Middle East News - Kuwait: Ministry looking into health insurance for visitors
Source: Middle East Insurance Review | Jan 2016
Kuwait’s Ministry of Health intends to require that health insurance be acquired by visitors who travel to the country on tourist or commercial visit visas, following a government study on the issue.
A team consisting of members from the Health Minister’s Office and the Ministry’s legal affairs department is currently preparing a draft bill to be submitted soon to the Cabinet, reported Kuwait Times citing ministry sources. The team has discussed with various insurance companies various options to implement the scheme.
Previously, Health Ministry Undersecretary Dr Khaled Al-Sahlawi said the insurance premiums could be added to the value of air tickets, or the visitor could pay them at the border.
If the scheme is implemented, Kuwait will follow in the footsteps of Saudi Arabia, whose compulsory health insurance scheme applies to foreign visitors and their dependents, except haj and umrah pilgrims, guests of the State, and diplomats and visitors to foreign missions and international organisations who enter the Kingdom on business.