RIYADH: The Cooperative Health Insurance Council said it had suspended operations of six medical insurance companies for violating health insurance regulations by issuing insurance policies without completing the required documentation and violating insurance policy documents.

The council had decided to suspend five of the companies for up to four months, and one company for six months.

According to Mohammed bin Suleiman Al-Hussein, secretary-general of the Council of Cooperative Health Insurance, the council “lifted the suspension after they corrected conditions and pledged to abide by the regulations and requirements of the health insurance system and the executive regulations.”

He said the council will continue to carry out its duties and responsibilities in protecting the rights of the insured, and enhancing and regulating the health insurance market through its ongoing monitoring and inspection visits to all health insurance

companies.

Al-Hussein added that suspending the violating companies aimed to protect the rights of insured policyholders from unsound practices involving fraud, deception and manipulation of policies and regulations.

The council had announced earlier that the number of people covered under the mandatory cooperative health insurance system reached nearly 10 million people, including Saudis, residents and their families. The majority of policyholders are employed in the private sector.

The number of service providers amounted to nearly 2,521, while 28 insurance companies and eight claims management companies operate in the Kingdom.