98% of Abu Dhabi population covered by health insurance

The Health Authority - Abu Dhabi (Haad) has confirmed that 98 per cent of nationals and residents in the emirate are covered by health insurance. Haad said employers and individuals will not be exempt from fines if they fail to subscribe to the health insurance scheme.

HAAD urged Emirati holders of Thiqa insurance cards to avoid signing any ambiguous or unclear papers at heath establishments and to flag any such cases.

Thiqa is the health insurance scheme uniquely for Emiratis. Haad said 676,000 nationals hold Thiqa cards. Jamal Mohammed Al Kaabi, director of customer service and media relations at Haad, said 1.35 million residents in Abu Dhabi are covered.

According to Haad instructions, Emirati citizens may not be denied medical services at public hospitals and medical establishments even if their insurance cards have expired, as long as they provide an Emirates ID or national registry card.

newsdesk@thenational.ae