No basic health cover for singles in Dubai

Insurance companies do not offer the basic health package costing Dh600 to individuals as it is not profitable to cover one person separately, insurance company representatives said.

One sales executive with a large insurance company based in Dubai said she gets many calls from individuals for insurance. “We [only] offer [basic coverage] for blue collar workers with companies that have 1,000 employees,” she said.

The representative said her insurance company’s cheapest basic plan for individuals costs Dh2,125. “For a person who is 36 years old, this will cover up to Dh50,000,” she said.

Under a new law all Dubai residents should have medical coverage within the next two years. Only one million residents presently have medical insurance, leaving two million others who have to pay for their treatment out of their pocket. Spouses who have their partners under their sponsorship will have to foot the bill for the cover.