The National Health Insurance Company – Daman has announced updates to the Basic Health Insurance Plan, as part of the regulations issued by the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH), taking effect on 1 of July 2024. This comes in line with ongoing efforts aimed at ensuring that all community members receive continued access to the highest quality of care while enhancing efficiency in the delivery of healthcare services within the emirate, in accordance with best practices and international standards.

Holders of the Basic Health Insurance Plan will continue to receive an annual health insurance cover of AED250,000, alongside access to healthcare and emergency services from over 1,250 healthcare facilities spread across Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Al Dhafra region. Moreover, this extends to include access to specialised services offered by Abu Dhabi's Centres of Excellence (CoE’s), including a Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi as a CoE for adult cardiac surgery and stroke, Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City (SSMC) as a CoE for stroke, and Sheikh Khalifa Medical City (SKMC) as a CoE for paediatric cardiac surgery, among many more.

Basic Health Insurance Plan holders will continue to receive essential services like physiotherapy, ambulance services, maternity, and more. Characterised by competitive offerings on regional and global levels, the health insurance schemes in Abu Dhabi provide comprehensive benefits while applying unified quality and standards across various insurance plans, including the Basic Health Insurance Plan.

The new regulations consist of updates to the co-payment for holders of the Basic Health Insurance Plan on diagnostic and lab services, in-patient services, and one-day procedures. Daman clarified that these updates include a 20 per cent co-payment on diagnostic services, including laboratory tests and radiology, with a maximum of AED50 per visit. The amendments also include a AED200 co-payment for each in-patient services and one-day procedures, capped at AED500 per year.

Basic Health Insurance Plan holders will benefit from medication coverage of AED1,500 annually, which includes a 30 per cent co-payment fee. Furthermore, the annual premium for domestic helpers under the age of 60 years sponsored by UAE nationals will cost AED750, whereas the Basic Health Insurance Plan for other categories has also been adjusted based on various age group.