Is my baby entitled to medical insurance coverage from my company if the company is sponsoring me and not her? They have said they will not insure her on the company programme even if I offer to pay. Are they acting correctly? KC, Dubai
As you are a resident in Dubai, the requirements regarding the provision of medical insurance are subject to the rules set out by the Dubai Health Authority. These state that all employees must be provided with compliant medical insurance by specific deadlines dependent on the number of employees, but the employer is not legally obliged to provide coverage for any dependents of their employees. If a dependent is permitted to join a company programme the premiums should be paid by the employer, not the employee. Under the Phase 3 requirements, which come into effect in June next year, all dependents must be insured by their sponsors, and that includes spouses who are not sponsored by an employer, children under the age of 18 and any domestic staff. In this situation, it is down to KC to arrange medical insurance for her child.
Keren Bobker is an independent financial adviser with Holborn Assets in Dubai, with over 20 years’ experience. Contact her at keren@holbornassets.com. Follow her on Twitter at @FinancialUAE.
The advice provided in our columns does not constitute legal advice and is provided for information only.
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