The UAE, like most other countries, has both publicly and privately funded medical institutions spread across the country. While you can obtain high-quality medical care at any type of hospital while in the country, each has its own set of advantages and disadvantages. Although our friends at UAE Medical Insurance have already written about this, Dhanguard provides an update on the distinctions between public and private healthcare in the UAE, as well as which is best for you.
Public Hospitals in the United Arab Emirates
The UAE's public healthcare system caters almost entirely to UAE residents. The UAE government is in charge of the system. The public hospitals are divided into several levels of care based on their location and the number of the population they are required to serve. One unique feature of UAE public hospitals is that in some regions, they are the only option for complex emergency or catastrophic trauma.
Long wait times are common in public hospitals in the UAE, as they are in other areas of the world, as locals freely use their public hospitals, resulting in overcrowded waiting rooms. Also, don't be shocked if these facilities lack language support in order to successfully communicate with international patients. While English is commonly spoken in the UAE, persons who do not speak the language may have difficulty speaking with hospital workers.
Private Hospitals in the UAE
The number of private hospitals in the United Arab Emirates currently outnumbers the number of governmental hospitals. This could be attributed to the continuous development of healthcare privatization through mandated health insurance regimes in some emirates. Furthermore, due to the enormous number of expats living in the UAE, a significant portion of the population lacks access to the publicly subsidized healthcare that Emiratis are entitled to.
In terms of quality, the level of medical care obtained varies depending on where you travel in the country, even in private facilities. People might seek out the most cutting-edge hospitals in the country's most developed cities for the greatest care. Of course, the cost of care in these facilities can be significantly more than in other hospitals. If you want to be able to afford the potentially high charges found at the UAE's private hospitals, you'll need to have a comprehensive health insurance plan in place while you're there.
The Cost of Healthcare in the United Arab Emirates
Treatment in private hospitals in the UAE is more expensive than treatment at public or government hospitals. However, thanks to legislative changes, the cost of some therapies has been decreased to merely a fraction of the cost of public healthcare. The DHA reforms, as well as the partial cost-coverage of the Dubai Health Card, have made getting private care in Dubai a healthier and more cost-effective option.
It's also worth noting that certain surgical procedures are substantially less expensive in UAE emirates like Dubai and Abu Dhabi than they are in Western countries. A 15-minute session with a doctor in Dubai and Abu Dhabi costs between AED 177-286 (USD $48-78), according to the Expatistan Cost of Living Index. In addition to less expensive doctor visits than in many Western countries, various surgical procedures are also less expensive in the UAE. A prostate operation in the UAE, for example, costs up to AED 29,000 (USD $7,896), compared to AED 39,000 (USD $10,618) in the United States.
Lower overhead is one reason why treatments can cost a quarter of what they would in the United States or the United Kingdom. Treatment costs are often lower because the cost of non-medical employees, land, and construction is much lower.
Mandatory Insurance is required. in the United Arab Emirates
While most emirates provide some subsidized public healthcare and allow individuals and employers to choose whether or not to purchase private health insurance to cover medical costs, the two largest emirates – Dubai and Abu Dhabi – now require residents to have private health insurance or face penalties. Fines and/or refusal of visa issuance are now the penalties for not having health insurance in these territories. Visitors to Dubai must have compliant health insurance in place before arriving in the emirate, or they risk being denied entry.
It's also not just any health insurance plan that will suffice. Both Dubai and Abu Dhabi have stated standards that must be met in order for a plan to be compliant with each emirate's legislation. Both emirates, for example, demand a medical insurance policy with a maximum value of AED 150,000 or more, as well as coverage for maternity and pre-existing diseases at the time of writing. If you decide to acquire insurance for admission to either Dubai or Abu Dhabi, there are a number of other requirements that must be completed. If you do decide to get insurance for entry to either Dubai or Abu Dhabi, be sure to speak with an experienced insurance adviser about them.
Expats and Medical Tourists in the UAE are covered by Insurance.
The UAE not only has a big expat community, but it is also a prominent medical tourism destination in the Middle East. People from all over the world choose Dubai and Abu Dhabi for elective or non-emergency medical care since they boast some of the region's most advanced facilities.
Many people find that moving to a new country or traveling for medical care prevents them from using their previous health insurance plan at home. International health insurance plans, on the other hand, cover the costs of medical care in nearly any country or hospital in the world. Furthermore, these plans are totally portable, meaning that no matter where you go in the globe, you'll be able to keep your health insurance plan and avoid losing coverage for any issues that arise while you're on it.
Conclusion
Many people find that moving to a new country or traveling for medical care prevents them from using their previous health insurance plan at home. International health insurance plans, on the other hand, cover the costs of medical care in nearly any country or hospital in the world. Furthermore, these plans are totally portable, meaning that no matter where you go in the globe, you'll be able to keep your health insurance plan and avoid losing coverage for any issues that arise while you're on it.