Comprehensive health insurance plans are important as they provide essential coverage for critical illnesses like cancer, hypertension, and more. It's important to note that standalone critical illness insurance policies or riders are not available in the UAE. Instead, critical illness coverage is included within comprehensive health insurance plans. This provides financial protection against the high costs associated with treating serious health conditions and helps you to focus on recovery without the worry of medical expenses. ...read more
Insurers Providing Health Insurance for Individual
Cigna, Sukoon, ADNIC, Orient, Dubai National Insurance, Takaful Emarat, Adamjee, HAYAH, Daman, and more
Critical Illnesses Included
Cancer, Corona Artery Bypass Surgery, Heart Attack, Kidney Failure, Stroke, Major Organ Transplant, and more
Claim procedure
Cashless or Reimbursement
If you are diagnosed with a serious illness, managing your finances can be very tough without the right insurance. This is why it's smart to protect yourself before anything happens. When dealing with a serious sickness, getting support quickly is crucial.
Critical illness health insurance plays a key role here.
Best Critical Illness Insurance Plans in UAE
Here is a comprehensive list of top critical illness insurance plans in Dubai, UAE:
Critical illness health insurance financially protects you if you are diagnosed with any of the specified severe illnesses. It helps you manage high medical costs and provides financial stability during challenging times.
Essentially, critical illnesses refer to severe, life-altering diseases that require significant medical attention and prolonged treatment. Some common critical illnesses include cancer, heart attacks, strokes, kidney failure, and major organ transplants, among others.
In the UAE, there are generally two types of health insurance plans — basic health insurance plans and comprehensive health insurance plans.
Basic plans cover essential health services and emergencies, whereas comprehensive health insurance plans cover a broader range of healthcare expenses, including multiple treatments and procedures. Critical illness coverage is included under comprehensive health insurance plans.
To get coverage for these diseases, you must go for a comprehensive health insurance plan that includes critical illness coverage. This type of health insurance covers both critical illnesses and other diseases and is often referred to as critical illness health insurance.
Important
In the UAE, there are no separate critical illness health insurance plans nor are there add-on options for critical illnesses. Instead, the coverage for critical illnesses is integrated into comprehensive health insurance plans.
Once you have declared your medical conditions as per the terms of your policy, your comprehensive plan provides the necessary coverage against critical illnesses. It helps you stay protected without the need to manage multiple health insurance policies.
How Does Critical Illness Health Insurance Work in the UAE?
Critical illness health insurance in the UAE functions as a specialised safety net, designed to provide financial support upon the diagnosis of a pre-specified critical illness. It includes severe conditions like cancer, heart attack, or stroke.
Given is a breakdown of how this insurance works —
Choosing the Right Plan: The first step involves selecting a comprehensive health insurance plan that includes coverage for critical illnesses. It's essential to verify that the plan covers the specific illnesses you're concerned about, as the list can vary between providers.
Application and Underwriting Process: Once you apply, your application is reviewed by an underwriter. This process might include adjusting the coverage terms and calculating the premium.
Note that a loading fee might be added if there's an increased risk associated with your medical history or lifestyle.
Waiting Period: Most critical illness policies can include a waiting period, which is the time for which you must wait after purchasing the policy before coverage can start. It prevents claims on pre-existing conditions or illnesses diagnosed shortly after the policy is taken out.
Claim Process: In the event of a diagnosis of a covered critical illness, you can initiate a claim. This can be processed in two ways:
Cashless Claims: If you are treated within the insurer’s network of hospitals, the expenses are settled directly between the hospital and the insurance provider.
Important: Clearly declare all your existing health conditions at the time of purchase. This can help you avoid claim denials.
Reimbursement Claims: If you receive treatment outside the network, you'll need to pay upfront. Afterwards, you can submit a claim for reimbursement along with necessary documents like medical bills and diagnosis reports.
Critical Illness Health Insurance vs Critical Illness Life Insurance vs Term Insurance (with Critical Illness Rider)
By understanding the differences between Critical Illness Life Insurance, Critical Illness Term Insurance (Rider), and Critical Illness Health Insurance, you can make an informed decision on which type of coverage best suits your needs.
Let’s explain each of them in simple words —
Critical Illness Life Insurance: This type of insurance is usually a permanent policy that pays a lump sum amount if you are diagnosed with one of the listed critical illnesses.
In addition, it also includes a life insurance component, which provides a payout upon the death of the policyholder, regardless of the cause. This critical illness life insurance is generally more comprehensive but can be more expensive due to the inclusion of life coverage.
Critical Illness Term Insurance (Rider): A rider is an add-on to a standard insurance policy. In the case of a critical illness rider in term insurance policy, it helps the policyholder claim a part of the death benefit early if they are diagnosed with a critical illness.
This type of coverage is usually less expensive than a standalone policy as it supplements an existing life insurance policy.
Critical Illness Health Insurance: Unlike the other two, this insurance strictly covers costs associated with the treatment of critical illnesses and does not include any death benefit. It is designed to cover expenses that basic health insurance might not cover, such as specialised treatments and long-term care.
The table below highlights the key distinctions —
Feature
Critical Illness Life Insurance
Critical Illness Term Insurance (Rider)
Critical Illness Health Insurance
Coverage Type
Permanent life insurance + critical illness benefit
Adds critical illness coverage to existing life insurance
Focuses solely on covering medical expenses for critical illnesses
Benefit Payout
Lump sum upon diagnosis
Early access to part of life insurance death benefit
Direct payment to healthcare providers for covered expenses
Purpose
Provide financial support upon diagnosis and death
Supplement life insurance with critical illness benefits
Cover high costs of treatments and medical care
Cost
Generally more expensive
Less expensive as it’s an addition to existing policy
Cost varies, often less than life insurance as it covers only health expenses
Primary Benefit
Dual benefit (death and illness)
Enhances life insurance with critical illness benefits without standalone policy
Helps manage medical expenses without impacting personal savings
Features and Benefits of Critical Illness Health Insurance
Critical illness health insurance offers comprehensive coverage tailored to address the financial implications of serious health conditions.
Here are some of the key features and benefits typically included in these plans —
Coverage for Multiple Critical Illnesses: These plans generally cover a predefined list of critical illnesses, which might range from 4 to over 30 different conditions, including cancer, heart attacks, and strokes.
It's important to choose a plan that covers illnesses you might be particularly concerned about, as coverage can vary significantly between different policies.
Cashless and Reimbursement Claims: Most policies offer both cashless treatment within a network of designated hospitals and reimbursement for treatments received outside the network. This way, you can seek the best possible care without worrying about immediate out-of-pocket expenses.
Seamless Claim Process: Most of the top insurers have straightforward claim processes. This helps you access the benefits promptly when diagnosed with a critical illness.
The process usually includes minimal documentation and a supportive customer service team to guide you through the process.
Ambulance Services: Coverage often includes the cost of ambulance services so that you can quickly get to a medical facility in emergencies without worrying about the additional expenses.
Inpatient and Outpatient Coverage: Critical illness insurance covers both inpatient and outpatient treatments. It provides comprehensive protection that spans from hospital admissions to routine consultations and check-ups.
Waiting Period: Most plans include a waiting period (often around 6 months) from the start of the policy during which no claims for critical illnesses can be made. This is intended to prevent claims for illnesses contracted before the policy was purchased.
Laboratory Test Services: Laboratory tests essential for diagnosing and monitoring critical illnesses are usually covered. With the help of these services, you can receive timely and accurate evaluations.
Emergency Treatment: Coverage for emergency treatments confirms that sudden and unexpected complications related to a covered critical illness can be managed without delay.
Room Accommodation: During hospital stays, critical illness insurance plans cover the cost of room accommodation, which can significantly reduce the overall financial burden of hospitalisation.
Important
It's crucial to remember that the specifics of what is covered under a critical illness health insurance policy can vary widely as per the insurer and the chosen plan. As a potential policyholder, you should carefully review the terms and conditions of your selected plan to fully understand the coverage, features, and benefits offered.
Top Insurers Providing Critical Illness Health Insurance Plans
Some of the top insurers providing critical illness health insurance plans are —
Orient Insurance
Dubai Insurance
Sukoon Insurance
Takaful Emarat
HAYAH Insurance
Abu Dhabi National Insurance Company (ADNIC)
Adamjee Insurance
Cigna Insurance
How to Apply for Critical Illness Health Insurance?
With platforms like Policybazaar UAE, applying for critical illness health insurance becomes quite easy.
Policybazaar.ae offers a range of insurance products, including comprehensive health insurance. With the help of our health insurance experts, you are guaranteed the best prices. We also provide round-the-clock customer service so that you get help whenever needed. All these features make it a top platform for purchasing health insurance in the UAE.
Here’s how you can apply through Policybazaar.ae —
Go to the health insurance section: Look for the health insurance category on our website.
Fill out the lead form: You will need to provide some basic information about yourself and your health insurance needs.
Review quotes: Once you submit the form, you'll be directed to a quotes page where you can compare different plans.
Declare existing conditions: A dialogue box will appear asking about any existing medical conditions. Check the box next to the critical illnesses listed. In case your condition isn't listed, select the 'others' option.
Choose a plan: Comprehensive health insurance plans will be displayed along with the premiums. Note that during the underwriting process, additional charges may be applied, potentially increasing the premium based on the risk assessment.
If you need further assistance or have any doubts, you can always contact our customer service for expert help and clarification.
Critical Illness Health Insurance Claim Process
The claim process of critical illness health insurance plans depends on the specifics of your insurance policy and whether the healthcare provider is within your insurance network.
Cashless Critical Illness Health Insurance Claim Process
For a cashless claim process within the UAE, if you are treated in a hospital that is part of your insurer's network, the hospital will directly bill your insurer. In plain terms, this means you won’t have to pay upfront.
Cashless critical health insurance claim process is particularly beneficial for serious conditions covered such as cancer where treatments can be extensive and expensive.
To initiate a cashless claim, you have to show your health insurance card at the network hospital and confirm your coverage details. The hospital will coordinate directly with the insurance provider to settle the bills.
Reimbursement Critical Illness Health Claim Process
If you get treatment outside the insurance network, you will need to pay for the services upfront and then submit a claim for reimbursement. For this process, you will need to collect all the relevant medical bills, prescriptions, and any other documentation that your insurer requires.
Once you have compiled all the necessary documents, submit them to your insurer — this can be done through an online platform or by mail. The insurer will then review your claim and, if approved, reimburse you for the covered expenses.
The reimbursement might be affected by factors like non-disclosure of pre-existing conditions or if the treatment is not covered under your policy.
Note
Reimbursement claims mostly don’t cover 100% of the claim amount. Such claims are usually approved within 60-80% of the claim value as per the policy terms and conditions.
Be aware of the network of hospitals that your insurance provider covers and whether your policy allows for both cashless and reimbursement options. Always check with your insurance provider for the most accurate and detailed instructions specific to your policy.
What does comprehensive health insurance cover in the UAE?
Comprehensive health insurance in the UAE covers a wide range of medical services including hospitalisation, outpatient services, and critical illness treatments. The coverage for critical illnesses usually includes major illnesses such as cancer, heart conditions, and stroke.
How does critical illness coverage work within my comprehensive health insurance?
In comprehensive health plans, critical illness coverage is integrated. So if you are diagnosed with a covered critical illness, the insurance plan will handle the claims as per the terms set for critical illness within your overall health insurance policy.
Do I need to buy separate critical illness insurance if I already have comprehensive health insurance?
In the UAE, there is generally no need to buy a separate critical illness policy if your comprehensive health insurance already includes coverage for serious illnesses. With that said, it’s important to check the specifics of your policy to understand the extent of the coverage.
What are the benefits of having critical illness coverage included in my health insurance plan?
Having critical illness coverage within your health insurance plan makes it easy to handle health issues as one policy covers both regular medical needs and serious conditions. This can simplify the management of your health care and insurance claims.
How do I claim for a critical illness under my comprehensive health insurance?
To file a critical illness claim, you should notify your insurer immediately upon diagnosis. The process then involves submitting a claim form along with medical evidence of the diagnosis. Your insurer may also require additional documentation to process the claim.
Is there a waiting period for critical illness claims in comprehensive health insurance?
Yes, most comprehensive health insurance plans include a waiting period for critical illness claims. This period must elapse from the start of the policy before you can make a claim for a critical illness. Waiting periods generally range from a few months to a year, depending on the policy.
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