Changes We’re Making To Health Insurance Policies in the UAE Starting Or Renewing On 01 June 2023

Infertility treatment (Gold plan for businesses)

Wisdom tooth extraction (Silver & Gold plans)

The Dental Basic benefit now includes cover for wisdom tooth extraction on the Silver and Gold plans.

We boosted the benefit for mental health medication that a member receives as an out-patient.

Ayurvedic treatment (all plans)

All plans now include cover for ayurvedic treatment up to US$682 or AED2,500 per policy year.

Reduced benefit for chronic conditions (Flex only)

The updated Flex plan has a benefit limit of US$40,872 or AED150,000 per policy year for the treatment of pre-existing and chronic conditions. The previous Flex plan provided full cover for pre-existing and chronic conditions.

Reduced benefit for kidney dialysis (Flex only)

The updated Flex 3 plan has a benefit limit of US$40,000 or AED146,800 per policy year for kidney dialysis. For Flex 1 and Flex 2, the benefit limit is US$20,000 or AED73,400. The previous Flex plans provided full cover for kidney dialysis.

Reduced cover for complementary treatments (Flex only)

On the updated Flex plan, members can have 10 sessions of complementary treatment (e.g., chiropractors, osteopaths) in the 90 days following their discharge from hospital. Previously, members could have 10 sessions of complementary treatment at any time.

Fewer optional benefits on the Flex plan

On the updated Flex plan, we’ve discontinued the option for US$7,000 (or AED25,690) routine in-patient maternity care and the option for full cover for pharmacy costs. If groups had either of these optional benefits on their previous policy, we’ll be in touch.

We do an annual review of our portfolio’s performance. For plans starting after 01 June 2023, we’ve increased the base rate by an average of 6.5%. Please note that the exact figure varies for each plan (e.g., Silver, Flex) and audience (e.g., individuals, groups). Other factors affect a member’s renewal premium, e.g., the member’s age, benefit changes we’ve introduced, and changes the member has made to their plan. These factors sometimes have a greater impact on the renewal premium than the base rate increase.

What else is changing?

We’re changing all the deductible discounts and the price differentials between the Flex 1, 2 and 3 options. We’re also changing how we price the optional dental. From 01 June 2023, the optional dental benefits will cost a flat premium loading, rather than a percentage.

7.5% discount for groups

The 7.5% discount for new group health policies expires 31 May 2023.

Technical changes

We’re making the following technical changes to the plan agreements for policies starting on/after 01 June 2023.

The plan agreements for the updated plans contain an exclusion for deformities arising during the ante-natal stages of pregnancy or caused during childbirth.

We’ve clarified the wording for the rehabilitation treatment benefit to make it clearer to members what it covers.

Medically necessary termination of pregnancy (all plans)

We clarified the wording for the in-patient maternity care benefit to make it clear that our plans provide cover for medically necessary termination of pregnancies.

The above changes apply to residents of the UAE whose health insurance policy renews on or after 01 June 2023. Our article about our new health insurance products for residents outside the UAE is available on our blog.