Health Insurance for Expats in Dubai and the UAE

International Health Insurance for Expats in Dubai and the UAE

Expats in Dubai and the UAE are required to have health insurance. Expats employed by Dubai employers will be granted basic medical insurance, but the coverage is limited. International health insurance offers expats a more comprehensive coverage option.

Expats moving to or visiting Dubai will want to ensure they have a health insurance plan that abides by these regulations. Pacific Prime partners with several international health insurance providers who do so.

In this guide, we will discuss the healthcare system in Dubai and the UAE as well as the quality of public and private health insurance. We will also introduce top international health insurance providers.

We have also created an additional guide to show you the differences between private and public healthcare in Dubai, covering the strengths and weaknesses of each system. Check it out here. Additionally, expats may want to learn What Happens If You Don't Have Medical Insurance in Dubai from our article.

Recommended International Health Insurance Plans for Expatriates Living in Dubai

The Healthcare System in Dubai and the UAE

Healthcare is free or heavily subsidized for all UAE citizens and is regulated at both the Emirate and Federal levels. It is not free for expats.

Health insurance is mandatory for expats and residents in Dubai. The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) requires at least a basic level of health insurance with inpatient and outpatient coverage. If you do not insure yourself adequately, you will be fined.

The UAE consists of seven Emirates:

• Abu Dhabi
• Dubai
• Ajman
• Sharjah
• Fujairah
• Ras el Khaimah
• Umm al Qaiwain

Of all the Emirates, Dubai and Abu Dhabi have the strictest health insurance regulations.

Public Healthcare in Dubai and the UAE

Public healthcare services are provided by various regulatory authorities in the UAE. In Dubai, the healthcare system is managed by the DHA and the Dubai Health Care City (DHCC).

Standards of healthcare in the UAE are very high, with a comprehensive health service that is funded by the government and a rapidly evolving private healthcare sector that delivers excellent healthcare to the population.

Dubai offers top-quality public and private hospitals. These hospitals can be luxurious for medical facilities and there is multilingual staff in both sectors. Emergency rooms are only available in public hospitals.

How Expats Can Access Healthcare in Dubai and the UAE

Expats with resident visas can apply for a health card to grant them access to public healthcare facilities in Dubai and the UAE. This will permit access to public healthcare services for a lower cost, but never for free like emirate citizens.

Health cards can be applied for through the DHA online or through a medical center.

To apply, expats will need to provide the following documents:

• Emirati identity card
• Passport
• Residency visa
• Copy of a tenancy contract

Doctor Visits in Dubai and the UAE

To see a doctor in Dubai, expats can first search for a provider online. You can find a doctor through the Dubail Healthcare City listings on their website. You can use the UAE government website to find a doctor.

A DHA health card will make routine doctor visits easy. You will check in at the clinic or hospital reception, fill out paperwork, and submit your card.

Health Insurance Options for Expats in Dubai and the UAE

Public and private health insurance are the two options available to expats in Dubai and the UAE. Public health insurance is available for locally employed expats once the employee’s work visa is issued.

Private health insurance is available through local insurance companies and international insurance companies. Expats must take out private health insurance to receive a UAE residency visa.

Public and Private Health Insurance Coverage for Expats in Dubai and the UAE

Public health insurance provided through employers has limited coverage in the UAE, while private coverage offers extensive coverage and benefits. Dental and optical services are not covered by public health insurance.

Employers are required to provide medical insurance for their expat employees but there are no requirements to cover their dependents. This means that it is up to the employer if they decide to cover your family or not.

An overview of public and private insurance coverage is demonstrated below. To learn more about how expat employees and their dependents can secure health insurance, read our blog post titled Is Health Insurance Free in Dubai For Expats?

Public insurance offers coverage for:

• Hospitalization
• Emergencies
• Routine care
• Maternity care

Private insurance offers coverage for:

• In-patient treatments
• Out-patient services
• Emergency care
• Evacuation and repatriation
• Additional benefits like dental, vision, and maternity

Best International Health Insurance Options in Dubai and the UAE for Expats

The top international health insurance plan for expats in the UAE will offer comprehensive coverage and customizable benefits, which are offered by leading international providers like Cigna and Allianz.

Here is a list of the best international health insurance providers in Dubai and the UAE:

• Cigna
• Dubai Insurance Company and William Russell
• Orient Insurance and Allianz
• Salama and April International
• Sukoon Insurance and Bupa
• AXA (known as GIG Gulf in the UAE)
• Arabia Insurance and NOW Health

Pacific Prime negotiates with insurance companies for customers to find them the best possible plan for their needs. Because we aren’t tied to one specific insurer, we can give impartial advice as we help you compare plans.

Visit the link here to begin comparing plans now!

International Health Insurance in Dubai and the UAE: Plans and Coverage

The best international health insurance companies in the UAE include Cigna, Dubai Insurance Company, William Russell, and more. Below, we will offer a brief overview of each provider and the key points and benefits of their plans and coverage.

Cigna Health Insurance Plans for Dubai and the UAE

Cigna Global provides flexible insurance plans to expats in the UAE with 24/7 access to customer support. Cigna offers specialized plans for its members in the UAE and Dubai that are designed to fit the Dubai Health Authority requirements. These plans are called Cigna Healthguard℠.

Cigna Healthguard℠ plans come in three categories: Regional, International, and International Plus. Each of these plans offers different benefits and coverage limits, though they all carry similar benefits like inpatient, outpatient, and cancer care coverage.

• Cigna Healthguard℠ Regional Plan: The Regional plan offers coverage only within the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, other Middle East countries, and Asia (excluding Singapore, Hong Kong, and China). It offers an annual benefit maximum of AED 2,750,000.
• Cigna Healthguard℠ International Plan: The International plan offers worldwide coverage with the option to add coverage in the USA with an increase in your premiums. The annual benefit maximum for this plan is AED 7,350,000.
• Cigna Healthguard℠ International Plus Plan: The International Plus plan is the most comprehensive plan offered by Cigna Insurance in Dubai, with an unlimited annual benefit maximum. This plan also offers worldwide coverage with the choice to include coverage in the USA.

Dubai Insurance Company and William Russell Health Insurance Plans for Dubai and the UAE

Dubai Insurance Company works together with the international insurance provider, William Russell, to provide comprehensive insurance plans to expats and locals alike in Dubai. Each of the health insurance plans was carefully designed to fit the health insurance standards set by the DHA.

The basic features of all their plans are:

Orient Insurance and Allianz Health Insurance Plans for Dubai and the UAE

Allianz Insurance offers its comprehensive health insurance plans to expat individuals and families in Dubai by partnering with Orient Insurance PJSC. They work together to provide plans to those in Dubai that fully satisfy the requirements set by the Dubai Health Authority.

Allianz offers a selection of plans designed especially for Dubai that range in limits and coverage. They offer Dubai Elite Individual, Dubai Prime Individual, and Dubai Select Individual.

The basic coverage across all their plans includes:

Salama and April International Health Insurance Plans for Dubai and the UAE

April International partnered with Salama, a prominent insurance company in the UAE, to provide DHA-compliant health insurance to expats in Dubai. Through their partnership, they offer four health insurance plan options: Core, Essential, Extensive, and Elite.

Some of the shared coverage across their plans are:

AXA (GIG Gulf) Health Insurance Plans for Dubai and the UAE

AXA Insurance UAE was recently acquired by GIG Gulf, one of the largest insurers in the Middle East. They offer expats in the UAE different plans with varying levels of coverage and customizable additional benefits.

They offer both short-term and long-term plans, with comprehensive coverage for any medical needs. Some examples of shared coverage by all AXA insurance plans include:

Arabia Insurance and NOW Health Health Insurance Plans for Dubai and the UAE

NOW Health International joined together with Arabia Insurance in 2020 to expand its business into the Middle East markets. Under this partnership, NOW Health International still offers its high-quality insurance products such as their WorldCare plans.

NOW Health offers three different plans that vary in annual benefit limits and coverage, but they share similar core benefits like inpatient coverage, emergency treatment, and cancer care.

They have several different tiers of plans: WorldCare Advance, WorldCare Excel, and WorldCare Apex. These are the key benefits shared across all three plans:

Additional Benefits and Coverage for Expats in Dubai and the UAE

Most insurance providers allow additional coverage options to extend expats’ benefits during their time in Dubai and the UAE. This could cover things like dental, optical, maternity, and more.

• Dental: Dental checkups, cleanings, and major dental procedures can be covered by additional benefits.
• Maternity and family coverage: Expats looking to expand their family can customize international health insurance plans to cover prenatal care, childbirth, and postpartum care. To review some of the best maternity insurance providers, check out these UAE Maternity Insurance Plans.
• Preventive care: Some plans will offer regular health checkups, screenings, vaccinations, and wellness programs. These resources will help expats keep themselves healthy in their adventures abroad.

Pre-existing Conditions for Expats in Dubai and the UAE

Expats with pre-existing conditions may have fewer options when buying international insurance in the UAE, but there are still solutions available. You can choose a plan with a pre-existing condition exclusion, a moratorium, or coverage with loading.

Here is a general overview of what each term means:

• Exclusion: The insurer will not pay or reimburse the policyholder for medical bills related to the condition if they choose to buy a plan from them.
• Moratorium: The insurance company observes the pre-existing condition for a specific time known as the waiting period. This period is usually 24 months, and the insurance company reviews its decision.
• Coverage with loading: Insurance companies may offer coverage for pre-existing conditions, but only with higher premiums. Not all pre-existing conditions are eligible for this kind of coverage, and not all companies offer this option.

Retirees Seeking International Healthcare in Dubai and the UAE

Expats retiring in Dubai should buy an international health insurance plan that offers comprehensive and flexible coverage for their unique needs. This may include coverage for cancer screenings, chronic conditions support, and preventative health benefits.

Reach out to Pacific Prime to hear all our international insurance plans for retirees in the UAE. We can help secure a plan with excellent coverage for your needs, as well as provide access to all the best private facilities.

International health insurance offers expats in Dubai and the UAE a solution for their healthcare needs. With Dubai’s strict health insurance laws, expats will want to ensure they have adequate coverage for their time in the UAE.

Selecting the right health insurance in the UAE can be a difficult task. Fortunately, Pacific Prime provides all the information you need to choose the right health insurance for your time in the area.

Take a look at the different medical insurance solutions we offer on our health insurance page, such as hospitalization insurance and family health insurance, or use our plan comparison tool to compare health insurance in Dubai and the UAE from the top health insurance companies.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is health insurance required for expats in Dubai?

Health insurance is required for expats to receive a resident visa and is required for the entirety of their stay in Dubai.

2. What happens if you don’t have health insurance while living in Dubai as an expat?

You will be fined if you don’t purchase adequate health insurance during your time in the UAE. This fine can be 500 AED a month.