The new decision removes restrictions on the provision of health insurance to expatriates over 60 of the listed companies.
The law stipulates that the employer is committed to pay for the health insurance installments to provide his workers coverage for the necessary basic health care services. The employer is also committed to supply his employees with a health insurance card after issuing the insurance document and present proof of this when issuing or renewing the residency permits. Further, the employer is committed to pay for any costs of health care services offered to the beneficiaries under him on account of his failure to maintain a valid health insurance for them.
Changes were made to Oman’s Law on the Control of Communicable Diseases as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The additions reiterated the need for all residents infected with a communicable disease to receive medical care and treatment in government treatment facilities. Failure to do so by any foreigners or foreigners caught in activities that risk the spread of listed communicable diseases are subject to possible deportation from the country. Additional articles established the requirement for individuals entering the country who are infected or suspected of being infected to notify this information to authorities and also the right of the Ministry of Health to subject individuals to necessary procedures to combat communicable diseases such as quarantining the individual and his or her luggage.
Decision No. 23 defines the scope of application of health insurance law as all citizens, residents, and visitors. Provisions for migrant workers are included in Article 28 requiring the employer to pay the fees for health insurance subscription on behalf of his non-Bahraini workers in order to cover the benefits listed under the compulsory health package for residents and requiring a sponsor to pay the subscription fees for persons he sponsors who do not have an employer in order to cover the benefits listed under the relevant compulsory health insurance package.
The Council of Cooperative Health Insurance (CCHI) rolled out its plan for unified health insurance that require private businesses to extend health insurance coverage to all employees and their families, including migrant workers, in several phases.
Resolution No. 33, passed by the UAE Council of Ministers, relates to the executive regulations of Federal Law No. 14 of 2014 and provides free health care to treat communicable and contagious diseases for all residents, although deportation rules remain in place if migrants are infected with specific diseases.
These insurances policies for foreign domestic workers aim to protect employers and provide comprehensive healthcare for domestic workers, building on 2014 regulation that required proof of health and life insurance for domestic workers to obtain work permits.
This Employer's Information Pack, issued by the Government of Dubai and the Dubai Health Authority, provides detailed information on the health insurance law including who will pay for coverage and the type of health insurance plan that an employer or sponsor should provide.
Law No. 11 requires that all residents have a level of health insurance that meets or exceeds minimum benefits stipulated by Dubai Health Authority (DHA). This includes all nationals, residents, visitors, employers, sponsors, and others. In Dubai, employers are legally obligated to provide medical cover for their employees.
Similar to Sultan's Decree No. 72 of 1991, Law No. 7 was enacted to ensure the implementation of a mandatory health insurance system of basic health services to all Qatari citizens, GCC citizens, residents and visitors. The employer is held responsible for payment of health insurance premiums for non-Qatari employees and members of their families while sponsors are responsible for payment of those premiums for sponsored individuals.