Saudi Arabia on Monday decided to implement mandatory health insurance which should include coverage of medical assistance and evacuation in emergencies for foreigners intending to visit the Kingdom.

Haj and Umrah pilgrims, however, would be exempted from this requirement. Council of Cooperative Health Insurance officials could not be reached to confirm the date from which the new requirement would be applicable.

Once the new rule is implemented, only those foreign visitors who had taken out proper health insurance policies would be eligible to apply for visit visas in Saudi diplomatic missions abroad.

Dr. Saniha Mahejabeen, an expert on health insurance working with a leading private hospital in Jeddah, welcomed the decision.

Speaking to Arab News, she said: “Most visitors entering the Kingdom on visit visas are parents of expats who are aged or suffering from chronic diseases, and their medical expenses are high.”

She said that many women join their husbands here on visit visas and deliver babies, which is an expensive affair.

Dr. Saniha said that visitors who are insured will be protected from medical costs arising out of treatment for sudden unexpected sicknesses, infections and accidental injuries.

The medical insurance coverage will not only help expatriate residents to ensure necessary care and treatment for a relative, but also protect the host family from enormous hospital bills.

Syed G. Ali, a senior official at a leading health insurance company in the Kingdom told Arab News that insurance is ideal for foreign visitors to the Kingdom, and for parents and other loved ones visiting the country. He, however, warned that only a handful of companies can handle this job that may result in increase in premium.

Mohammed Adeeb of Link Travels in Hyderabad, India, who has been in travel and visa processing business for over 20 years, told Arab News over phone: “Our agency processes dozens of visit visas daily for travel to the UAE where health insurance is mandatory but there were some grey areas.”

He hoped that the Kingdom’s health insurance policy would be the best.

According to Saudi Foreign Ministry, it had issued 1.3 million visit visas through its 112 missions abroad last year, recording an increase of over 7 percent compared to the previous year.

The upward growth trend is expected to continue, thanks to the employment correction campaign which had resulted in thousands of expatriate employees changing their employment status, which in turn puts them in a position to apply for visit visas for their dear ones.