Saudi Arabia: Regulator urges insurers to offer out-patient health insurance plans which waive pre-approvals
Source: Middle East Insurance Review | Oct 2026
The Insurance Authority has directed health insurers in the Kingdom to offer a health insurance product waiving pre-medical approval for out-patient services, as part of its efforts to address a key challenge faced by health insurance beneficiaries.
The product will be an additional option to the health insurance products currently available, giving employers and policyholders more flexibility to choose the solution that best meets their needs.
The new product will be available to insurance customers starting on 1 November 2026.
Insurance Authority CEO, Engineer Naji Al Faisal Al Tamimi, said in a statement that the initiative reaffirms the Insurance Authority’s role in leading the market and ensuring that insurance companies provide insurance products that meet the needs of individuals and businesses, in line with the National Insurance Sector Strategy. M