Visitors to Saudi Arabia now have to take out compulsory medical cover from health insurance companies licensed by the Council of Cooperative Health Insurance (CCHI).
Seven cooperative health insurance companies are licensed by the Council to provide the cover, which can be bought online, reported the Saudi Gazette.
The new compulsory health insurance scheme, which came into effect last December, applies to expatriate visitors and their dependents, except haj and umrah pilgrims, guests of the state, diplomats and visitors to foreign missions, and international organisations who enter the Kingdom on business.
The insurance will cover all medical check-ups, diagnoses, treatment, medicines, hospitalisation expenses, pregnancy and delivery cases, dental and gum diseases, dental fillings, root canals, extraction of pus, emergency renal dialysis cases, medical evacuation within the Kingdom and abroad, and injuries due to traffic accidents. The maximum insurance cover is SAR100,000 (US$26,600), said the CCHI.
The policy represents the basic level of insurance coverage granted to the insured and will be valid from the date of entry to the Kingdom. The insured cannot cancel the policy once it comes into force. Exceptions are where the foreigners do not eventually enter the Kingdom, in which case the insurance company is liable to refund the premium.
A workshop was held in early November for representatives of the seven insurers, the names of which have yet to be disclosed.
The number of expatriate visitors to the Kingdom is estimated at 1.6 million annually, excluding pilgrims.
SAR1 = US$0.27