TAIF – The Health Insurance Council has for the first time allowed working women to apply for free health insurance for their husbands, subject to certain conditions. It allowed married women working in the private sector to provide their husbands with health insurance coverage if they are working in a government organization that is exempt from compulsory insurance, working for a private company that has no health insurance coverage, or if they are unemployed, Al-Madina Arabic daily reported. The council made this decision to achieve equality between men and women in terms of health insurance privileges for workers in companies and establishments. According to the new decision, health insurance for the wife also includes sons under 25 and unmarried daughters. If she is single, health insurance will cover her parents if they are dependent on her. The new amendment has raised the maximum age for children to be eligible for health insurance from 18 to 25. If the worker is male, health insurance will cover his wife or wives and all children under 25. It will also cover his unmarried daughters and parents who are dependent on him. The new amendment, which will be implemented within two months from, said that expatriates would be eligible for mandatory health insurance, subject to certain criteria. The current insurance policy in the Kingdom also covers those who have resident permits (iqamas) in the Kingdom and all Saudi nationals working in private companies and establishments. — SG
