Working and living in Dubai might sound like a dream come true, but for many people it has become a reality. Moving to the Middle East and working in one of the most progressive and rapidly developing Emirates has many advantages, but one thing you really need to have in place before you get on a plane is health insurance.
It is not just health insurance for you that is required – if you are moving out there with a family then you need to make sure that there is insurance in place for them as well. In the vast majority of cases there is insurance provided by the employer, and with the recent changes in the law, it is now the responsibility of the employer to ensure that insurance is in place for any expat workers that they take on.
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Why would I need Dubai health insurance?
Dubai health insurance for individuals is important for many reasons. When you are in your own country, getting medical help is the easiest thing to do. You simply go to your doctor and if needed hey will refer you to a specialist for further tests or treatment. However, in other countries the situation can be very different. In Dubai if you need emergency medical treatment you can have it, but you are still expected to have some form of private healthcare insurance in place.
If you are taking your family to Dubai with you, health insurance can provide you with the peace of mind of knowing that if there is an emergency it is not going to cost you a lot of money to put right. The cost of tests, x-rays, scans and treatment can be very high and not everyone has the luxury of a bank account with a healthy and hefty balance!
Will the reforms on healthcare insurance affect me?
Healthcare insurance has become mandatory for all expats. Employment and residency visas will only be issued once it is proved that the applicant has the right health insurance in place. There are two different types of insurance plan. The first is the minimum health insurance package that should be in place for all workers. This is known as the Essential Benefits Plan. Plans that offer more than the basic level of insurance are considered to have ‘enhanced products’.
The level of insurance that will apply to you will depend upon a great deal. Private healthcare means that you do get access to a wider range of hospitals and clinics. You need to remember that even if your employer is obliged to provide you with a private health insurance policy they are not obliged to provide one that covers your family as well. Many do, but you need to be sure of this before you travel to Dubai. If the policy will not extend to your family then you need to make arrangements for them yourself.
Choosing your health insurance plan.
When you are choosing your private healthcare policy there is a number of things that you need to take into consideration. You need to make sure that your provider offers a comprehensive plan design. Consider in advance all of the possibilities that could happen and make sure that the plan covers these. Sometimes people will take out a policy thinking that the basics will be enough when in actual fact they need to consider extras such as specialist treatments and consultations.
Consider a plan that does not place low caps on outpatient treatment, prescription medications and chronic conditions. The costs for these can be considerably higher in other countries and you don’t want to find this out too late.
An important point for any policy is the accessibility. There are some policies that restrict which medical facilities can be used. In Dubai there are plenty of good hospitals and clinics but you could find that you are some distance from the hospitals that are covered in your policy.
The best option is to make sure that you speak to a provider that specialises in healthcare for the region that you are moving to. Dubai insurance specialists Expat Health will be able to answer any questions that you have and ensure that the policy that you start offers you everything that you and your family need.