The authority announced on Thursday that individuals will be given a grace period until the end of the year to get themselves and those they are sponsoring insured.
“Individuals, their families and their employees—such as maids, cooks etc…— will be given a grace period until the end of the year. We urge everyone to abide by the law, which aims to protect not only their dependents but also the sponsors,” Haidar Al Yousuf, director of Health Funding at the DHA told a press briefing in Dubai.
According to the Dubai Health Insurance Law that came into effect in January 2014, the legal liability for every sponsor is to provide an essential insurance package worth between Dh550 and Dh700 (£95-130, $136-190), so that those on low salaries receive adequate cover.
Al Yousuf said a study found that the cost of the essential benefits package is less than 1.5% of employees’ monthly salary on average.
There are approximately 3.8 million people with a Dubai residence visa, and it is expected that almost 95% will come under the mandatory health insurance cover.
