The Dubai Government, which has issued a final deadline for mandatory health insurance, has warned that failure to honor it will result in fines.
All employers and sponsors will have to pay fine if they fail to provide insurance to employees by March 31, 2017 and coverage for visitors by December 31, 2017, Gulf News quoted a new resolution issued by the Dubai Executive Council.
The new Executive Council resolution no (6), 2017 has been endorsed by Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Dubai Executive Council., the report said.
So far, around 98 per cent Dubai residents have already come under the purview of the mandatory health insurance Law no (11) of 2013 that came into effect in January 2014.
The announcement will ensure that the remaining two percent expatriates also get the cover before the stipulated date or face the consequences, said the news portal.
The resolution, however, gives authority to Humaid Al Qutami, Director General of Dubai Health Authority , to extend this deadline if required.
The resolution defines the implementation phases for beneficiaries, entities responsible for providing the service and the deadlines for implementation. It reportedly states that the Government of Dubai is responsible for providing health insurance coverage for UAE nationals from 1 June 2015 and employers are responsible for providing health insurance coverage for expatriate employees from January 1, 2014.
The resolution also obligates sponsors and guardians to provide health insurance coverage for their families and domestic workers from January 1, 2014, the report pointed out.
The Resolution reportedly stipulates that the health insurance requirements should include the provision of an essential health insurance plan approved by the DHA. The health insurance card must be issued by an approved entity and the insurance policy must adhere to the relevant bylaws.
The Mandatory Health Insurance Law No (11) came into effect in 2014 to be implemented in phases. Deadline for Phase I that covered companies with 1,000 or more employees, ended on October 31, 2014.
Similarly, deadline for Phase 2 covering all companies with 100-999 employees ended on July 31, 2015.
Phase 3 that was covering companies with 100 or less employees and includes every resident, including domestic workers and dependents of employees, ended on June 30, 2016.
However, owing to delays and massive number of applications, the deadline was extended up to December 2016.
The new deadline issued by the Executive Council Resolution stipulates that all residents must have health insurance cover by March 31, 2017, reported Gulf News.
