Workers confused about health insurance rights

Many unclear as to which clinics they can visit

Abu Dhabi: Low-income workers in the capital appear confused about their health insurance rights under the law despite claims by the Health Authority Abu Dhabi (HAAD) that most people in the emirate are in the know.

While most low-income workers are happy about the law that makes it mandatory for employers to provide health insurance for all, many said they had only recently familiarised themselves with their rights. Others were still confused about what hospitals or clinics they could visit, known as the network of coverage.

Gulf News found that an Indian construction worker, who complained that none of the hospitals he visited would accept his insurance card, had simply been going to health care facilities outside his insurance network.

"I did not know where to go, and was forced to pay one-third of my monthly salary when I sustained a neck injury and needed treatment. I also asked my family back home to send me the prescribed medicines," he said.

When contacted, a spokesman from the worker's company said that workers should approach their supervisors in the head offices when they need such information.

Simple inquiry

"A simple inquiry is enough but many workers don't approach anyone, and are therefore unaware of their privileges," he said.

Another Bangladeshi grocery attendant said he received health insurance only recently when his visa had been renewed by his employer.

"Now I know of my rights under the insurance scheme. But I do know people who are not as well aware," he added.

Venu Gopal, manager of customer care at the New Medical Centre (NMC) said the hospital often encounters groups of low-income workers who do not know of their health insurance benefits and networks.

"If the case is an emergency, we take them in. Otherwise, we usually try to find out and tell them which hospitals they can visit under their insurance scheme," he said.

Dr Finn Goldner, director of health system financing at HAAD, said that the authority regularly receives insurance-related inquiries and complaints, especially questions on the extent of insurance coverage.

"In general though, health insurance companies for low-income workers provide information through multiple channels, such as brochures or information on their websites. Since the introduction of mandatory insurance coverage for everyone three years ago and the maturation of the insurance system, there is good general awareness among the workforce," Dr Goldner said.

He also added that HAAD requires companies with a large labour force of low-income workers to be aware of the need to fully comply with Abu Dhabi's health insurance law, and encourages providers and residents to contact the HAAD customer services in case of any doubts about their insurance plans.

Customer service number

Call the HAAD customer service on 800 800 for inquiries and complaints related to health insurance.