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Mandatory health insurance in Qatar: what employers need to know

Once the new law is implemented (Law number 22 of 2021 issued in the official gazette on 18 October 2021), health insurance will be mandatory in Qatar for all residents and visitors.

The healthcare landscape in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region has seen many changes and updates over the last few years. Key among these changes have been numerous regulatory updates, most of all the implementation of mandatory employer-sponsored health insurance.

Some countries, such as the United Arab Emirates (only in the emirates of Dubai and Abu Dhabi) and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, have already implemented mandatory health insurance for some time now, while others like Bahrain and Oman will see implementation over the next two years. Likewise for Qatar, mandatory health insurance will be implemented over two phases between the years 2022 and 2023.

While Phase 1 of the implementation, which covers visitors, was set for May 2022, the exact date for Phase 2 that covers residents is yet to be announced. Under Phase 1 of the law, visitors to Qatar will have to have medical insurance cover from Qatar covering basic health services including accidents and emergency. The monthly premium is maximum QAR 50 per month. Once both phases of the new law have been implemented (Law number 22 of 2021 issued in the official gazette on 18 October 2021), health insurance will be mandatory in Qatar for all residents and visitors.

How will this impact employers?

Under the new law, employers are required to cover the costs of the premium for private medical insurance for sponsored employees and their families. Employers are also able to provide additional healthcare services to their employees and their families as per the regulations.

Resident permits won’t be renewed without a valid health insurance plan so employers need to ensure their policies and contracts are updated to comply with these new regulations.

Expats are able to access government hospitals and centres through the private insurance card, while the Hamad Medical Card is only available to Qataris.

Employer actions – what should be done to prepare

Review HR policies and contracts to determine what changes and updates would need to be made under the new regulations
Review health and benefit plans to ensure they will be compliant under the new law
Consider benefit plan design and what offerings to include. It will be important for employers to maintain a balance between providing employees with valuable benefits while managing healthcare costs

We will continue to keep you informed on new developments and updates as they arise, make sure you visit Marsh.com to stay updated.

Speak to one of our experts to find out how you can best prepare your business to turn potential challenges into opportunities.

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