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Planning on getting screened for the Coronavirus? Here's what you need to know about Covid-19 tests and your health insurance.
15 March 2020
| Last updated on 15 March 2020
Find out if whether your UAE health insurance will cover your Coronavirus medical test.
With the growing number of Covid-19 cases in the UAE and across the world, health centres from hospitals to clinics may be experiencing a spike of patients worrying over a cold or flu, concerned that it might be the new virus.
Not everyone can screen for Covid-19 and they must first match certain conditions.
According to the Dubai Health Authority (DHA), testing for the Coronavirus requires more than just blocked noses and coughing. Patients will be suspected that might have Covid-19 if they present lower or upper respiratory systems, have travelled to any one of the high-risk countries within the last 14 days, have come in contact with a person who recently travelled to a high-risk place, or experiencing severe acute respiratory infections of which no other lab results can explain.
Still, many UAE residents, visitors, and citizens who wish to be tested and may need treatment might be wondering who will pay for the cost of Coronavirus screening.
SEE ALSO: How Virus Epidemics Can Change Your UAE Travel Insurance
The role of your health insurance is to protect you from medical costs in the event of an unforeseen accident or other health conditions that are not pre-existing.
If you had your policy in place prior to the outbreak of the Coronavirus in December 2019, it is likely that your health insurance provider will cover your Covid-19 test should you ever need one. It is well-worth to revisit your existing insurance policy to see what the fine print is, for example - whether your UAE health insurance extends to coverage outside the country and what limitations are there.
Following the virus outbreak, however, which has now been labelled by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as a pandemic, insurers have temporarily stopped providing health and travel coverage to high-risk countries.
For more information about the Coronavirus in Dubai, visit the Dubai Health Authority's site: https://www.dha.gov.ae/Covid19/Pages/home.aspx
Thinking about taking out a new health policy? ExpatInsure can help in providing the right insurance for your needs and budget. Click "contact" below to get in touch with an expert and start safeguarding your health.
