Living as expats, many of us will have become acclimatised to a new way of life, sunnier climates and the many benefits that living in a tax-free environment entails. Indeed, there are many such benefits that make living here a fantastic way to forge a life for you and your family. The UAE boasts some of the best health care in the world, but this can come at a premium. Options range from a basic government health card (which will cover you for life saving amenities) to private health care, usually provided as part of a contract of employment. However, with many businesses looking to reduce expenditure, we urge you to look carefully at your policy to ensure that it gives you the cover you are expecting.
1. How much is your individual cover worth?
There are many different covers available and without looking, you may feel that you are covered. However, major surgery or operations could leave you with a huge shortfall, which you would inevitably be left responsible for and could have massive financial repercussions on you and your family. You need to consider whether the policy you have would cover such misfortunes and whether it is worth upgrading or changing your plan.
2. Are pre-existing conditions covered?
If you are already aware of some form of ill health or requirement for medication, you need to know if you are covered - different policies can be underwritten, especially as a group, to factor this into account and keep you covered.
3. Are you covered on your travels?
Many of us will travel either as part of a busy work schedule, or as we return to see families overseas. So what happens if something goes wrong on our travels? With so many different variations in health insurance coverage, it is vital you know where in the world you're covered so you don't end up with an unexpected bill, alongside unwelcomed ill health.
4. Are there any waiting periods?
So you have a policy and you are covered, or at least that is what you would think. Always check to see if there are any waiting periods before being able to access a claim as these can differ between insurers.
5. Consider the benefits you need
There are many different additional benefits available with health insurance companies in the UAE, which will not come as standard and may not be part of your existing arrangements. Potentially costly treatments such as dentistry or optical treatment will almost certainly not be included as standard, and if you are planning on starting a family, check to see if a maternity benefit is included.
6. It pays to be direct
Direct-billing facilities within your network mean just that - any medical claims will be settled directly between the medical facility and the insurer. While this may not matter so much with a small claim, more serious medical complaints or surgery will give you added peace of mind.
7. Check the small print
Like anything in life, it pays to be vigilant. Always check the small print and exclusions of any policy to ensure there are no hidden surprises.
8. Always be prepared
As the majority of us are expatriates, it is important that we are covered and able to leave the country in the event of an emergency as chartering a flight could cost hundreds of thousands of dirhams. It is worth checking if your policy will enable you and your family to move quickly for peace of mind.
9. Don't skimp on your health
Finally, most of us are living in a tax-free environment and enjoying the expat lifestyle. But it is easy not to think about the "what-if" factor. Put simply, if you can afford it, you can't afford not to have it and the better the policy is suited to you, the more it might save you if that "what-if" time comes.
John Bailey is a financial consultant at Acuma, Independent Financial Advice
Mia Man’s tips for fermentation
- Start with a simple recipe such as yogurt or sauerkraut
- Keep your hands and kitchen tools clean. Sanitize knives, cutting boards, tongs and storage jars with boiling water before you start.
- Mold is bad: the colour pink is a sign of mold. If yogurt turns pink as it ferments, you need to discard it and start again. For kraut, if you remove the top leaves and see any sign of mold, you should discard the batch.
- Always use clean, closed, airtight lids and containers such as mason jars when fermenting yogurt and kraut. Keep the lid closed to prevent insects and contaminants from getting in.
BABYLON
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Confirmed%20bouts%20(more%20to%20be%20added)
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SQUADS
India
Virat Kohli (captain), Rohit Sharma (vice-captain), Shikhar Dhawan, Ajinkya Rahane, Manish Pandey, Kedar Jadhav, Dinesh Karthik, Mahendra Singh Dhoni (wicketkeeper), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Shardul Thakur
New Zealand
Kane Williamson (captain), Martin Guptill, Colin Munro, Ross Taylor, Tom Latham (wicketkeeper), Henry Nicholls, Ish Sodhi, George Worker, Glenn Phillips, Matt Henry, Colin de Grandhomme, Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee, Adam Milne, Trent Boult
Company%20Profile
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Company%20Profile
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THE BIO
Favourite car: Koenigsegg Agera RS or Renault Trezor concept car.
Favourite book: I Am Pilgrim by Terry Hayes or Red Notice by Bill Browder.
Biggest inspiration: My husband Nik. He really got me through a lot with his positivity.
Favourite holiday destination: Being at home in Australia, as I travel all over the world for work. It’s great to just hang out with my husband and family.
The specs: 2017 Ford F-150 Raptor
Price, base / as tested Dh220,000 / Dh320,000
Engine 3.5L V6
Transmission 10-speed automatic
Power 421hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque 678Nm @ 3,750rpm
Fuel economy, combined 14.1L / 100km
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Company%20Profile
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THE SIXTH SENSE
Starring: Bruce Willis, Toni Collette, Hayley Joel Osment
Director: M. Night Shyamalan
Rating: 5/5
THE BIO
Ambition: To create awareness among young about people with disabilities and make the world a more inclusive place
Job Title: Human resources administrator, Expo 2020 Dubai
First jobs: Co-ordinator with Magrudy Enterprises; HR coordinator at Jumeirah Group
Entrepreneur: Started his own graphic design business
Favourite singer: Avril Lavigne
Favourite travel destination: Germany and Saudi Arabia
Family: Six sisters
Book%20Details
%3Cp%3E%3Cem%3EThree%20Centuries%20of%20Travel%20Writing%20by%20Muslim%20Women%3C%2Fem%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EEditors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESiobhan%20Lambert-Hurley%2C%20Daniel%20Majchrowicz%2C%20Sunil%20Sharma%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPublisher%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EIndiana%20University%20Press%3B%20532%20pages%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Ticket prices
General admission Dh295 (under-three free)
Buy a four-person Family & Friends ticket and pay for only three tickets, so the fourth family member is free
Buy tickets at: wbworldabudhabi.com/en/tickets