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Dubai government hospitals to accept insurance cards
Residents medically covered by any insurance provider will soon have access to government hospitals and health centres in Dubai, according to a senior health official.
The Dubai Health Authority is in the process of allowing residents to use their insurance cards in its hospitals and centres to access a number of health services. Until now, residents could use only one approved insurance provider and a government health card if they wanted to access health services in its hospitals.
“We are in the process of allowing this change and it will happen soon,” said Dr Haidar Al Yousuf, Director of Health Funding at the authority.
He said the DHA will be part of the insurance network providers in Dubai. “Currently, there are one million people who are insured in Dubai and this will give them a great advantage,” he added.
The move comes ahead of a long stalled compulsory health insurance scheme which is expected to be rolled out in Dubai this year. Under this scheme, all residents will have access to basic healthcare. The scheme is expected to cover two million Dubai residents.
However, a health insurance law will have to be in place before the scheme is made compulsory. The law stipulates that the sponsor will be responsible for providing insurance cover to those under his sponsorship, be it his family or employees.
The law, like all regulatory frameworks, will also address penalties for non-compliance.
Dr Haider said that the services will start gradually so that there is no burden on the existing system. “Of course capacity needs to be built...and this will happen gradually,” he said.
Last week the authority launched a portal where all the medically insured residents can lodge complaints and give suggestions on the health insurance services in the emirate.
Through the portal, residents can lodge a complaint against an insurance company if the company refuses to cover a certain service or health test that an insured person is entitled to.
Residents welcomed the news saying that it would provide them with more choices. “I think this is very good news since my experience with government hospitals has been really good,” said Kiran Hussain.
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