Changes We’re Making To Health Insurance Policies in the UAE Starting Or Renewing On 01 June 2021

The headline changes to our health plans for UAE residents:

• Low average inflationary premium increases for existing customers
• New benefit for accidental death
• Improvements to the way we calculate insurance premiums
• Changes apply to health plans starting on or after 01 June 2021

Our values

We believe in people

Some insurers rely on AI and Big Data to do their work for them. We think differently. Healthcare is a highly personal experience, so it deserves a personal service. We’re a team of real people, at the end of a phone call when customers really need us.

Committed to fairness

Healthcare is expensive, and— sadly—costs are on the up. We do everything possible to spread this inflation fairly. We calculate premiums with a long- term pricing model, and we give customers tailoring tools to help reduce their premium without significantly compromising their cover.

Transparency matters to us

Insurance is about trust, so we believe in being fair and open. This belief informs our idea of healthcare as a partnership between our customers and us. That’s why we’re completely upfront with our health plans, and we want customers to understand precisely what they’re buying.

Commitment to relationships

The UAE (and especially Dubai) is a transactional marketplace. We’ve been active in Dubai since 2006, and in that time providers have come and gone. We remain committed to providing international insurance in the UAE. As usual, we prioritise a consultative approach with our brokers and customers and premiums that are sustainable for the long term.

Some housekeeping

CEGA no longer provides our 24-hour medical assistance

Members can now contact NEXtCARE at +971 4 270 8800 or nextcare@nextcarehealth.com.

Benefit changes for Flex

Ambulance benefit

The ambulance benefit now includes cover for air ambulances, in addition to road ambulances.

Kidney dialysis

We now cover kidney dialysis in full, regardless of whether the member is an in-patient, day-patient or out-patient.

Mental health treatment

We’re increasing the annual limit and reducing the co-insurance. We’ve also clarified the benefit wording for out-patient mental health treatment, which now includes consultations with a registered counsellor. We also now cover out-patient mental health drugs.

Medical aids

We no longer exclude medical aids that form part of the care of a chronic condition, including insulin pumps, reservoirs, glucose sensors, lancets, and quickset infusions.

Physiotherapy

We no longer exclude physiotherapy that aims at maintaining (rather than curing) chronic conditions.

Repatriation of mortal remains

If you die as a result of a condition that is covered by your plan, we will now pay up to US$2,500 for your body or ashes to be transported to your country of residence or nationality.

COVID-related primary medical care

We now include the COVID-19 PCR test and antigen testing within the primary medical care benefit, provided the member is experiencing relevant symptoms such as cough or fever.

COVID-related preventive health & well-being

We now include COVID-19 vaccinations administered in the member’s country of residence, plus an initial COVID-19 PCR and antigen test when the member has been in close proximity with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19.

Pre-existing & chronic medical conditions

We now provide full cover for pre-existing and chronic medical conditions.

Complementary treatments

We’ve removed the restriction on receiving complementary treatments in the 90-day period following the member’s discharge from hospital. Any co-insurance is subject to the co-insurance selected by the employer.

Refiguring the maternity benefit

We now refer to the routine out-patient maternity care and newborn care benefit simply as ‘routine out- patient maternity care’. We’ve also separated the in-patient maternity care benefit from the newborn care benefit in the table of benefits.

Finally, we’ve removed two exclusions:

1. We no longer exclude treatment of newborn children following assisted reproduction in the event of birth occurring within 36 weeks of conception.
2. We no longer exclude treatment for complications arising from a pregnancy established through assisted reproduction until after the standard 12-week scan.

Benefit changes for Silver and Gold

Ambulance benefit

The ambulance benefit now includes cover for air ambulances, in addition to road ambulances.

Cancer benefits

We’ve added cover for mental health treatment under the counselling benefit of each plan. We’ve also made some changes to differentiate the cancer benefits under Silver and Gold.

*Lifetime limit

Mental health treatment

We now cover out-patient mental health drugs.

Medical aids

We no longer exclude medical aids that form part of the care of a chronic condition, including insulin pumps, reservoirs, glucose sensors, lancets, and quickset infusions.

Complementary treatments

We no longer exclude complementary treatments that aim at maintaining (rather than curing) chronic conditions.

Physiotherapy

We no longer exclude physiotherapy that aims at maintaining (rather than curing) chronic conditions.

COVID-related preventive health & well-being

We now include COVID-19 vaccinations administered in the member’s country of residence, plus an initial COVID-19 PCR and antigen test when the member has been in close proximity with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19.

Refiguring the maternity benefit

We now refer to the routine out-patient maternity care and newborn care benefit simply as ‘routine out- patient maternity care’. We’ve also separated the in-patient maternity care benefit from the newborn care benefit in the table of benefits.

Finally, we’ve removed two exclusions:

1. We no longer exclude treatment of newborn children following assisted reproduction in the event of birth occurring within 36 weeks of conception.
2. We no longer exclude treatment for complications arising from a pregnancy established through assisted reproduction until after the standard 12-week scan.

Accidental death benefit

We pay out US$15,000 if a member dies as a consequence of accidental bodily injury while the member’s plan is in force. The member must have a Gold plan, death must occur within 12 months of the accidental bodily injury, and the accidental bodily injury must not be caused by anything excluded in the plan agreement or by special terms on the member’s certificate of insurance.

Changes to our pricing model

We’re changing all the excess 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 2021, the optional dental benefits will cost a flat premium loading, rather than a percentage.

Changes to child discounts

We’re reducing the discount we give to second and subsequent children on health plans. The discounts apply to new business and renewals.

Changes to exclusions

We’re making the following changes to the exclusion section of the plan agreements for health plans starting on/after 01 June 2021.

Accidental bodily injury

Circumcision

Drugs prescribed for out-patient mental health treatment

Foetal anomalies

Foetal surgery

The above changes apply to residents of the UAE whose health plan renews on or after 01 June 2021. Our article on the changes we’ve made to health plans for residents living anywhere other than the UAE is available on our blog.