Dubai Insurers Expand Coverage to Include Dental, Mental Health

As new legislative changes take effect, Dubai's businesses and residents will now pay up to 20% extra for health insurance.

Insurers have improved their policies, though, by including major extras including dental treatment, mental health support, organ transplant coverage, and dialysis. Professionals in the sector feel these developments make health insurance more all-encompassing and advantageous for consumers.

Officially starting on January 1, 2025, the updated insurance premiums and benefits resulted from legislative changes meant to increase access to and quality of healthcare, Based on claims experience and market conditions, insurance companies have changed their rates; yet, the increases vary depending on the plans and providers.

Avinash Babur, CEO of Insurancemarket.ae, reports some companies have increased their rates by 10 to 15% in line with 2024 claims statistics, These tweaks, meanwhile, are not consistent across the sector. While some companies have raised their rates, others have decided to keep their current ones, At least one insurer, he pointed out, has increased basic and enhanced health plan rates by around 20%; this seems to be a targeted rise rather than a change across the sector.

According to Moin ur Rehman, Executive Director of Unitrust Insurance Broker, almost 75% of insurance companies have changed their health insurance premiums; both basic and upgraded plans saw a 20% increase, Likewise, Toshita Chauhan, Policybazaar.ae's Business Head for Health and Motor Insurance, said that changes in regulations have driven both personal and business health insurance rates up. She clarified that although these modifications increase coverage, they have also resulted in required price adjustments since the government's updated health insurance rules seek to improve access and quality of treatment.

Insurance companies have greatly increased coverage to include a greater spectrum of medical treatments despite price increases, Chauhan underlined how policies are more comprehensive since insurance companies have included new benefits including dental treatment, mental health check-ups, and dialysis, Although these enhancements result in more premiums, they offer more protection for locations not covered by normal plans.

To follow Dubai Health Authority (DHA) rules, banks have added further coverage choices, noted Babur. These cover vital medical needs including dialysis treatments (up to Dh60,000), organ transplants (up to Dh100,000 for recipients), and yearly prescription costs (up to Dh2,500, limited to authorized formulary products).

With coverage of up to Dh800, mental health outpatient counseling has also been included; dental benefits have been introduced with a limit of Dh500, Furthermore covered now are repatriation expenses for moving dead remains, at Dh5,000. These additional advantages come with co-insurance obligations: 30% for outpatient mental health counseling and prescription drugs and 20% for organ transplants and dialysis.

Not all insurance companies have raised their rates despite these added advantages. Babur clarified that some businesses have decided to maintain charges same while others have revised them to accommodate the extra coverage. This variance captures the risk estimates and market strategies of various insurers.

These developments ensure that people and companies get complete medical coverage given Dubai's changing healthcare rules. Although the rise in premiums could affect policyholders financially, the improved benefits offer more stability and access to necessary healthcare treatments.