Abu Dhabi warning on health insurance

 

Authorities in Abu Dhabi have warned that firms that fail to renew health insurance policies for their employees will be fined Dh300 for each employee per month until the renewal of the policy.

The Health Authority in Abu Dhabi (HA-AD) told all government and private establishments and individuals to renew policies each year as stipulated in the Health Insurance Law. The HA-AD said individuals and organisations must inform health insurance companies about their desire to renew health insurance policies a month before the expiry date.

“As stipulated in the Health Insurance Law, trade licences will be not issued or renewed without the employer submitting proof of renewal of the insurance policy for the previous period,” said the authority.

“Employers and sponsors should ensure that their employees who are working or residing in Abu Dhabi and their families – wife and three children under the age of 18 – have valid health insurance cover at all times,” said Dr Finn Goldner, head of health system financing at HA-AD.

He said insurance policies should be renewed annually and not every three years with the renewal of the residency visa.

HA-AD also said that if employers or sponsors failed to notify insurance companies about their desire to renew the policies within the stipulated time period, then they will be held responsible for all medical expenses incurred by their staff during the uncovered period in addition to a fine.

However, if health insurance companies were notified within the time period and there were delays in processing the renewals, the employers or sponsors can claim all of the medical expenses from the insurance companies.

Officials said the authority is committed to providing health insurance policies, procedures, and guidelines to encourage everyone to ensure that the law is properly implemented.