Medical care and insurance
By Think-Twice •
Hi,
May I seek your expert advice.
The company will provide me with medical benefits with a 'Government Medical Health Card'. I suppose this means I am protected by government's medical facilities.
I would like to know:
1/ Are all government medical services, e.g. outpatient consultation, medical operations, etc. free? Or only partly subsidized?
2/ Are there private medical hospitals/out-patient clinics in Qatar?
3/ Are additional medical insurance necessary considering that I am already protected by 'Government Medical Health Card'? Or is it just 'nice to have'?
4/ Do insurance companies, like AIA, AXA, Prudential, Aviva, etc. have agents in Qatar? (can't find them in their websites)
Sorry for so many questions.
Stay healthy.
Thanx.
F'co
Your Government Health Card entitles you to heavily subsidised treatment at state hospitals like the Hamad Hospital. It's not free, but the fees are very low. You can check prices at www.hmc.org.qa. Yes, there are plenty of private hospitals and clinics, but you will pay a minimum of 200 QAR per visit. You need to find out if your company will reimburse this. The health card is definitely worth having, it entitles you to cheap healthcare, and the hospitals are very well equipped. However, you will be subject to availability of doctors and waiting time, same as in any state-run hospital. Waiting is almost non-existant in the private hospitals. As for insurance, health insurance is only just catching on in Qatar but I believe it is provided by QIC - Qatar Insurance Company.