How long do you have Health Insurance after leaving a job in UAE?

The above plans and premiums are for AED 1,000,000 Sum insured for 1 Adult of 30 Years for Dubai city.

The importance of a health insurance plan is no small thing. The healthcare facilities are changing for the better but that change also introduces a spike in quality medical care prices. Health care insurance plans are the simplest and sturdiest ways to tackle such issues. This is why it is mandatory to have a health insurance plan for all residents in the UAE. On top of that, all employers are mandated to offer health insurance cover to their employees. Abu Dhabi employers are even mandated to offer health insurance for the dependents of their employees. So, most residents just go ahead with these covers. But the main question is – what happens when you leave your job? Do you get to keep the health insurance benefits from your employer’s group health insurance plan? If yes, then for how long does health insurance stay active after leaving the job? If no, then how long do you have to get health insurance after you quit the job and what are the options?

How Long do I have to get Health Insurance after I quit my job?

Is it the day your colleagues threw you the farewell bash or the day you dropped your resignation email? The exact date and time can only be told by your HR representative. However, the general idea is that you will lose your health insurance privileges either on your last day at work or on the last working day of the month you leave your job. The last day at work will be the one when you complete all the resignation formalities and get the relieving letter. The date mentioned in that letter will be considered your last day at work. All employers set these guidelines beforehand and the information is often available to all the employees. You can simply read the company handbook, if there is one, or ask the concerned HR of the department.

Types of Benefits

Another thing you need to keep in mind here is the different types of benefits your company provides. If the group insurance plan offered by your company only contains basic health insurance benefits like hospitalization, dental and optical, they may last until your last day at work or the month-end. The insurance plan may extend further and include additional things like life insurance cover, travel insurance or pet insurance. These specific benefits may continue till the end of the year concerned or even for a lifetime. Yet again, the sole decision depends on your company and the policies they have drawn for insurance-related matters.

How Long Do I Have to Get Health Insurance After I Quit My Job?

The short answer here is – as soon as the benefits expire. This means that you will have to be prepared in advance. If the benefits expire on your last working day which is somewhere in the middle of the month, you will need to get your private insurance plan ready before you leave the job. If your last day is at the end of the month, you can simply get the coverage once you leave. The key is to ask the company HR representative and know how long does health insurance stay active after leaving the job. Just make sure that you have health insurance coverage at all times – personal or group.

What Can You Do After Losing the Insurance Benefits?

Your next step from hereon will depend on what your plans are. You could be having another job that you plan to join soon, you could be relocating elsewhere for work or you could be starting a business venture. Following is a list of things you can do depending on your plans:

Immediately Starting a New Job: If you plan to join another company a few days after leaving your previous one, you need not do anything. As per UAE law, your new employer will cover your healthcare expenses starting from the date of joining.
Have a Job But, Taking a Short Break: If you are taking a few weeks off before joining the new office, consider buying a short-term health insurance plan. It is necessary to have a health insurance plan for all the residents in the UAE. So, you must prepare for this beforehand and buy the coverage in advance for the time gap. If your last working day is in the middle of the month, buy the insurance early as the coverage generally starts from the first day of the next month.
If Moving Elsewhere for Work: Moving to a new country would land you in a bit more research. You will need to figure out the health insurance law of that country and then move ahead accordingly. If there are a few months before your UAE visa expires and you move to the next place, go ahead and buy a short-term health insurance plan for the time being. If you have dependents in the UAE, you will have to get their health insurance sorted as well.
Leaving for your Home Country: Retiring and going back home is a wonderful feeling. But make sure that you have, yet again, conducted thorough research about the health insurance requirements. If health insurance is mandatory in your home country, take some time and buy the coverage a little ahead of time. Do not forget to buy a short-term plan to cover the time you are yet to spend in the UAE before taking off. If health is voluntary, you will only need a short-term plan for your time in the UAE.

Conclusion

UAE employers and companies are required to offer healthcare insurance coverage for their employees for a minimum of the “workdays duration”. So, you will be covered at least till the last day of your job in your current firm. But, as mentioned before, some benefits may be available for a little longer and some companies may extend the duration of the coverage by a few days. Keep a track of these things beforehand so that you can efficiently plan the future steps. Weigh your options and requirements and be ready with a health insurance plan if it seems you will need it after leaving your job.