Essential Benefits Plan (EBP) in Dubai

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Health insurance is something that shouldn’t be neglected by anyone. Recently, you might have thought that health insurance is not fruitful enough. But life is all about uncertain circumstances, and we don’t know when and how health insurance can cover us. To abide by this notion, many people are willing to explore the advantages of essential benefits plans in Dubai.

EBP is a type of crucial health insurance that is effectively designed to cover all the necessary health services you may require. This is mandatory health insurance for people in Dubai. In this blog, we will highlight the descriptive form of the essential benefits plan and some of its critical approaches.

What Is the Essential Benefits Plan (EBP)?

If we explain the essential benefits plan in Dubai in the simplest form, it is a type of health insurance that can cover all your health services. However, these plans are typically mandated to involve a base level of coverage. This can make sure the individuals accessing this insurance have access to comprehensive healthcare services. The following plan offers a standardised set of health care services that are required to satiate your basic health maintenance.

The following plans are curated as an effort to make the health insurance policies more streamlined and assure that all the plans consist of some minimum level of coverage. EBPs are mainly needed by health insurance regulations to cover certain categories of healthcare practices.

This basic health insurance package can deliver affordable healthcare coverage to people who have comparatively lower incomes in Dubai. The following plan ensures that every individual in Dubai has the right to access essential medical services without getting burdened with financial strain.

Is the Essential Benefits Plan mandatory in the UAE?

As per the recent UAE laws, it is mandatory to get EBP insurance in Dubai. This comprehensive effort ensures all the residents of Dubai are getting minimal health coverage without paying higher premiums. This plan includes a number of benefits that we will discuss further, but some of the vital ones are emergency treatments, practitioner consultations, maternity care, medications, and much more.

With the recent policy of the UAE government, all private sector workers and domestic workers throughout the UAE need to have certain basic health insurance coverage. Apart from this, employers who fail to present their health insurance may face consequences like fines and non-renewal of trade licenses. So, if you are a resident of the UAE or planning to shift, make sure to understand that health insurance is your mandatory requirement.

What Does the Essential Benefits Plan Cover?

As we have discussed in the previous section, the core EBP coverage majorly involves medical tests, surgeries, medications, maternity, and outpatient & inpatient treatments. So, if you are getting EBP insurance for yourself, make sure to thoroughly go through its inclusions.

Hospitalisation: This insurance can cover treatments in a hospital that demands admission as an inpatient. It is majorly required for an overnight stay.

Emergency Services: It can cover services required to treat any injuries or acute illnesses that can further lead to serious disabilities in the future. This insurance can give you access to treatment for these illnesses as soon as possible with the proper assistance of medical practitioners.

Pregnancy or Maternity Care: The following insurance can provide you with care before and after your baby is born.

Prescribed Medications: It can cover all the medications that are prescribed to you by any certified doctor to treat any conditions or illness.

Mental Health Services: Looking at the changing lifestyle of most youngsters, this insurance covers mental health counselling, behavioural health treatments, and psychotherapy.

Laboratory Services: This insurance includes tests that are used to help diagnose all your illnesses and conditions.

Rehabilitative Services: It covers services that help individuals with disabilities, injuries, and chronic conditions recover their normal abilities.

Pediatric Solutions: It also covers essential vision and oral care for your children.

Preventive and wellness services: This includes vaccinations, screening tests, chronic disease management, and much more.

Who is Eligible for EBP in Dubai?

An Essential benefits plan for health insurance is only for Dubai residents who are earning less than the amount of AED 4,000 per month. This also involves dependents who might not be working at all. Individuals earning higher than AED 4,000 are not eligible to apply for EBP. However, to provide the minimum, their medical insurance will meet the precise standards valued in the EBP. The cost of acquiring an EBP comes under the range of AED 550 to AED 650 per year.

Documents Required To Apply for an EBP Policy

To get an authentic Essential Benefits plan in Dubai, you have to follow certain rules. The most important part is that you have to present some documents as per the requirements of the authorities.

Valid Emirates ID Copy

You have to provide your residence visa or Emirates ID to showcase your authenticity. If your visa is under the renewal process, make sure to present its processing receipt.

Passport Copy

It is essential for you to offer a clear and precise copy of the insured person’s passport. It serves as an official proof of your identity.

Salary Certificate

The following document will work as proof that the insured individual is earning AED 4,000 or less than this, which is a necessary eligibility criterion for getting an EBP.

Passport-size Photographs

Make sure to provide your clear passport-size photographs in front of the authorities for ID generation and records.

Medical History

It is not mandatory, but some insurers may ask you to provide your medical history to verify your health conditions.

How to Buy an Essential Benefits Plan in Dubai?

Getting an EBP insurance plan in Dubai is a streamlined process that you have to follow. To make it easy for you, we have highlighted the steps involved in the process.

Check Your Eligibility: Before applying for EBP insurance, make sure to confirm whether you or the insured individuals meet the eligibility criteria. Employees earning more than AED 4,000 can’t apply for this insurance policy.
Prefer a DHA-Approved Insurance Company: You have to remember that not all insurance agencies offer EBP insurance. So, you must abide by the one that is approved by the Dubai Health Authority.
Gather Necessary Documents: To prove your authenticity, be ready with your necessary documents like Emirates ID, passport, passport-size photographs, salary certificates, etc.
Pay Your Premium: After submitting all your documents, you have to pay the premium of the EBP insurance, which is extremely affordable.
Receive Your Policy: Once the insurer approves your request, they will provide you with the insurance policy number and card.

Difference Between EBP and Comprehensive Health Insurance

Here, you can go through clear differences between the EBP and comprehensive health insurance policy:

EBP insurance is majorly designed for low-income earners that fall under AED 4,000 or less per month. On the other hand, comprehensive health insurance is curated for mid to high-income people.

EBP provides basic healthcare coverage, whereas the comprehensive one includes surgeries, specialist care, chronic disease management, etc., that can be customised.

EBP includes limited access to medicals within a specific network. But, the comprehensive one includes optical, dental, wellness benefits, maternity, and much more by accessing a wider network of hospitals.

EBP insurance costs between AED 600 and AED 800 per year. But the comprehensive offers higher premium costs.

FAQs about the Essential Benefits Plan

How much does EBP cost in Dubai?

The cost range of an EBP insurance policy comes in between AED 600 and AED 800 per year. However, it varies depending on the functionalities and operations of the policy provider you are working with.

Can I upgrade from EBP to a higher plan?

Yes, you can easily upgrade your EBP to a higher health insurance plan. However, to do it conveniently, you have to get the assistance of your insurance provider and discuss the available comprehensive plans with them. With higher plans, you can unlock more potential additional coverage options and advantages.

Is EBP available outside of Dubai?

The Essential Benefits plan is only available in Dubai, and it covers emergency treatments throughout the UAE. Recently, it has not been available outside the UAE, and it doesn’t cover any medical expenses outside of its territory.

Can I upgrade from EBP to a comprehensive health plan?

Yes, you are allowed to upgrade from EBP to a more comprehensive health insurance plan. To acquire this upgrade, you need to discuss it with your insurance provider and ask them about the available options. You can also include additional coverage.

Does EBP include dental or optical coverage?

Dental and optical coverage is not included in an EBP. However, if you need it, you can discuss it with your insurance provider and acquire this coverage as an add-on. With this, your premium range may also increase.

How long does it take to activate an EBP policy?

The activation period for an EBP policy may take around a week or 3-4 working days. However, there are many prominent insurance providers present in the country who can leverage instant activation of the policy when you apply online. With the activation, you can enjoy immediate access to all the benefits.