What Insurance Do I Need as An Expat in Dubai
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Health insurance is mandatory for all residents and visa holders in the UAE, including Dubai. In addition to health insurance, there are other types of insurance you can get to further protect yourself, your family, and your properties.
Are you relocating to Dubai? Do you need to know what insurance expats need in Dubai? In this Pacific Place Dubai article, we will look at how you can fulfill the mandatory health insurance requirements as well as other insurance plans you can get as an expat in Dubai for better protection.
Dubai Mandatory Health Insurance Explained
All residents in Dubai are required to have minimum health insurance coverage, which can be provided by an employer or sponsor, according to the Health Insurance Law of Dubai No. 11 of 2013, from 1st January 2014 onwards.
To ensure that all residents stay insured, the UAE also implemented the Mandatory Unemployment Insurance Scheme in 2023. The scheme provides residents who have lost their jobs with financial support to stay insured, offering them 60% of their basic salary for 3 consecutive months.
Health Insurance Expats Should Get in Dubai
As an expat in Dubai or any foreign country, it is important to stay insured so that you have access to medical attention should you need it. The key to securing the right insurance is to conduct ample research on insurers and health insurance plans to find one that suits your needs.
Individual Health Insurance in Dubai
Individual health insurance is an insurance plan that provides coverage on essential healthcare services, including general doctor’s visits, emergency room care, basic diagnostic tests, and certain preventive services, for a single person without dependents such as a spouse or children.
Find additional information about individual health insurance costs in our article, How Much Does Insurance Cost in Dubai?.
International Health Insurance in Dubai
Like the name suggests, international health insurance provides insurance coverage not just in Dubai, but also outside of the UAE. Typically, these types of insurance have worldwide coverage excluding the USA and will feature emergency evacuations worldwide back to your country of residence.
Family Insurance in Dubai
Family insurance provides similar benefits as individual health insurance but the premiums will cost you more as these plans not only keep you insured but also your dependents. When securing family insurance, there are more factors to consider to ensure that everyone gets the coverage they need.
Things to Consider when Securing your Health Insurance
There are several factors to consider when securing your health insurance, from what benefits each plan offers, the hospital networks covered to benefit limits, and the customizability. The right plan for you can also depend on whether you’re securing the plan for yourself or if you have dependents.
Here are a few things you need to consider when securing your health insurance:
Reasonable Premiums and Flexible Payment Options
When securing your health insurance, it is important to consider the premium cost and flexible payment options such as deductibles and copayments. These can lower the cost of your premium ensuring that you stay insured at the cost of paying a small amount out of your own pocket per visit.
Plan Customizability
Looking for a plan that is customizable allows you to add or drop benefits to create a plan that covers all that you need it to cover. Dropping benefits that you don’t need can also help lower the cost of your premiums.
Benefits & Exclusions
Be sure to take note of the benefits and exclusions of your plan. You don’t want to be in the position where you think your plan has you covered for a certain treatment only to find that it is excluded, and you need to pay out of your own pocket.
Common exclusions include:
- Conditions developed due to misuse of drugs or alcohol
- Experimental or unproven Care
- Fertility treatment or testing
- Plastic and cosmetic surgery
- Treatment of psychological conditions
- Termination of pregnancy unless medically prescribed
- AIDS or HIV related diseases
- Contraception, including sterilization
- Epidemics that are under the direction of the authorities
- Obesity treatments
- Sexual dysfunction
- Injuries inflicted whilst committing a terrorist act
Benefit Limits
Knowing whether or not there is a limit to your benefits is important. This can help you manage your budget and plan when to sign up for certain checkups and screenings to make the most out of your insurance plan.
Pre-existing and Chronic Illness Coverage
Whilst pre-existing and chronic illnesses are common exclusions in health insurance plans, that doesn’t mean you can’t have them insured. Certain insurance providers may have covered in add-on benefits. Meaning you can still have them covered but at the price of higher premiums.
What is the Average Cost of Health Insurance in Dubai?
The average cost of premiums for individual international health insurance in Dubai is USD $5,500. The average cost of premiums for family international health insurance in Dubai is USD $4,630.
Dubai’s ever-growing healthcare industry has gathered a lot of global attention over the years. Today, the country is also one of the top medical tourism destinations in the world. As a result, the average cost of health insurance in Dubai has also risen in the past years.
Other Types of Insurance Expats in Dubai Should Consider
Outside of health insurance, as an expat living in Dubai, there are other types of insurance that you should consider opting for to give yourself and your property an extra layer of protection.
Car insurance
If you are planning to drive in Dubai, then car insurance is something you need to get. Third-party motor vehicle liability insurance is compulsory for all vehicles driven in Dubai. These types of insurance cover injuries to other parties and damage to their property in an accident.
Property insurance
Whether you’re a homeowner or if you’re just renting a place in Dubai, you should consider opting for homeowner or tenant insurance. Although these types of insurance are not legally required, they are strongly advised to protect against loss or damage to your property.
Insurance Providers in Dubai
There are a number of great insurance providers in Dubai that you can choose from when securing an insurance plan. From international brands like Allianz and Cigna to local providers such as Gulf Insurance Group and UAE Health Insurance for Family, your options as an expat in Dubai are quite broad.
Dubai Zurich Insurance
Dubai Zurich Insurance is a well-known brand in Dubai with a reputation for health insurance plans with comprehensive coverage. Dubai Zurich offers a wide range of individual and group health insurance plans.
The plans that Dubai Zurich provides offer comprehensive coverage, including hospitalization, surgery, chronic illnesses, maternity care, dental/vision care, and more.
Allianz Insurance Dubai
As one of the largest global insurance providers in the world, the Allianz name is a symbol of reliability. Allianz Insurance Dubai has a reputation for excellent customer service thanks to their user-friendly online account platform.
Allianz plans are highly customizable, meaning you can easily add or drop benefits to create a plan that truly suits your needs. Their large hospital network allows you to seek medical attention easily in Dubai’s thriving private sector.
Gulf Insurance Group (GIG)
Gulf Insurance Group is one of the largest insurance providers in Dubai. As such, they are considered by many to be financially stable to pay claims.
Their comprehensive health insurance plans offer a wide range of plans covering hospitalization, surgery, maternity care, chronic illnesses, and more.
Frequently Asked Questions
What medical expenses does health insurance usually cover?
What your plan covers ultimately depends on your specific plans, but generally, health insurance covers medical fees, including hospitalization, doctor visits, prescriptions, diagnostic tests, including x-rays and bloodwork, and surgery fees.
What happens if I lose my job—can I keep my insurance?
If you were covered under your employer’s group health insurance plan in Dubai, losing your job would usually mean you can no longer remain on that plan. Fortunately, under UAE law, employers must allow former employees to stay on their plan for up to 6 months, where premiums are paid out-of-pocket.
Is healthcare good in Dubai?
Healthcare in Dubai is considered up to world standards. Within the emirate, there are many modern private hospitals and clinics staffed with foreign-trained doctors. Hospitals have up-to-date medical technology, and a wide range of specialties are covered.
Conclusion
In conclusion, as an expat in Dubai, whilst health insurance is mandatory, as a foreigner, you still have a lot of options. Whilst employers will typically cover the health insurance requirements for expats, the plans provided by employers may not cover everything you need. Find out what happens if you don’t have health insurance in Dubai.
For expats looking to drive in Dubai, car or motor insurance is another mandatory insurance you’ll need. Thankfully, in Dubai, there are a number of reputable providers, including globally recognized brands like Allianz, Cigna, and long-standing local insurance providers like Gulf Insurance Group.
With over 20 years of experience in the insurance industry, Pacific Prime offers comprehensive individual and family health insurance plans. Our experts can assist you with all your insurance queries and help you find a plan that meets your requirements.
Contact us for a free quote today!
Born and raised in the cultural melting pot that is Hong Kong, and having studied at an international school, Vista has developed a multicultural perspective that he uses in his writing and strives to connect to people of different backgrounds.
In his free time, Vista enjoys immersing himself in different worlds, from video games to light novels and movies. His hobbies help him expand his writing style by putting himself in the point-of-view of different people and characters.
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Are there any insurance plans available in Dubai that cover alternative medicine treatments, such as acupuncture or chiropractic care?
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