No Uniform Health Insurance Premium for Domestic Workers

JEDDAH — Health insurance premium for domestic workers varies depending on their medical history, Makkah Arabic newspaper quoted health insurance companies as saying on Monday.

Annual health insurance premium varies between SR2,100 and SR4,300, a source told the newspaper.

Saudi sponsors must provide complete medical history of their domestic workers to health insurance companies, the source said.

Health insurance companies inquire about any chronic diseases and surgeries expat workers underwent. Health insurance companies can refuse to give its services to those who have submitted invalid or false information, said the source.

Health insurance premium becomes cheaper if a recruitment company has many expatriates.

Health insurance companies ask whether a worker was admitted to hospital 14 days before applying for insurance, has hearing impairment, has cataract, liver and renal ailment, has anemia, underwent abortions, suffered blood clots, had undergone heart, knees or joints surgeries, said the source.

Being transparent about medical history and health conditions ensure appropriate pricing of health insurance policy, said Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry Insurance Committee member Dr. Adnan Khoujah.

“When health insurance companies have accurate information about their clients, they are able to provide the right kind of health insurance plan,” said Khoujah.

(Source: SaudiGazette.com.sa)