Saudi Arabia: New bylaws expand healthcare coverage
Source: Middle East Insurance Review | Mar 2018
Dental and gum treatment, as well as one-time teeth cleaning, will be covered in the new cooperative health insurance bylaws which will be implemented in July 2018, said the Council of Cooperative Health Insurance (CCHI).
The new insurance bylaws also allow the coverage of Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) vaccine and early test programmes for hearing problems, newborns’ heart problems, and gastric sleeve surgeries for people with 45 BMI.
Other new diseases to be covered by insurance are psychological issues that require hospital care indicated by the Ministry of Health and psoriasis, reported Saudi Gazette.
Baby milk formula will also be covered by insurance for babies who medically need it until they reach 24 months of age.
In addition, all insurers must now offer an annual coverage of at least SAR500,000 (US$133,333) for medical check-ups, diagnoses, treatment, medications, admission, and surgeries.
Mr Mohammed Hussein, Secretary General of CCHI, said that the new bylaws will apply to new policies issued after 30 June 2018. He said that insurers are not allowed to cancel existing health policies before they expire so as to re-issue new policies on 1 July. M
SAR1 = US$0.27