The General Authority for Health Services; GAHS, conducted a workshop for all health insurance companies operating in the country to discuss the provision of health insurance policies for individuals and visitors. Representatives of all insurance companies and GAHS attended the forum that opened the floor to an array of suggestions and recommendations specifically the emergency and individual policies.
GAHS has recently given consent to authorized insurance companies to issue individual health insurance policies in addition to emergency policies, starting the 1st of January 2007, as long as the authorized insurers adhere to all clauses stipulated in the Code of Regulations.
GAHS has also circulated detailed information to all insurance companies regarding the provision of individual and emergency policies and has requested that all interested insurers submit detailed proposals and copies of the policies they wish to issue.
With the provision of individual and emergency policies by authorized insurance companies all sponsors are obliged to provide health insurance coverage for expatriates under their sponsorship and visitors arriving to the UAE with visit visas if their period of stay exceeds 2 months.
GAHS has also announced that sponsors wishing to extend visit visas in excess of 2 months are obliged to obtain an emergency policy. This policy is applicable to visitors staying in Abu Dhabi for over 2 months, and children sponsored by their parents and residing outside the country provided that official proof documentation is presented. The premium for the emergency policy will be decided on according to the duration of stay in the country and according to market prices. The policy will provide the following services:
□ AED 100,000 maximum health service coverage.
□ UAE-wide geographic coverage.
□ A network of authorized health insurance companies throughout the country
□ Hospital admission in general wards (2+ beds)
□ Ambulance services in medical emergencies
□ Physiotherapy (during hospitalization)
□ Dental coverage only where such treatment results from traumatic and violent medical injuries sustained.
□ Complete coverage of medical service expenses
□ Pharmaceuticals during hospitalization
The emergency policy however will not cover pre-existing and chronic diseases, and is valid for a period of one month.
During the workshop, GAHS also presented their recommendations with regards to individual policies that sponsors must provide to individuals under their sponsorships. Sponsors must purchase Basic Product Policies for all employees with salaries not exceeding AED 3000 with housing or AED 4000 without housing.
GAHS has commenced the implementation of these procedures and has circulated the information to all relevant parties involved in the Health Insurance Law, and is continually overseeing the effective execution of all aspects regarding the law, and requests all involved parties to adhere to its stipulations.
