Image: Doha by Darwinek (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Qatar is the latest country in the Gulf region to insist expat workers are covered by private health insurance rather than relying on state care. In order to control growing costs and manage the strain on public systems, many governments now make health insurance a requirement when issuing work visas.
The new laws in Qatar mean all private companies will be legally obliged to pay premiums for their expatriate workers by the end of 2015. The regulations will be rolled out in phases, with white-collar workers to be covered by the first quarter of next year, and blue-collar workers must be included by the end of 2015.
Insurers must be approved by the Qatari government under certain conditions, they must have their place of business in Qatar and be officially registered. Big-name insurers such as AXA PPP and Bupa are not exempt and must also comply with the new legislation, reports the Telegraph Expat.
The government will pay premiums for all Qatari nationals, while private companies will be eligible for foreign workers and their families. Employers will not be allowed to deduct premiums from their employees.
“The National Health Insurance Scheme is not designed to cut costs or benefits. On the contrary, its background is the goal to ensure that everyone living in Qatar – both nationals and non-nationals – have the basic minimum health care services available to them,” Dr Faleh Mohamed Hussein Ali, assistant secretary general for policy affairs at the Supreme Council of Health said in a statement last year.
“In addition, the information that we gain through the national health insurance scheme will be used for planning, to ensure that the resources of the government are used efficiently and where they are needed to respond to the healthcare needs of Qatar.”
He also noted the scheme will ensure pricing and health services offered will become more competitive as all residents will be able to choose between public and private care.