Bahrain will bring in compulsory health insurance for expatriates later this year and citizens from 2023. The net result will be a fall in outbound medical tourism.
The Supreme Council of Health and Aon Bahrain* have signed an agreement on the implementation of a health insurance scheme for foreign residents within the framework of the National Health Insurance (NHI) programme.
The project aims to ensure cover of basic healthcare services for foreign residents by providing a package of primary and secondary healthcare services in addition to treatment in emergencies and accident cases. Insurance cover is to be provided by health insurance companies in the private sector.
The Ministry of Health plans to start applying the mandatory health insurance to foreigners in the third quarter of 2022, and to Bahrainis at the beginning of 2023.
Most expats are currently registered in the basic cover system of the Ministry of Health under which they pay an annual fee of BHD72 (US$190) each. According to official data, the new health insurance project will cover 720,000 foreigners residing in Bahrain.
*Aon is a leading global professional services firm providing a broad range of risk, retirement and health solutions.
To know more, read the full news article originally published on LaingBuisson.
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