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Ensuring health insurance

The UAE eyes health insurance coverage for all

The UAE is a health-conscious country, and is one of the biggest stakeholders in heath industry in the region. Its prime objective is to furnish 'heath for all', and in this regard, it has made endeavours to not only smoothen provision of healthcare facilities, but also made it a point to come up with health insurance policies for all. While the UAE health market is expected to grow at an average of 7 per cent, so is the case with insurance providers in healthcare sector. 
The government has introduced several programmes to make health insurance coverage mandatory, and duly linked it with employment contract and visa renewal. This is genuine leadership meant to provide basic amenities of healthcare for all, irrespective of his/her legal and economic status in the UAE. This is why even tourists are encouraged to possess a health coverage plan for their duration of stay in the emirates. 
In Abu Dhabi, employers and sponsors are responsible for providing health insurance coverage for their employees and their families. The coverage is mandatory for employee, spouse and up to three children under the age of 18. So is the case in Dubai, where employers are required to provide health insurance coverage for their employees. Similarly, sponsors are required to get insurance cover for their resident dependents. In the other five emirates of the UAE, local authorities and employers are trusted with the mandate to ensure healthcare provisions.
Under the Thiqa programme, the Abu Dhabi Government provides full medical coverage for all UAE nationals living in Abu Dhabi, who are 18 to 75 years old. For Dubai, the Saada health insurance programme provides insurance coverage to citizens, who do not currently benefit from any government health programme. The programme provides treatment through a large network of healthcare providers in the private sector and DHA healthcare centres. 
The provision is not restricted to nationals, as expatriates also benefit from the largesse of the state authorities. The government has come up with a policy to provide mandatory cover for the health needs of expatriates and their families. Even the elderly, who reside on residence visa, are supposed to have a health plan from designated insurance providers.
It is estimated that around four million dwellers of Dubai, including Emiratis and expatriates, are covered under the health insurance plan, which is a first of its kind in the region. The health authorities have eased the process of insurance choices for people by designating around 50 insurance companies that provide health insurance choices at different rates. Health insurance coverage, indeed, is about concern for the right to live and all those in need of empathy.
- mehkri@khaleejtimes.com

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