claims system.
Fines and penalties for individuals:
Dh 500 per month per employee from January 1, 2017.
Employers can find all the information they need in an Employer Information Pack downloadable from www.isahd.ae
To ensure compliance, the DHA has partnered with General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs ( GDRFA) so that no new visa will be issued or an existing one renewed where the individual concerned does not have health insurance coverage in place at the time of visa application or renewal.
Essential health benefits(EHB) package:
This is the minimum insurance cover that every employer/ sponsor will have to provide his employees/dependents. The DHA encourages companies to cover the dependents of employees as well.
EHB covers:
· Access to general physician/ family physician.
· Referral to specialists:
· Surgical procedures:
· Laboratory services:
· Emergency services:
· Maternity care
-Ends-
For further information, please contact:
Mahmoud Al Ali
Kamakshi Gupta and Noor Nazzal
Head of Media
Communications Analysts- Media Dept.
Dubai Health Authority
Dubai Health Authority
Klgupta@dha.gov.ae NNNazzal@dha.gov.ae
+9714 219 7260
+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 DHA and His Excellency Humaid Mohammed Obaid Al Qatami is the Chairman of the Board and Director-General of the DHA.
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
