Maternity, Dental, and Optical Cover in Dubai Explained

Under Dubai Health Authority regulations, maternity coverage is an essential health benefit that must be included in every health insurance policy issued to adult female residents in Dubai.

Insurers cannot exclude pregnancy from basic plans. Covered maternity services include outpatient antenatal doctor consultations, routine blood tests, ultrasound imaging, hospital delivery (normal or medically necessary Caesarean section), and newborn medical care.

Coverage limits and conditions differ between plan types:

**Essential Benefits Plan (EBP):** Covers essential antenatal visits (typically up to 8 visits), basic ultrasound scans, and normal delivery capped up to the statutory minimum limit (with a 10% co-insurance on delivery). Medically necessary emergency C-sections are covered up to the plan limit.

**Enhanced Corporate Plans:** Often provide higher maternity limits (AED 20,000 to AED 50,000 or full policy aggregate limit), private single-room accommodation, expanded ultrasound allowances, and coverage for elective delivery options.

Routine dental care (such as cleanings, scalings, fillings, root canals, and orthodontic treatments) is not a mandatory benefit under the basic Essential Benefits Plan.

However, accidental dental injury—such as repairing sound natural teeth following an accident—is treated as an emergency medical service and is covered under all plans.

Enhanced commercial policies frequently offer dental riders that cover preventative checkups, simple extractions, and minor restorative work with a 20% co-pay and an annual sub-limit (e.g., AED 1,500 to AED 5,000).

Routine vision testing, prescription eyeglasses, and contact lenses are not covered under the basic EBP.

Medical ophthalmology—such as treating eye infections, glaucoma, cataracts, or retinal detachment—is covered under standard medical benefits across all policies.

Enhanced plans may include an annual optical allowance (e.g., AED 500 to AED 1,500) reimbursing prescription frames and lenses. Elective laser vision correction (LASIK) is almost universally excluded unless clinically indicated.