This article is for general awareness and is not medical advice or a substitute for evaluation by a qualified doctor. In an emergency in Saudi Arabia, call 997 immediately.
Five things to look for in your policy
- The network: the hospitals, clinics, laboratories and pharmacies approved for your class. Treatment outside it may not be covered, or only partly.
- Co-payment: the share you pay of a visit or medicine, which may have a maximum per visit.
- Coverage limits: the annual cap and limits on some services such as dental, glasses and maternity.
- Pre-approval: services that need the insurer's approval first, such as some scans and operations.
- Exclusions: what the policy doesn't cover, often including cosmetic procedures.
Before your appointment
- Check the provider is in your network and bring your insurance card or ID number.
- Ask whether the service needs pre-approval and roughly how much you will pay.
- Make sure covered family members have been added to the policy.
If an approval is rejected
Ask for the reason in writing, and ask your doctor whether more information can be submitted to support the request. Read what to do when an insurance approval is rejected. If the issue isn't resolved with the insurer, you can contact the Council of Health Insurance through its official channels.
Emergencies don't wait for insurance approval. If there is danger, call 997 or go to the nearest emergency department.
Where does HealTrip fit in?
HealTrip is working to organise your medical and insurance documents in one file, so an approval request is complete and clear from the start, while the medical decision stays with the specialist doctor.
Be among the first to join HealTrip
HealTrip is a Saudi health platform in pre-launch. Register your interest as a patient, doctor, or healthcare facility, and we'll contact you at launch.
Register interestContact on WhatsApp