Saudi Arabia characterized by vast deserts and modern cities is an attractive destination for ex-pats who wish to find a living in a prosperous Middle Eastern country. The country the growth of which is driven by its rich oil reserves also offers diverse employment opportunities as a result of its Vision 2030 policy. However, expats find the healthcare system of this country a bit concerning.
Speaking of healthcare needs it is essential to note the arid desert climate of this country. This climate along with intense summers causes heat strokes, dehydration as well as mental stress to the expat population who are not used to this condition. So there is a need to access healthcare. In this context, the relocation companies in Jeddah find the mandatory requirement for private health insurance a necessity. Here is a better picture of this requirement.
Saudi Healthcare: The Relevance of Health Insurance
The health care system in Saudi Arabia used to offer free health insurance for its citizens and expats alike. However, it has reached a point where it is financially unsustainable to manage such a system. As a result, public healthcare facilities began to offer free healthcare to citizens only. This is one major reason to have private health insurance in Saudi Arabia. Moreover, the regime has made it mandatory to have private health insurance to provide residency permits to expats.
Advantages of having Health Insurance in KSA
Health Care Coverage
Since public health care is nearly inaccessible to expats private hospitals and clinics have to be approached. Fortunately, they offer high-quality services which can compete with the facilities in Western Europe. However, these facilities can result in hefty out-of-pocket expenditures. Private health insurance coverage can save expats in this case.
Compliance with Regulation
Relocation companies in Riyadh often repeatedly stress this case with their clients as it is mandatory to have health insurance for residency and work permits in Saudi. So health insurance ensures compliance with regulations.
Emergency Assistance and Evacuation
The public emergency services in KSA are generally considered lackadaisical. So having health insurance that covers emergency evacuations as well as repatriation to the home country in case of serious illness will be a relief in times of emergency.
Coverage of Dependents
Since most health insurance schemes give comprehensive coverage including dependents relocation services Saudi Arabia highly recommends them for the well-being of the expat families. Look for insurance plans that cover the spouse, parents, and children will save the purse from costly treatment channels.
Access to Quality Health Care
The relocation companies in Jeddah think that private healthcare systems in Saudi offer quality and less waiting time surpassing the amenities offered by the public systems. So private health insurance will give expats access to world-class healthcare systems. Additionally, it gives them access to a healthcare professional of their choice who can communicate in their mother tongue.
So the necessity and advantages of having health insurance in Saudi Arabia have been made clear. With the right relocation services in Saudi Arabia, you can make sure that you don’t miss out on any such mandatory requirements. At Helpxpat we have a well-structured system to make sure that our clients land in Saudi without any hiccups.