Hamdan approves health insurance fees and fines in Dubai

H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council, has issued Executive Council Resolution No (7) of 2016 pertaining to fees and fines related to the health insurance sector in Dubai.

The new Resolution supports the provisions of Law No. (11) of 2013 concerning health insurance in the emirate.

The Resolution authorises the Dubai Health Authority and Dubai Healthcare City Authority to carry out tasks and responsibilities in the most efficient way, including the issuance of permits to claim management companies, insurance firms and healthcare service providers seeking to provide health insurance services.

The Resolution also empowers the two Authorities to supervise the implementation of the health insurance system, and impose fines on violators of the provisions of the above-mentioned Law as well as associated Resolutions.

As per the Resolution, Dubai Health Authority and Dubai Healthcare City Authority are entitled to collect specified fees and fines, according to their respective jurisdictions. The Resolution specifies fees and fines related to health insurance services that each Authority can charge.

The Resolution stipulates that violators who repeat an offence within a year of the date of the first fine will be charged double the fine up to a maximum of AED 500,000. In addition to the fine, authorities can take further actions including the issuance of warnings to violators and suspension from providing health insurance related services for a period not exceeding two years, as well as the cancellation of licenses.

The annexed Table No. (1) associated with the Executive Council Resolution details the fees related to health insurance services including fees for obtaining and renewing permits for insurance firms, insurance brokers, claim management companies, hospitals, polyclinics and specialised clinics, pharmacies, laboratories, radiology and analysis centers and other related companies.

Table No. (2) specifies fines related to 56 violations and provides clear descriptions of each violation. If an insurance company’s license is revoked, it is required to publish two notifications each on the cancellation of its license in a local Arabic and English language newspaper. Failure to do so can result in the company incurring a fine of up to AED 150,000. Insurance firms and claim management companies who cease operations prior to receiving approval from the Health Authority will be fined AED 100,000.

The Chairman of the Board of Dubai Health Authority is authorised to issue the necessary decisions required to execute the provisions of Executive Council Resolution No. (7) of 2016, including outlining the terms and conditions as well as the validity of special permits related to conducting health insurance activities.

This Resolution is valid from the date of its publication in the Official Gazette.

Source:WAM