Published: Thursday, October 3, 2024, 6:00 a.m.
Residents of Sharjah and the Northern Emirates will pay lower health insurance premiums as the UAE prepares to introduce a mandatory health insurance scheme for all employees.
Industry experts emphasize that health care costs in these areas will be lower, providing significant financial relief to employers and residents.
Nabil Shanawani, assistant general manager of life and healthcare at Al Buhaira National Insurance in Sharjah, shared his insights on the upcoming changes.
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“With three months left, Sharjah and the Northern Emirates are looking to emulate Dubai’s model and improve affordability while aiming to reduce costs for employers,” Shanawani said at the Insurance Conference 2024, hosted by Thumbay Healthcare. “We are ready to introduce basic medical insurance for the first time,” he said.
The event will include international and regional insurers, as well as government regulators from Dubai Health Authority, and will serve as a starting point for important training in the lead-up to the national compulsory health insurance scheme, due to come into force next year. fulfilled.
Shahnawani said government authorities were reviewing insurance plans in Abu Dhabi and Dubai to develop a basic system that would give employers the flexibility to expand benefits as needed.
The UAE plans to introduce a compulsory health insurance scheme for private sector employees and domestic workers from January 1, 2025. The plan aims to provide affordable health care to people without commercially sponsored insurance. The scheme aims to keep insurance premiums lower than in Dubai to avoid increasing the financial burden on businesses. “Health insurance can be very expensive, and rising costs could have a negative impact on the region’s business environment,” Shanawani said.
Benefit plan not yet finalized
Experts say Sharjah and the Northern Emirates already require health insurance when renewing visas and require residents to show proof of insurance coverage. Specific regulations regarding minimum benefits and plan types have not yet been finalized, but the government is expected to announce further details in the coming months.
“Integration with insurance companies and immigration authorities has already begun, allowing real-time confirmation of an individual’s insurance status, and is expected to be fully operational by January 2025,” Shanawani said. Ta.
โValues-based care is important.โ
Experts emphasized that this initiative is seen as a positive move to ensure that many Northern Emirates residents who do not have health insurance receive the health services they need. โValue-based care is critical for expatriates, and access to insurance will improve health outcomes, improve health services, and improve overall community well-being,โ Shanawani said. .
Dev Maitra, founder and MD of Savington International Insurance Brokers, said health insurance premiums in the Northern Emirates will be lower compared to Dubai and Abu Dhabi. โThis is the first time that we are introducing such a mandatory scheme and it will benefit people residing in the Northern Emirates,โ Maitra said.
He said residents with Northern Emirates visas would benefit from lower insurance premiums as healthcare costs are relatively low in the region.
However, Maitra also said that while residents will have access to hospitals in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, there may be restrictions on the premium healthcare network. โAuthorities are working to ensure that health care remains available and affordable across the country.โ
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