Saudi Gazette JEDDAH — The Council of Cooperative Health Insurance (CCHI) has started implementing health insurance on expatriate visitors as per the Cabinet's decision issued on March 3, 2014. The premium will be decided by the insurance company based on the visitor's age and gender. CCHI has licensed eight companies to provide insurance cover to the visitors. Those coming to the Kingdom on visit or transit visas will have to pay health insurance premium for themselves as well as for those accompanying them. However, Haj and Umrah pilgrims, diplomats and visitors to foreign missions and international organizations for the purpose of diplomatic work as well as guests of the State are exempt from compulsory health insurance. Some 1.8 million people who visit the Kingdom annually will come under the purview of mandatory health insurance, Yasir Al-Maarik, CCHI spokesman, said in an answer to Saudi Gazette questions. The visitors will get an insurance coverage of up to SR100,000. The expenses will cover all medical check-ups, diagnosis, treatment, medicines, hospitalization expenses, pregnancy and delivery cases, dental and gum diseases, dental filling, root canal, extraction of pus, emergency renal dialysis cases, medical evacuation within the Kingdom and abroad, and injuries due to traffic accidents. The expenses also cover preparation and repatriation of the insured visitor's body to his or her home country. The health insurance covers medications and medical supplies worth SR600 per day. The insurance company must respond to approval requests within 60 minutes. If a patient is forced by necessity to go to a hospital that is not included in insurance policy then the insurance company will provide compensation. A patient must submit a request for compensation to the insurance company within 60 days of paying hospital bills. The compensation will be provided by the insurance company within 30 days of the submission with invoice, tickets and travel documents. The policy represents the basic level of insurance coverage granted to the insured and will be valid from date of entry to the Kingdom. The insured cannot cancel the policy once it comes into force, except in the case of non-entry into the Kingdom, and accordingly the company is liable to refund the premium.
