How Much Does Health Insurance Cost in Dubai?
Introduction
Congratulations on your decision to relocate to Dubai, a city that boasts a world-class healthcare system! The United Arab Emirates is home to top-tier hospitals and highly skilled physicians. These hospitals, conveniently located for both locals and visitors, are equipped with the latest medical technologies. Many international patients, including expatriates, prefer the services of private hospitals despite the high health insurance cost in Dubai. The staff there is often multilingual and from diverse backgrounds, providing a comfortable and familiar environment.
Although healthcare in the UAE can be pricey, it’s well spent. Going to public clinics and hospitals in the UAE will cost you nothing if anything at all. A health card is required for public hospitals, and foreign nationals are subject to high health insurance cost in Dubai.
Do You Need To Get Insurance in Dubai?
Regardless of your employment status, medical health insurance Dubai is a crucial requirement for all Dubai residents. To be eligible for a resident visa, you must have private medical insurance. The monthly premiums for individual health insurance are typically more affordable than the penalty for being uninsured, which can be 500 AED ($ 140). This health insurance cost in Dubai emphasizes the importance of being prepared and protected for your healthcare needs in Dubai.
Employers in Dubai are legally required to provide their employees with health insurance if they relocate there for employment. Medical health insurance Dubai for workers’ dependents (spouse, children, and elderly relatives) is also urged, but not always provided, by employers.
You may want to get health insurance for your family or if you want more comprehensive coverage than what your job offers before you depart. Similarly, affordable health care insurance is necessary if you want to retire to Dubai without an employer-sponsored plan.
Dubai’s world-renowned healthcare system is costly, however. Health insurance cost in Dubai are notoriously high compared to other nations.
| Consultations | |
| GP Visit | AED 200-400 ($55-$110) |
| Specialists | AED 400-800 ($110-$220) |
| Hospitalization | |
| Private Hospital Overnight Charges | AED 2,000-4,000 ($550-$1,100) /night |
| ICU | AED 6,000-10,000 ($1,650-$2,750) /day |
| Diagnostic Tests | |
| MRI | AED 1,500-3,000 ($410-$820) |
| Blood tests | AED 200-800 ($55-$220) |
Private vs Public Care
Emiratis, who constitute about 15% of Dubai’s population, are believed to be the primary users of the public healthcare system. Private healthcare services, meanwhile, are the most popular among foreigners.
While the public healthcare system in Dubai is of a very high standard and accessible to all residents, many expatriates opt for private medical health insurance Dubai that covers them both in Dubai and abroad. With over 130 private hospitals and clinics in Dubai, health insurance cost in Dubai cater to your specific needs. Private healthcare also offers shorter wait times and easier access to a wider range of specialists, making it a popular choice among expatriates.
Public Health for Expats
Since Dubai residents are exempt from paying income tax, the city’s public healthcare system provides almost free medical treatment. Citizens of the United Arab Emirates may get most medical treatment via Dubai’s public healthcare system for free or at a nominal fee.
Public healthcare in Dubai is free for locals, but expatriates must pay, with higher rates applied to foreign citizens. Expats must also have a health card; adults must pay 320 dirhams (AED), while children under ten pay 120 AED. The card may be applied for online or at a medical center.
What is covered by public health insurance cost in Dubai varies from region to region, as does everything else. In most cases, it attends to fundamental medical requirements like:
- Maternity
- Emergencies
- Preventative services
- The United Arab Emirates’ public healthcare system handles routine medical care, including doctor visits, prescriptions, and diagnostic testing. Laboratory testing, X-rays, and treatment are also part of the package. You may even get the medication your doctor has prescribed from them.
Applying for Public Healthcare in Dubai
Medical coverage is available to everybody lawfully employed in Dubai. All expats must have access to basic medical health insurance Dubai, and companies must help those with lower incomes via the EBP program.
A health card is necessary for medical treatment at government-run hospitals like Dubai Hospital and Latifa Hospital. A medical center or online application is available to those who qualify. Here is what you need to apply:
- Information on your Emirates ID card, passport, and visa for permanent residency
- A filled-out application card, two passport pictures, and a copy of your lease agreement
- 320 dirhams for grown-ups and 120 dirhams for kids under 10
Private Health Insurance
Basic affordable health care insurance is a legal requirement in Dubai for you and your employer but not for your dependents, including your spouse, children, and parents. The law in Dubai states that all residents must have private individual health insurance.
Consider purchasing private medical insurance if you plan to bring any dependents to Dubai and your company’s coverage needs to meet your expectations. All private medical insurance plans in Dubai must fulfill minimal requirements set forth by the law. It is required that all insurance offer:
- A yearly cap of 150,000 AED is required
- Instant protection for every emirate
- After the first six-month waiting period, coverage for pre-existing conditions
- This policy covers inpatient treatment up to 1,000 AED annually, with a 20% excess (or “co-pay“) limit.
- Outpatient coverage, with a cap of 20% on additional costs for semi-private hospital stays
- Essential vaccines, a 7,000 AED maternity policy with a 10% excess, and a 10,000 AED policy for a C-section, if needed.
The Essential Benefits Plan
There is a plan in place for those with lower salaries. Dubai residents have access to cheap basic benefits via the Essential Benefits Plan (EBP), a joint initiative of the Dubai Government and a select group of medical insurance providers.
The EBP mandates that you provide medical health insurance Dubai to any domestic worker (cooks, nannies, drivers, etc.) whose monthly income is four thousand AED or less. Your workers may be insured under whatever you choose if their monthly earnings exceed 4,000 AED.
Conclusion
Many workers get affordable health care insurance as a benefit of working for a company in the UAE. Yet, this is only the case for some businesses. Comprehensive health insurance cost in Dubai could be approximately 10,000 AED (roughly 2,720 USD) annually.
Most insurance firms have a range of prices for their policies. At 30, you should pay roughly 5,500 AED (around 1,500 USD) per year for decent coverage. However, annual premiums for a family of four with adequate coverage might reach over 33,500 AED or around 9,120 USD. Around 17,000 AED (or 4,630 USD) may be the price tag for a family of four’s basic coverage plan.
Learn more about health insurance cost in Dubai by visiting our website.
