Arab News, Sun, Apr 07, 2024 | Ramadan 28, 1445
Dubai: Can a working couple’s children be sponsored, insured under different parents' companies?
Saudi Arabia:
Question: My
wife and I both work in separate mainland Dubai-based companies. Our two
children are under my sponsorship and they enjoy insurance benefits. We are now
expecting our third child, but he/she won't be covered under my company's
insurance as it's capped at two. Can my third child be sponsored by my wife's
company so we can avail of insurance from there? What's the procedure?
Answer: Pursuant
to your queries, it is assumed that your employer is providing you and your two
children with health insurance benefits. Therefore, the provisions of Federal
Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Employment Relations and Law No.
11 of 2013 Concerning Health Insurance in the Emirate of Dubai are applicable.
In Dubai, it is the obligation of an employer to provide health insurance
benefits and bear the health care costs of its employees. This is in accordance
with Article 13 (8) & (9) of the Employment Law, which states “The Employer
shall:
8. Bear healthcare costs in accordance with the
legislation in force in the UAE.
9. Bear the costs of insurances, contributions and
securities specified by the legislation in force.”
Furthermore, it is also the obligation of the
employer to provide health insurance benefits to its employees in Dubai in
accordance with Article 10 of the Dubai Health Insurance Law.
However, if an employer does not provide health
insurance benefits to the family members of an employee, then it is the
obligation of such employee (if he or she is on an employer’s employment visa)
or his/her sponsor to bear the health insurance cost of immediate family
members. This is in accordance with Article 11 of the Dubai Health Insurance
Law, which states, “The sponsor shall be obliged of the following:
1. Cover the persons sponsored thereby if they
have not been covered by the employer thereof.
2. Bear the cost of such health insurance coverage
rather than making the beneficiaries bear such costs.
3. Verify that the health insurance of the persons
sponsored thereby is valid for the length of their residence or visiting period.
4. Bear the health services and medical
intervention costs in emergencies for any of the persons sponsored thereby if
any of them has no health insurance in accordance with the provisions of this
Law.
5. Give the persons sponsored thereby the health
insurance card.
6. Provide the health insurance policy upon the
residence or visiting issuance or renewal of the persons sponsored thereby.
7. Any other obligations specified by the
Authority pursuant to the resolutions issued thereby in such concern.”
Based on the aforementioned provisions of law, it
is not mandatory for the employer of your wife to grant health insurance
benefits to your child/children. As a sponsor, it is your obligation to bear the
health insurance costs of your third (to be born) child if the same is not
provided by your wife’s employer. However, if the HR policy of your wife’s
employer allows children of employees health insurance benefits, then your wife
may approach her employer and request to provide health insurance benefits to
your third (to be born) child.