Dubai: UAE residents suddenly finding they can no longer get consultation or treatment at their regular hospitals or clinics should start looking at the fine print in their insurance policies.
In group policies, insurers are cutting down on the number of prescribed healthcare operators - and their facilities - the insured will have access to. This applies to all basic and basic-plus insurance policies as insurers try to keep the cost of claims down. As of now, only those holding a comprehensive health insurance plan have the freedom to choose the healthcare provider they want to consult.
While some form of restrictions on choosing a healthcare facility was always there, this year it has become even more acute, according to hospital and clinic operators. Even established businesses in this space are getting hit by insurers calling the shots.
Dubai: Insurers selling the Dh550 a year Dubai Health Authority mandated ‘basic’ health cover plan in Dubai have been told not to pad up these policies with additional benefits. And if they still want to offer ‘enhanced cover’, they can only sell these policies at a minimum premium of Dh750 a year.
“The DHA (Dubai Health Authority) mandated that the minimum premium on any DHA-approved enhanced cover should not be less that Dh750 – and that’s excluding ‘Basmah’ and VAT,” said M. Rajendran, Managing Director at Al Futtaim Willis, the insurance brokerage and consultancy. (The ‘Basmah’ is an additional sum insurers selling approved basic insurance plans set aside if any of the insured need cancer treatment. The compulsory Basmah contributions are made on each such policy sold.)