Navigating Health Insurance in the UAE
If you’re looking to take out health insurance in the UAE, finding the right cover can sometimes be a little overwhelming. With so many different policies to choose from, not to mention the variety of UAE health insurance brokers to choose from, knowing where to begin can be a bit of a headache.
Whether you’re a long-term resident local to the UAE, or an expat looking to start a new chapter in your life, having adequate UAE medical insurance in place is vital and should be one of the first things on your agenda.
With health insurance is typically mandatory across the nation, (there are some exceptions) requirements can differ depending upon where in the UAE you reside. This is why having a clear and concise understanding of UAE health insurance brokers and the coverage and policies they provide is so important.
To help make things that little bit easier, we’ve compiled this handy guide on navigating health insurance in the UAE.
Public or Private UAE Healthcare?
When shopping around for health insurance in the UAE, you first need to decide whether to opt for public or private healthcare.Across the UAE, there are a series of well-organized, professional, and reliable public healthcare facilities which offer very high standards of care. These standards, however, can vary from region to region. Not only that, but as they are readily available to the public, they can become overcrowded. Foreigners and expats may also find themselves of a lower priority, and may struggle with language barriers. If you are an expat looking to use public healthcare in the UAE, you will need to liaise with the Ministry of Health and acquire a health card. When it comes to private healthcare, however, there are far more private medical facilities across the UAE, typically offering superior facilities, services, and medical expertise. Language barriers are also less likely in a private medical facility in the UAE. This is one of the main reasons why private health insurance in the UAE is so highly sought after.Different Types of UAE Medical Insurance Plans
For those looking for UAE health insurance plans, generally you’ll have five types of plan to choose from. These include:Basic Coverage
As the name implies, this is the lowest level of insurance coverage offered by UAE health insurance brokers. It is a government mandated plan which provides the absolute basics of healthcare. As you might expect, these plans cost less and are therefore more affordable. The downside is that they only provide basic levels of healthcare.Enhanced Coverage
Moving up a level, these health insurance plans provide additional levels of coverage, with greater access to hospitals, medical facilities, and healthcare services. They’re more expensive than basic coverage plans, but you get a whole lot more for your money.Group Coverage
Group health insurance in the UAE is a policy which will provide coverage for a group of individuals named on the policy. Usually, you’ll find that businesses offer this coverage for their employees, making it a form of workplace health insurance.Family Coverage
Family health insurance coverage in the UAE is a type of policy which covers all members of the policy holder’s family, including the policy holder themselves. Typically it will provide health insurance coverage for children and spouses, though some policies offer coverage for extended family members as well.International Coverage
Finally, if you travel a lot or are an expat, international health insurance coverage could be ideal. This level of coverage allows you to access healthcare services both in the UAE and overseas.What Does UAE Health Insurance Cover?
Of course, different UAE medical insurance brokers provide different levels of coverage, but typically, you’ll find your policy includes the following:- Preventative care
- Basic healthcare services
- Outpatient and inpatient treatment
- Emergency services
- Surgeries
- Prescription medications
- Specialist appointments
- Diagnostic testing
- Lab services
- Emergency care
- Rehabilitation services
- Maternity care
