Preparing for having a baby in Dubai | ExpatWoman.com
 

Preparing for having a baby in Dubai

0
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 10 October 2011 - 21:27

Hi there,

I'm new to this site. My husband and I have recently moved to Dubai and settling in nicely. We're planning to start a family next year, perhaps toward the beginning.....

I just want to know how far in advance I have to think of getting maternity cover? I have medical insurance with my work, which I started 3 weeks ago, but it doesn't cover maternity. I don't want to enquire about adding it now, because I don't want to scare my employer off that I want to get pregnant now etc., but I am very conscious of the fact that when it comes to hospitals etc, you have to be prepared.

Can anyone please give me advise on all I need to know when getting pregnant (hospitals, insurances etc).......

Will be very much appreciated.

Many thanks

56
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 10 October 2011 - 22:03
Hi, You need to consider first where would you like to have your baby/delivery: in a private hospital or in a public one. The packages theyhave offer differ very much (from 6,000Aed to 8,000 aed in a public hospital to 15,000 to 25,000 Aed in a private one) the C-Sections are quite expansive especially in the private hospitals. A plus for a private hospital is that you can have a private room just for you and your baby which is great after delivery. There are also the tests that you will have to take during pregnancy,that can be covered by the insurance. I gave birth in a private hospital and was great (the doctor, the midwife, the nurses), had emergency C-section and everything went very well. You need also to consider the costs of your monthly visits to the doctor and then in the last month there will be weekly visits, so insurance does help if you can get it.
205
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 10 October 2011 - 21:42
I think most insurance companies have a 1 year waiting period from the time you join the plan until you are eligible for maternity cover. A friend of mine purchased health insurance for one year with AXA and the cost was quite reasonable. Otherwise if you wait until you are pregnant you can get insurance after the fact with ADNIC but it's pricey ($20,000+ AED) but no waiting period. You can also buy a package at the hospital which will sound less expensive but that is providing that you have an uncomplicated birth. Another friend of mine went that route at Medcare and purchased for $5,000dhs the prenatal care package and the birth package was supposed to be around $10,000dhs but in the end she had some complications with a few extra days in hospital and paid just over $20,000 and said they charged her for every single cotton tip and gauze, etc..
 
 

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