JEDDAH — About a million people are estimated to be holding fake health insurance cards, Al-Madinah daily reported quoting experts. The fake cards are sold by offices located near the Passports departments, which claim that they are acceptable by the Health Insurance Council (HIC) and can be used to renew residence permit (iqama) of an expatriate worker. The insurance market has seen a surge in the sales of fake cards although the HIC threatened strong legal action, including suspension, against companies promoting such cards. Most expatriate workers whose sponsors make them bear the insurance fees resort to these companies. A Yemeni, who runs an office that provides residence permit services, said most offices like the one he works for charge SR50 for a fake card that can be issued to help an expatriate worker renews his residence permit. “The actual fees of the card range between SR300-450. These offices have helped thousands of workers renew their iqamas, especially those whose sponsors refused to pay the insurance fees for them and their families,” the man, who preferred anonymity, said. Shareef Salim, who runs a similar office, said most workers search for the lowest insurance fees as they only get SR3,000 a month as a salary and they cannot afford to pay for other insurance packages. Hassan Talib, Chadian worker, said most offices selling insurance cars that cost SR300-450 tell the workers that the cards can only be used for diseases like fever, cough and cold and are accepted at a limited number of polyclinics and usually one hospital only. Ahmad Ali, Palestinian worker, said some offices make workers sign a document testifying that they do not suffer from diabetes, high blood pressure, and other diseases. “One of the companies refused to bear the appendectomy expenses for my son and I had to search for an insurance package that would cost me SR9,000-12,000,” he said. Chairman of the General Committee of Insurance Companies said the percentage of fake insurance packages in the Kingdom promoted by such offices is 10 percent. Adnan Khoja, insurance consultant, said the fees imposed by some offices are not reasonable and cannot cover the medical treatment expenses of workers. A worker aged 18-45 needs an insurance of SR1,500; for the wives of workers aged 30-45, they need between SR2,500-SR3,000 and sometimes SR5,000-SR7,000 because their insurance covers pregnancy and delivery. The insurance for a child less than 17 years old should not be less than SR1,500. These are the lowest prices offered to people not suffering from diabetes, high blood pressure or any other chronic disease.