Last Updated on 9 months by Anoob P T
Medical Insurance in Dubai is an absolute must have. Dubai can be an expensive city to live in and as with any top cities in the world, healthcare is not cheap and you should be planned for any unforseen events.
I’ve always believed that health is greater than wealth and if you are well and healthy, you can always think about ways to make money.
Recently, I left my full time job and pursuing different channels to make money online.
Medical Insurance Dubai: How to Choose The Best Health Insurance
Table of Contents
About Medical Insurance in Dubai
A medical insurance policy is a type of insurance policy that provides financial aid and coverage for medical expenses when the insured is hospitalized.
As you would know, a medical insurance policy in Dubai or anywhere else varies and some offer more benefits than others. This is especially applicable for policies that cover pre or post hospitalization.
There are two ways in which medial insurance policy providers pay the required sum for treatment: either they pay directly to the health care provider or they pay to the policy holder.
Why Do You Need Health Insurance ?
The government of Dubai is reputed to be one of the best and most transparent in the world.
The government of Dubai has made medical insurance mandatory for nationals and expat residential with a goal to provide quality health service in the region.
This health insurance policy should meet or exceed minimum benefits stipulated by Dubai Health Authority (DHA).
In the Emirate of Dubai, an employer is legally entitled to provide at least a basic standard of Health Insurance through the Essential Benefits Plan (EBP) to their employees.
Dubai Health Authority established the EBP to ensure at least basic level of coverage for anyone coming into the Emirates as an inhabitant.
These guidelines also extend to sponsors related to their spouses, wards and domestic workforce.
Features & Benefits of Medical Insurance Dubai
Here are some features and benefits of medical insurance policies in Dubai.
Cashless Transaction: Almost all health insurance companies in Dubai have partnerships with major hospitals across the Emirates.
In case the beneficiary has to be admitted to any of these network hospitals, the treatment can be completely cashless which means the patient does not need to pay any amount to begin treatment.
The insured person will only have to provide the medical insurance policy number and the help desk at the hospital will verify details and start treatment without any advance payment.
Medical insurance policies in Dubai have various limits and in case the medical treatment exceeds the value covered by the insurance policy, the insured individual will have to bear additional expenses.
Coverage for Pre & Post Hospitalization: If you choose your medical insurance in Dubai well, some policies will cover pre & post hospitalization expenses for a specific number of days before and after a policyholder is hospitalized.
Medical Check-Up: A medical insurance policy from reputed providers also provide free medical check-up as part of the benefits. In some cases, it is only offered to policy holders who have no history of claims.
Transportation Expenses: In case the policy holder gets admitted in a hospital, the insurance policy will cover the expenses of transport from hospital to home and vice versa. In many countries, this benefit is not provided to policy holders.
No Claim Bonus (NCB): No Claim Bonus is a bonus that is provided to the insurer for not having any claims during the particular year. In most cases, the discount is applied when the premium is renewed at the end of the validity of the policy.
Government Policies: Unlike developing countries, government regulations for medical insurance policies in Dubai are fairly strict and health insurance companies cannot take undue advantage of the customer in case of disputes.
Types of Health Insurances in Dubai
There are different types of health insurance policies in Dubai you can choose from. These are some of the common types of policies and you can choose one that best fits your needs.
Individual Health Insurance Plan
Individual medical insurance plans are offered by health insurance companies in Dubai to a single beneficiary. Commonly, this plan offers financial coverage against pre-determined illnesses with benefits such as cashless hospitalization, pre and post hospitalization, etc.
Family Health Insurance Plans
This is the most common type of insurance plans for families which offers coverage for all members of a family at a minimal cost. This is finanically viable for families as individual policies will cost much more a family policy and the chances of an entire family requiring hospitilization is rare.
Senior Citizen Health Insurance Plans
This policy is ideal for individuals who are above the age of 60. Such policies usually require a medical examination and in some cases, there is some time frame you can claim the policy for pre-existing diseases.
Group/Employee Health Insurance Plans
Group/ Employee health insurance policies are ideal for employers as they need to provide medical coverage for lot of people who work under them. Such policies are created to include & exclude employees as they join & leave the organization.
Plans by Nationality
As Dubai is one of the major expat destinations of the world, there are some companies that provide health insurance policies based on nationality. These offer different benefits for expats and different for UAE nationals.
Best Health Insurance Plans in the UAE
As with any other country, there are many options for health insurance plans in Dubai. You need to look at features and benefits of each plan carefully before deciding and I have complied few good policies for saving your time on research.
| Health Insurance Provider | Key Features | Inclusions | Exclusions |
| Noor Takaful Health Insurance | Network Hospitals: Over 1600 care centresAccidental death coverage | Yearly benefit limit of AED 150,000In-patient co-paymentLaboratory services co-paymentExamination services co-paymentPrescription drugs co-paymentMaternity Services | Unnecessary healthcare treatmentsOral careHealth care services for domestic or internationally recognized epidemicsSelf-inflicted injuries or suicide |
| SALAMA Health Insurance | Critical illness coverageMedi-claim settlementInternational assistanceFlexible health care insurance plans:Small group health plansGroup health plans | Home nursing serviceChemotherapyCoronary & intensive care unitOrgan transplantParental accommodationInternal prosthesis and stentsCongenital cases to newborn ChildsHospitalization in a private room | VaccinationPhysiotherapyConsultationAlternative medicinesPrescribed medicinesDiagnosis like Imaging, Radiology, & Laboratory |
| Orient Health Insurance | Coverage of critical illnesses Flexible health care insurance plans:Orient Care PlusWoman CareIndividual & Family Health Insurance | Worldwide coverageIn-patient & out-patient coverRegional coverRepatriation expense coverEmergency medical evacuationMaternity BenefitsImmunization & preventive services | Unnecessary healthcare servicesHome nursing & private nursing careDental careObesity treatmentCustodial careHealth care services for smoking cessation programs |
| Union Health Insurance | Comprehensive coverageEasy claim settlementIndividual plans:SANADEssential Benefits Plan Corporate Plans:Small and medium EnterprisesCorporate PlansEssential Benefits Plan | In-patient coverOut-patient coverMaternity benefits | Unnecessary healthcare servicesCustodial careDental careObesity treatmentContraception treatment & servicesExternal prosthetic devices and medical equipment |
(Information is subjected to change as per the medical insurance company’s discretion.)
Medical treatments Included By Health Insurance Companies in Dubai
All health insurance companies in Dubai are required to follow an inclusion list which will determine the benefits of the policy.
Some of the common inclusions you need to check when you are choosing a policy are:
- Pre-existing diseases and illnesses
- Pre & post hospitalization
- Transport and Ambulance fees
- Day care procedures
- In-patient hospitalization costs
- Vaccinations & inoculations
- Health check-ups
- Medication
- Hospital room rent cost
- Newborn or maternity
Health Treatments Excluded by Medical Insurance Companies in Dubai
As with inclusions, there are also some treatments and scenarios that are excluded by medical insurance providers in Dubai.
- Cosmetic Treatments
- Obesity
- Unnecessary Operations
- Waiting Periods
- Voided Policies
- Dental & Optical Care
- Within the Hospital Network
- Outside the Hospital Network
- The Health Insurance Claims Process
FAQ on Medical Insurance in Dubai
Is medical insurance compulsory in Dubai?
According to a new rule, medical insurance is compulsory in Dubai.
How much is medical insurance in Dubai?
A good medical insurance policy in Dubai can cost approximately 10,000 AED or 2,700 USD per year
Is HealthCare free in Dubai?
Only for citizens of UAE.
How much does it cost to see a doctor in Dubai?
Approximately AED 200 or USD 60
Is emergency free in UAE?
In case of emergency, stabilization of patient’s condition is free.
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