3 Ways to Secure Expat Medical Insurance in Dubai
The three ways to secure expat medical insurance in Dubai are to look for plans online, go directly to the insurer, or consult an intermediary to find the best plan that’s tailored to your unique healthcare needs and budget.
If you’re an expat looking to move to Dubai, you are likely to find quality jobs, a high standard of living, leading international schools, and much more. One thing you might not be prepared for, however, is mandatory health insurance.
In this Pacific Prime Dubai article, we’ll explain how health insurance in Dubai works, as well as highlighting the best ways to secure expat medical insurance in Dubai.
An Important Explanation About Health Insurance in Dubai
Before finding expat health insurance in Dubai, it’s important to understand how it works. All residents, including foreigners, must have compliant health insurance to obtain or renew a visa. Without it, a visa will not be issued or renewed.
In most cases, companies provide coverage, but they are not required to cover dependents or employees such as helpers, gardeners, and drivers. You must secure coverage for them yourself to meet the visa requirements and remain compliant with local regulations.
Health insurance plans in Dubai must meet the Essential Benefits Plan (EBP) standards. All policies must be issued by approved insurers in Dubai and include mandatory minimum coverage. Non-compliant plans won’t meet visa requirements.
Foreign health insurance, including coverage from your home country, isn’t compliant with Dubai regulations. Without proper local insurance, your entry visa may be denied. You’ll need a compliant plan for yourself and your dependents.
Understanding Coverage and Plan Options for Expats in Dubai
Dubai’s health insurance system is unique, and each plan comes with different features that can impact your healthcare experience. To help you navigate these options, here’s a breakdown of some key factors to consider:
Essential Benefits Plan (EBP) vs. Comprehensive Coverage
The government mandates that all health insurance plans comply with the Essential Benefits Plan (EBP), covering basic services like doctor visits, hospital stays, and outpatient care. However, the EBP may not fully meet the healthcare needs of many expats.
For more extensive coverage, insurers offer comprehensive plans with additional services like dental care, maternity coverage, and flexible specialist options. These plans provide peace of mind, especially for those with pre-existing conditions or ongoing treatments.
Inpatient vs. Outpatient Coverage
One key difference in medical insurance plans is the focus on inpatient and outpatient coverage. Inpatient coverage includes treatments or surgeries requiring hospital admission, while outpatient covers routine treatments, consultations, and check-ups that don’t require an overnight stay.
In Dubai, many insurers offer separate inpatient and outpatient plans. It’s important to choose the coverage that suits your needs. If you need coverage for emergencies or surgeries, inpatient is essential. For regular check-ups or specialist visits, outpatient coverage may be more suitable.
Network Hospitals and Clinics
When selecting a health insurance plan, it’s also crucial to look at the network of hospitals and clinics that are included in the plan. Dubai’s healthcare system features a mix of government and private hospitals, and not all insurance providers have agreements with every hospital.
Be sure to choose a plan that includes hospitals and clinics that are convenient for you. If you have a preferred healthcare provider or need to access a specific medical facility, check that your insurance plan offers coverage there.
Additional Services and Benefits
An important factor to consider is the additional services that may be included in your insurance plan. Many insurers in Dubai offer extras like wellness programs, telemedicine, health check-ups, and emergency evacuation. These benefits can add value, especially for preventive care or health management.
For example, telemedicine allows you to consult a doctor remotely, which is useful for emergencies or routine follow-ups without needing to visit a clinic. Emergency evacuation coverage is essential if you live in a remote area and need transportation to a medical facility.
Understanding Deductibles, Co-pays, and Exclusions
Health insurance plans typically include deductibles (out-of-pocket costs before coverage), co-pays (fees per doctor visit or treatment), and exclusions (services not covered). Understanding these factors is key to choosing a plan that meets both your financial and healthcare needs.
Carefully review each plan’s fine print. A low premium may seem appealing, but higher out-of-pocket costs could surprise you when seeking care. By understanding how deductibles, co-pays, and exclusions work, you can find the best balance between affordability and comprehensive coverage.
How Do You Secure Expat Medical Insurance in Dubai?
So, if you’re moving to Dubai and know you’ll need to arrange health insurance—whether for yourself, your family, or even an employee (like a helper or nanny)—you’re probably wondering: how do you go about it?
Most expats in Dubai typically recommend one of these five options:
Buying Online
These days, technology, more specifically the Internet, has permeated nearly everything we do. When it comes to finding the best expatriate health insurance in Dubai, most will start the process with an online search.
A quick search will uncover a wealth of results, many of which offer you the ability to compare and buy plans online. These tools, like the medical insurance comparison tool on our website, allow you to quickly view available options and compare health insurance plans, and are a great way to start.
Even though these tools are helpful, securing expat medical insurance in Dubai isn’t fully digital. Because coverage is tied to your visa and may involve sharing your medical history, you’ll still need to speak with a licensed advisor to complete the process.
Going to the Insurer Directly
The next option is to go directly to an insurer for your plan. Unlike other markets around the world, there are a smaller number of insurers legally allowed to sell health insurance in Dubai.
To help ensure that plans are relatively easy to find, the Insurance System for Advancing Healthcare in Dubai (ISAHD) actually publishes a list of compliant health insurance companies in Dubai, all of whom will be able to sell you a plan.
While this is a good idea on paper, there are still a ton of plans available, and finding the right one for you or your family will be a time-consuming process. In fact, you will likely need to visit more than one insurer in order to find a plan that works.
Going with an Intermediary
Finally, the third way you can purchase expat medical insurance in Dubai is through an intermediary. In Dubai, the vast majority of intermediaries are brokers like Pacific Prime Dubai who either specialize in health insurance or can offer a variety of products from insurers in the Emirate.
One of the biggest advantages of working with a broker is their access to multiple insurers, including nearly all health insurance providers in Dubai and many international ones. They can help you compare the market, tailor options to your needs, and find plans you might otherwise miss.
In fact, if you were to dig a bit deeper into the online comparison sites focused on selling health insurance in Dubai, you would find that the site’s owner is actually a broker, or working with a broker.
The best and most trustworthy brokers will actually have the online comparison tool built directly into their website, meaning when you ask for a quote from this site, you will be contacted by sales advisors from the same company.
Important Tips for Finding Expat Health Insurance in Dubai
Whether you choose to go directly with an insurer or through a broker, always ensure the provider is licensed and compliant. Searching online will show you numerous brokers in Dubai, but it’s crucial to go with a licensed one to avoid potential issues with your coverage.
Top brokers invest time and resources to become licensed and compliant. The government enforces a strict process for insurers and brokers, and choosing an unlicensed one could lead to poor service, bad advice, or non-compliant plans. You can find a list of compliant providers on the ISHAD website.
To ensure you’re getting the best coverage, it’s also wise to compare plans from multiple providers. Brokers can help you assess various options based on your specific needs and budget, while ensuring you’re not missing any essential coverage. Be wary of unlicensed providers offering unverified plans.
Conclusion
If you’re looking for expat medical insurance in Dubai, Pacific Prime Dubai is here to help. With over 25 years of experience as a world-leading insurance broker, we provide unmatched after-sales service, assisting with claims, finding coverage, and ensuring you get the best possible deal.
Whether you’re looking for group health insurance, family health insurance, or individual insurance, our reliable team of experts can help you tailor the best plan for your unique needs and budget.
So contact us today to learn how our experts can help you find the best expat medical insurance in Dubai, or get a free quote by using our online comparison tool.
After obtaining his Bachelor’s Degree in Social Sciences, International Relations from Mahidol University International College, Veerabhatr has forged his career as a content writer in the travel, lifestyle, and real estate industries, writing in both English and Thai. He now continues to hone his skills as a writer at Pacific Prime, looking to engage and educate the audience by simplifying insurance.
Writer by day, and a DJ by night, Veerabhatr is a staunch music lover, and listens to all spectrums of genres available. He also loves to drink beer (moderately), eat all types of food, go to the beach, and learn about different cultures across the globe. He is also a die-hard fan of football and motorsports.
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