The Implementation of Phase Two of the Mandatory Health Insurance Law in Dubai

Following earlier circulars about the implementation of phase two of the mandatory health insurance law in Dubai, please note that the final phase of the implementation of the Dubai Health Insurance Law No. 11 concerning all residents of Dubai will be completed on 31st December 2016.

All employers and individual sponsors insuring their employees, domestic helpers or dependents must provide all required information as described in ‘Appendix A’ to Insurers and intermediaries. Missing or erroneous data could prevent the issuance of a visa or renewal of an existing visa and result in penalties.

Compliance with the law will be enforced via a partnership between the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) Health Funding Department (HFD) and the General Directorate of Residency & Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) so that no existing visa will be renewed and no new visa will be issued where the individual concerned does not have health insurance coverage in place at the time of visa stamping or renewal.

As of 1st January 2017, the real-time system linking the DHA’s Member Register with the GDRFA will be activated and in full effect. The system has been designed to also be able to detect gaps in insurance. The penalty for an uninsured member, whether an employee or dependent, is AED 500 per month per member. In addition to the fines from DHA, this delay may cause the employer or individual sponsor to incur fines from GDRFA.

Should you have any inquiries pertaining to the Dubai Health Insurance Law No. 11, please visit the ‘Insurance System for Advancing Healthcare in Dubai’ at http://www.isahd.ae/.

In this respect, please find herewith the GC 08-2016 Mandatory Member Information and Final Deadline general circular and ‘Appendix A’ or you can view it at http://www.isahd.ae/content/docs/GC%2008-2016%20Mandatory%20Member%20Information%20and%20Final%20Deadline.pdf.