Health Insurance - Your Complete UAE Health & Wellness Guide (55 FAQs)

What is health insurance?

A policy that covers your medical and surgical expenses. It protects you from the high cost of healthcare by paying for doctor visits, hospitalization, prescription drugs, and other medical services.

Is health insurance mandatory in the UAE?

Yes. It is mandatory by law for all residents in the Emirates of Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

Who is responsible for providing health insurance?

What are the rules in Dubai?

The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) mandates that all Dubai visa holders must have health insurance. Employers must provide it for their employees. Sponsors must provide it for their dependents (e.g., spouse, children).

What are the rules in Abu Dhabi?

The Department of Health (DoH) mandates coverage for all Abu Dhabi visa holders. Employers must cover employees and their families (spouse and up to 3 children).

What about Sharjah and the Northern Emirates?

While not yet federally mandated for all residents, it is becoming standard practice for most employers to provide health insurance as part of the employment package.

What is an Essential Benefits Plan (EBP)?

This is the minimum level of health insurance coverage required by law for lower-salaried workers (typically those earning under 4,000 AED/month) and dependents.

What does an EBP cover?

It provides basic healthcare including GP visits, specialist referrals, tests, surgery, and maternity cover within a specific, restricted network of clinics and hospitals.

Can I be denied a visa or have my visa renewal rejected without health insurance?

Yes. In Dubai and Abu Dhabi, a valid health insurance policy is a prerequisite for visa issuance and renewal.

What is a 'Certificate of Insurance'?

This is the official proof of your coverage, which is required for your visa application process.

What is an insurance 'Network'?

The group of hospitals, clinics, pharmacies, and diagnostic centers where you can receive treatment on a direct billing (cashless) basis.

What are tiered networks (e.g., RN1, RN2, GN, etc.)?

What is 'In-patient' coverage?

What is 'Out-patient' coverage?

Medical treatment that does not require a hospital stay (e.g., GP/specialist consultations, lab tests, physiotherapy, prescription medication).

What is the 'Annual Limit' or 'Annual Maximum Benefit'?

The total maximum amount your insurance policy will pay for all your medical claims combined within a single policy year. EBPs have a limit of 150,000 AED. Comprehensive plans can have limits of 5M AED or more.

What is a 'Sub-limit'?

A cap on the amount the policy will pay for a specific benefit. For example, your overall annual limit might be 1M AED, but there could be a sub-limit of 10,000 AED for maternity cover.

What is a 'Pre-existing Condition'?

Are pre-existing conditions covered?

You MUST declare them. For individual plans, they are often excluded for the first 6 months (a 'waiting period'). For group plans provided by an employer, they are often covered from day one.

What is 'Maternity Cover'?

Coverage for costs related to pregnancy and childbirth, including consultations, scans, and delivery. It is a mandatory benefit in all DHA and DoH compliant plans.

Is there a waiting period for Maternity Cover?

Almost always. For individual and small group plans, there is typically a 6 to 12-month waiting period. This means you must have the policy for that long before you can claim maternity benefits.

Is dental coverage included?

It's usually not included in basic plans. It's an optional add-on in mid-range and comprehensive plans and will have its own sub-limit and co-payment.

Is optical (vision) coverage included?

Similar to dental, this is an optional add-on for eye tests, glasses, and contact lenses. It's rarely found in basic plans.

What about mental health services?

Coverage is improving. Many comprehensive plans now include a sub-limit for consultations with a psychiatrist or psychologist.

Does my health insurance cover wellness or preventive tests?

High-end plans often include benefits for annual health check-ups, cancer screenings, and vaccinations.

What is 'International Coverage'?

This benefit provides medical coverage when you are traveling outside the UAE. It's crucial to check the geographical scope (e.g., Worldwide excluding USA/Canada, or regional).

What is a 'Premium'?

The fee you (or your employer) pay to the insurance company to keep your policy active.

What is a 'Deductible'?

The initial amount you must pay for certain treatments (usually for in-patient hospital stays) before the insurer starts paying. This is less common in the UAE than co-payments.

What is 'Co-payment' or 'Co-insurance'?

The fixed percentage of the cost of a treatment that you must pay. For example, a 20% co-payment on a 300 AED specialist visit means you pay 60 AED.

Why do I have to make a co-payment?

It's a cost-sharing mechanism designed to discourage overuse of medical services and keep overall premiums lower for everyone.

What is 'Direct Billing' or 'Cashless Service'?

When you visit a provider within your network, you just present your insurance card and pay only your co-payment. The clinic/hospital bills the insurer directly for the rest.

What is a 'Reimbursement Claim'?

If you visit a provider outside your network (or for certain services), you pay the full amount upfront and then submit the invoices and medical reports to your insurer to get your money back (minus your co-payment).

How long does reimbursement take?

This can vary from 15 to 45 days, depending on the insurer and the complexity of the claim.

What is 'Pre-authorization' or 'Pre-approval'?

For non-emergency surgeries, hospital stays, or expensive treatments (like an MRI), the hospital must get approval from your insurer before the procedure is done to ensure it will be covered.

What if my pre-authorization is denied?

The insurer must provide a reason. It could be because the treatment isn't medically necessary or isn't a covered benefit. You have the right to appeal this decision.

Are prescription medicines covered?

Yes, if prescribed by a doctor and medically necessary. They are subject to co-payment and must be from a pharmacy within your network for direct billing.

My employer provides insurance for me, but not my family. What do I do?

As their sponsor, you are legally required (in Dubai/Abu Dhabi) to purchase a health insurance plan for them. You can buy individual or family plans through platforms like Shory.

Can I add my parents to my company's group plan?

Usually not. You will likely need to buy a separate individual plan for them.

Why is insurance for parents so expensive?

Premiums are based on risk, and older individuals have a higher likelihood of needing medical care. Pre-existing conditions are also more common.

Do newborn babies need their own insurance?

Yes. While maternity cover includes the cost of delivery, the newborn must be added to a policy within a certain timeframe (e.g., 30 days) to have their own coverage for check-ups, vaccinations, or any health issues.

Do I need to buy insurance for my domestic helper (e.g., maid, driver)?

Yes. As their sponsor, you are legally required to provide them with a valid health insurance plan.

I'm between jobs. How can I stay insured?

Your old company's insurance is typically cancelled shortly after your visa is cancelled. You should immediately look into purchasing an interim or short-term plan to avoid being uninsured.

What is a 'Golden Visa' holder's responsibility for insurance?

Golden Visa holders are their own sponsors, so they are responsible for ensuring they and any dependents they sponsor have valid UAE health insurance.

Can a tourist get health insurance in the UAE?

Tourists should have comprehensive travel insurance from their home country that covers medical emergencies in the UAE. They cannot buy the long-term resident health plans.

My child is studying at a university abroad. Is she covered?

Only if you have a high-end plan with extensive international coverage. In most cases, it's better and often mandatory to purchase a student health plan in the country where they are studying.

What is 'Takaful' health insurance?

It is Islamic insurance that operates on principles of mutual assistance and shared contributions. Functionally, for the user, it works very similarly to conventional insurance but adheres to Shari'ah principles.

What is 'medical inflation'?

The annual increase in the cost of healthcare services and technology. This is a primary reason why your insurance premium may increase each year, even if you didn't claim.

What is a 'Third Party Administrator' (TPA)?

A company that an insurer might hire to manage its network, claims processing, and approvals (e.g., NAS, Mednet, NextCare). You often interact with the TPA more than the insurer itself.

What if I disagree with a claim rejection?

First, request a detailed written reason from the insurer/TPA. Then, file a formal complaint with the insurer. If unresolved, you can escalate the complaint to the relevant regulator (DHA, DoH, or CBUAE).

Can I upgrade my company's basic plan?

Yes. You can purchase a "top-up" plan for yourself or your family that offers a better network, higher limits, and extra benefits like dental and optical.

How can I find out which doctors are in my network?

Your insurer or TPA will have a searchable online directory or a mobile app. You can also call their helpline.

What is a 'cooling-off period'?

After purchasing an individual policy, you typically have a short period (e.g., 14 days) during which you can cancel the policy for a full refund, provided you haven't made any claims.

What does 'medically necessary' mean?

This is a key term. It means the treatment or service is required to diagnose or treat a medical condition and is not for cosmetic or experimental purposes. Insurers only cover what is deemed medically necessary.

Are emergency services covered if I'm at an out-of-network hospital?

In a life-threatening emergency, you should go to the nearest hospital. The law states that treatment to stabilize your condition must be covered. However, you may need to transfer to a network hospital once you are stable.

What is 'portability'?

The ability to switch from one insurance provider to another without losing benefits you've accumulated, such as the completion of a waiting period for a pre-existing condition. This is becoming more common in the UAE.

How does Shory simplify buying health insurance?

Shory provides a clear, side-by-side comparison of plans from leading UAE insurers. We break down complex terms like networks and co-payments, allowing you to filter by the benefits that matter most to you and your family, and buy the right plan online.