Closing the gaps in health insurance

The absence of health insurance coverage between jobs can have devastating financial consequences

Shariq Alvi faces financial devastation after falling sick while briefly between jobs, when he was not covered by health insurance. Photo: Lee Hoagland / The National

Shariq Alvi's terrible plight highlights a flaw in the health insurance system. Mr Alvi has been unable to pay his hospital bill after suffering a brain haemorrhage during a brief time between ending one job and starting the next, As The National reported yesterday, He has run up Dh600,000 in medical expenses during a six-month stay at Lifeline Hospital. His family are struggling to collect money to pay for his treatment.

Luckily for Mr Alvi, the hospital appears to have demonstrated a commendable emphasis on social responsibility by placing a higher priority on his medical care than on him paying the bill. But his case highlights a situation that could have been avoided if there were a system to ensure medical coverage for those who, like him, are in the country between jobs. The unpredictable nature of life is that sudden illnesses and accidents can have devastating financial consequences for entire families.

While difficult situations can often lead to bad laws being passed in response, in this case there is a beneficial solution by introducing health care insurance to bridge the coverage gap between ending one job and starting the next. This cover need only be relatively brief – most people are able to stay in the UAE for up to two months after leaving a job. After that, they ought to be responsible for their own cover.

There needs to be the ability for those in the same situation as Mr Alvi to buy short-term insurance policies with different levels of cover, with the lowest incurring a modest premium. This would give expatriate workers and their families the peace of mind of knowing that they are protected in the event of most illnesses and injuries. It would have averted tough situations such as the one faced by Mr Alvi’s family now.

This is more than simply about the financial consequences of illness. Mr Alvi was fortunate to be accepted by a hospital without health insurance or enough money for his treatment. Others might have difficulty getting medical care at all. We hope Mr Alvi makes a full recovery and will be able to repay his debt, but we ought to ensure similar cases are avoided.