Those without health insurance will not be able to get new visas or renew existing ones from January 1. Currently, only visa holders in Abu Dhabi and Dubai Emirates are covered by compulsory health insurance. This is the first time that the scheme has been extended to the emirates of Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah, and Fujairah.
The expansion of compulsory insurance scheme to northern Emirates will be a relief to the expatriate workers. People with various diseases do not seek proper treatment due to increased costs. Many people seek treatment when they go home for vacation. Waiting like that makes their medical conditions worse. By law, the employer is required to provide health insurance coverage to the employees and employees should not be charged for it.
Family Visa employees must also ensure health insurance for their dependents. Insurance companies in the UAE are trying to provide insurance coverage at a lower cost, even though making health insurance mandatory will place an additional burden on employers.
Experts in the field say that insurance premiums in Sharjah and the northern emirates are lower than in the emirates of Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Meanwhile, those with low-premium insurance will be restricted to treatment in quality hospitals. However, insurance companies also state that they can provide a package with more benefits as per the needs of each company.
A fine of 500 dirhams per person per month will be levied if the employees are not provided with health insurance.
