KUWAIT CITY, Dec 21: The Ministry of Health has announced that its decision to increase health insurance fees is expected to generate annual revenues exceeding 200 million dinars, while simultaneously reducing pressure on public healthcare facilities and supporting the growth of the private health insurance sector.

In a statement, the Ministry explained that the implementation of the revised fees coincides with the enforcement of the new residency regulations for expats, which come into effect on December 23. The Ministry noted that this alignment ensures legislative and regulatory integration, contributing to more efficient implementation and oversight of health insurance and residency requirements.

Earlier, the regulations set the health insurance fee for residency permits at 100 dinars per year for 10 categories, including employees in the government sector under Article 17, private sector employees under Article 18, foreign partners as per Article 19, foreign investors under Article 21, foreign students under Article 23, foreigners who sponsor themselves according to Article 24, foreigners who own property under Article 25, former illegal residents granted residency for the first time after obtaining foreign passports—along with retired military personnel previously classified as illegal residents and the families of foreign martyrs under Article 30—as well as religious figures such as imams and preachers of Husseiniyas under Article 31, in addition to newly established residency categories.

The Ministry of Health emphasized that the decision is part of a broader strategy aimed at improving the sustainability and quality of healthcare services. By encouraging greater reliance on private health insurance, the Ministry expects to ease the burden on government hospitals and clinics, allowing public facilities to focus more effectively on delivering essential services.

Additionally, the Ministry reaffirmed its commitment to completing a comprehensive digital transformation of health insurance procedures. This includes streamlining applications, payments, and approvals through electronic platforms to enhance efficiency and transparency.

The Ministry also revealed ongoing efforts to establish a fully integrated electronic system linking the Ministries of Health and Interior. This system is intended to strengthen inter-ministerial cooperation, facilitate the exchange of data related to residency and health insurance, and ensure smoother implementation of regulations, ultimately improving services provided to residents and expatriates alike.