The mandatory scheme is governed by Decision No. 66 of 2026, issued by the Chairman of the Supreme Council of Health, and establishes new arrangements for healthcare benefits and insurance contributions linked to the issuance and renewal of residence and work permits.

Detailed provisions published in the Bahraini press on Sunday, November 1, confirm that the mandatory insurance package provides an annual treatment limit of BHD 15,000 for each insured person. However, individual medical services are subject to specified sub-limits, eligibility conditions and cost-sharing arrangements. The BHD 15,000 figure represents an overall annual insurance coverage limit rather than a cash payment or a guarantee that every medical service will be covered without restrictions.

The decision applies to expatriate employees working for employers and eligible family members whom they actually support, including spouses and children who have not exceeded 24 years of age. Its scope also covers non-Bahraini employers operating as natural persons and individuals authorised to work without an employer, together with their eligible dependants, subject to the applicable conditions.

Certain categories remain outside the new programme. The Supreme Council of Health has confirmed that domestic workers, residents employed by government entities and their dependants are not covered by the new arrangements. Healthcare services provided to Bahraini citizens also remain unchanged. These distinctions are important because the programme does not impose identical requirements on every foreign resident living in the Kingdom.

One of the principal administrative changes concerns the relationship between mandatory insurance contributions and residence or work permits. Under the decision, the required insurance contribution must be paid before relevant permits can be issued or renewed. Bahrain’s Labour Market Regulatory Authority is responsible for collecting contributions payable to the Health Insurance Fund through the established permit procedures.

For residents whose work or residence permits were issued before the decision came into force, the new requirements apply when those permits are renewed and the relevant contribution becomes payable. The programme is therefore being introduced progressively rather than requiring all existing permit holders to complete a simultaneous renewal or immediately replace their current permits.

Insurance contributions must generally be paid annually and in advance. For contribution purposes, a partial year is treated as a complete year, while advance payment for more than one year is permitted within the duration of the relevant residence or work permit. The decision refers to previously applicable healthcare contribution categories for non-Bahraini workers rather than introducing a newly numbered premium schedule in its benefits table.

Emergency healthcare is among the most significant benefits under the mandatory package. Eligible emergency treatment provided within Bahrain is covered at 100 percent without a deductible or insurance co-payment, subject to the policy’s overall framework and limits. Emergency cardiac treatment and local ground ambulance services are included under the relevant conditions, while medical treatment and evacuation during overseas travel fall outside the geographical coverage.

The package also establishes a combined annual limit of BHD 2,000 for pre-existing medical conditions and chronic diseases. A pre-existing condition is defined according to the policy’s medical criteria and may include an illness or physical condition present before the insured person’s registration, whether or not the individual was previously aware of it.

Cancer treatment is covered up to the applicable annual insurance limit, while outpatient kidney dialysis is subject to a maximum of BHD 500 per beneficiary each year. Outpatient medicines also have an annual benefit limit of BHD 500, with different reimbursement arrangements for generic medicines and branded products included in the approved medication lists.

Maternity benefits are covered under specific limits. The mandatory package provides up to BHD 500 for natural childbirth and BHD 800 for a caesarean delivery, alongside newborn healthcare benefits during the first 30 days after birth. The availability and extent of individual services remain subject to the detailed conditions, limits and exclusions established by the insurance policy.

Healthcare providers are divided into four network levels: Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum. For services subject to network-based cost sharing, the insured person’s contribution is set at 20, 30, 45 or 60 percent respectively. Maximum out-of-pocket amounts vary by service and network classification, making it important for beneficiaries to understand which providers and services are included in their coverage.

The policy also establishes a BHD 5 deductible for certain general practitioner and outpatient consultations. Follow-up consultations for the same condition with the same practitioner within seven days are exempt from that charge. Some procedures, particularly non-emergency inpatient treatment, require prior authorisation, while emergency services are governed by separate access requirements.

Several exclusions remain applicable, including medically unnecessary services, experimental treatments and certain procedures that do not meet the policy’s medical eligibility requirements. Workplace injuries may be addressed through separate employer-liability or social compensation arrangements when their treatment costs are covered under those systems, avoiding duplicate compensation for the same incident.

Bahraini health authorities have explained that the programme will be implemented gradually alongside residence and work permit procedures, with healthcare services delivered through approved providers and insurance arrangements. Employers and residents may purchase additional optional insurance packages, but doing so does not eliminate the obligation to pay the mandatory contribution where it applies.

With the scheme now in effect, eligible expatriate residents and employers should review their permit renewal dates, insurance contribution requirements and healthcare provider networks. Understanding annual benefit limits, deductibles, co-payment percentages and exclusions will help beneficiaries make informed decisions and avoid unexpected expenses when accessing medical services in Bahrain.

Source: Bahrain Supreme Council of Health – Decision No. 66 of 2026 – Al Ayam – Akhbar Al Khaleej, November 1, 2026.