Khaberni - Kuwait has increased the health insurance fees for expatriates by an annual rate of 100 dinars, equivalent to $325.49 USD, exempting the most notable cases from the insurance service fees. These include foreign women married to Kuwaiti citizens and their children, widows, and divorced women who married Kuwaitis.
The exemptions also include foreign children of Kuwaiti citizens, the parents of Kuwaiti citizens, and children of Kuwaiti women from foreign husbands. Additionally, domestic workers for Kuwaiti families are exempted, with a maximum of three members, members of diplomatic missions and official delegations, and residents who are illegally staying in coordination with the Central Agency for Illegal Residents.
In the same context, the special health insurance fee exemptions cover the foreign newborn for 4 months until a passport is issued or they leave the country. The start and end date of the health coverage are linked to the entry visa and residence dates issued by the Ministry of Interior and are not linked to the passport validity.
Furthermore, following the issuance of the executive regulations for the health insurance law for foreigners, Kuwait has mandated foreigners to obtain health insurance or a governmental or private health guarantee as a condition for granting or renewing residence. The regulations will be effective from December 23.
The regulations have set 100 dinars annually as health insurance fees for most residence categories, including workers in the governmental and private sectors, family members, investors, students, and foreign property owners. The health insurance fees for visita and temporary entry visas are 5 dinars per month.
Meanwhile, the Kuwaiti Ministry of Health expects that the decision to raise health insurance fees will help achieve annual revenues exceeding 200 million Kuwaiti dinars, equivalent to $6,509,780 USD. The decision will contribute to alleviating the pressure on facilities of the Ministry of Health and support the private health insurance sector.
The ministry clarified that the decision coincides with the start of implementing the new foreign residence law regulations from December 23, achieving legislative and regulatory integration. The Ministry of Health noted the adoption of complete digital transformation in health insurance procedures, working towards a fully integrated electronic linkage between the Ministries of Health and Interior to enhance governmental integration.
