ABU DHABI // Thousands of employers and sponsors are trying to avoid fines for failing to provide health insurance for their staff or dependents.
Many claim they have been out of the country, ill, or unable to afford to pay the fines, which can amount to almost Dh6,000 per uninsured person. And so far, according to officials, four in five have been successful in having their penalties waived or reduced.
Most of those appealing their penalties are individuals sponsoring family members - and therefore responsible for insuring them. Since 2006, the emirate has required companies and individual sponsors to insure workers and dependents. Although the law stipulates fines of Dh300 for each month a person is uninsured, there has been little enforcement until now. In May, the Health Authority-Abu Dhabi (Haad) said it would start issuing fines to those who failed to meet the requirement.
It offered a two-month amnesty, setting a July deadline. Sponsors who did not comply would be fined, with fines to apply back to March 2009. The amnesty deadline was later extended until September 13. Since that date, a trickle, then a flood, of people have been arriving at Haad's offices in the capital to appeal their fines. Dr Jamal al Kaabi, the head of customer services and corporate communications at Haad, estimates the number of appeals has more than doubled, rising to at least 200 a day from an initial 50 to 70.
He said insurance companies are required to tell customers they are fined and to collect the outstanding amounts. "If an individual or company is unable to pay the fine, or has documented proof that can lead to the fine being lifted or reduced, they can file a grievance with Haad," he said. Haad has set up a grievances and appeals committee for those who cannot pay their fines, or want them reduced.
Ahmed al Kindi, who heads the committee, said cases would be considered individually. "Some people may have been out of the country in the summer during the amnesty period, or ill, or in hospital and could not renew their insurance, or have limited salaries that makes it impossible for them to pay their fines," he said. To contest a fine, individual sponsors must pay a fee of Dh100, and companies Dh2,000. Fees will not be returned.
Daman insures 85 per cent of people in Abu Dhabi, or about two million customers. A basic health insurance policy costs about Dh650 a year, with some policies costing more than Dh2,000 annually. Employees, whose bosses fail to provide them with cover, are encouraged to report them to Haad. Complaints can be filed to the authority's customer services department, either in person or by telephone.
Marwan al Naboulsi, the head of enrolment and inspection at Haad, said the appeals committee was temporary, but he did not say when it would be dissolved. "During the amnesty period, thousands came forward and dealt with this, which we were delighted with," he said.
"We expected that many would still be without insurance, and predicted we would need a committee to deal with these cases." Mr al Naboulsi said it was mandatory for insurance companies to give customers 30 days' notice of the expiration of policies. Haad provides another month before the fines apply. Almost 80 per cent of grievances and appeals during the past three weeks ended with fines waived or reduced, Dr al Kaabi said.
"We aim to be fair," he said. Abu Dhabi is the only emirate to have mandatory health insurance. hkhalaf@thenational.ae
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Mission to Seafarers is one of the largest port-based welfare operators in the world.
It provided services to around 200 ports across 50 countries.
They also provide port chaplains to help them deliver professional welfare services.
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Belarus
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Brazil
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2019 Asian Cup final
Japan v Qatar
Friday, 6pm
Zayed Sports City Stadium, Abu Dhabi
ACC 2019: The winners in full
Best Actress Maha Alemi, Sofia
Best Actor Mohamed Dhrif, Weldi
Best Screenplay Meryem Benm’Barek, Sofia
Best Documentary Of Fathers and Sons by Talal Derki
Best Film Yomeddine by Abu Bakr Shawky
Best Director Nadine Labaki, Capernaum
Tailors and retailers miss out on back-to-school rush
Tailors and retailers across the city said it was an ominous start to what is usually a busy season for sales.
With many parents opting to continue home learning for their children, the usual rush to buy school uniforms was muted this year.
“So far we have taken about 70 to 80 orders for items like shirts and trousers,” said Vikram Attrai, manager at Stallion Bespoke Tailors in Dubai.
“Last year in the same period we had about 200 orders and lots of demand.
“We custom fit uniform pieces and use materials such as cotton, wool and cashmere.
“Depending on size, a white shirt with logo is priced at about Dh100 to Dh150 and shorts, trousers, skirts and dresses cost between Dh150 to Dh250 a piece.”
A spokesman for Threads, a uniform shop based in Times Square Centre Dubai, said customer footfall had slowed down dramatically over the past few months.
“Now parents have the option to keep children doing online learning they don’t need uniforms so it has quietened down.”
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Director: Christian Carion
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Rating: 2/5
APPLE IPAD MINI (A17 PRO)
Display: 21cm Liquid Retina Display, 2266 x 1488, 326ppi, 500 nits
Chip: Apple A17 Pro, 6-core CPU, 5-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine
Storage: 128/256/512GB
Main camera: 12MP wide, f/1.8, digital zoom up to 5x, Smart HDR 4
Front camera: 12MP ultra-wide, f/2.4, Smart HDR 4, full-HD @ 25/30/60fps
Biometrics: Touch ID, Face ID
Colours: Blue, purple, space grey, starlight
In the box: iPad mini, USB-C cable, 20W USB-C power adapter
Price: From Dh2,099
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Developer: Treyarch, Raven Software
Publisher: Activision
Console: PlayStation 4 & 5, Windows, Xbox One & Series X/S
Rating: 3.5/5
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Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Lady Gaga, Brendan Gleeson
Director: Todd Phillips
Rating: 2/5
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Dr Amal Khalid Alias revealed a recent case of a woman with daughters, who specifically wanted a boy.
A semen analysis of the father showed abnormal sperm so the couple required IVF.
Out of 21 eggs collected, six were unused leaving 15 suitable for IVF.
A specific procedure was used, called intracytoplasmic sperm injection where a single sperm cell is inserted into the egg.
On day three of the process, 14 embryos were biopsied for gender selection.
The next day, a pre-implantation genetic report revealed four normal male embryos, three female and seven abnormal samples.
Day five of the treatment saw two male embryos transferred to the patient.
The woman recorded a positive pregnancy test two weeks later.
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Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
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Founder: Ahmed Al Qubaisi
Based: Abu Dhabi
Founded: January 2019
Number of employees: 10
Sector: Technology/Social media
Funding to date: Estimated $300,000 from Hub71 in-kind support
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