Blue Cat

I think you should get proper advice

beebee

Funnily enough I have spent the afternoon at the clinic.. consult, x-rays, blood tests, then medication. I now agree that some cover would be a good thing. So.. where do I go?

oktoberon

Beebs
pm Meow she'll help.

beebee

Will do

expatadvisor

I think if you should seek advice from a specialist health insurance broker, there are a number of regulated companies based in the UK who deal with expatriates and will provide you with the advice you require, eg medexpat.

beebee

How do I find them?

arbroath_abroad

why anyone would move to Dubai without health cover is absolutely beyond me.

surely some research would have uncovered the absolute necessity for this.

Unless of course, money is no option:

I had to have surgery last month (not going into details but it was about a 2 minute process. (no it was neither cosmetic or the snip) and it cost around 5000AED.

Im only gutted that when i changed jobs, i changed provider and we had to wait 10 months 'incubation' time for our maternity cover to be included, so this time we are paying for baba

Blue Cat

7 years here with no insurance cover, and had Mitten in the Al Wasl. Believe it or no I actually have faith in the Government Hospitals. Mitten dislocated her shoulder when she was about a year old, off to Rashid and they were fantastic. If there is an RTA you go straight to Rashid anyway unless you are conscious enough to get your medical card out etc and discuss other options. The government ambulances take you to a government hospital. Remember years ago before the private hospitals were built everyone used the Government ones. My friend who has been here for 27 years used the Maktoum Hospital for years for an ongoing thyroid problem and still recommends the Doctors there. We now have private insurance but the Paed that Mitten has had since her birth (and a brilliant one at that) isn't on the provider list so we still pay to see him. Infact I have never used the private insurance, not once. THANK GOD!!!!

Meow

A Dubai based INDEPENDENT financial adviser will know which are the best companies to select in this part of the world, as well as having access to a wide range. A UK company will not necessarily have access to all available here.

BB - we've 'spoken' before. Please talk to me. x

expatadvisor

The only problem I have with dealing with an offshore based financial adviser come down to several points, the lack of regulation which exists, no need for any formal qualifications, no ongoing training or maintenance of records requirements in accordance with FSA regulations in the UK, no requirement to disclose commission for arranging any product, and worse of all no need to have any form of Professional Indemnity Insurance in place. The overall effect of these facts has led to bad advice for which the client has generally no comeback on the advisor at all. I do appreciate that in certain countries now regulations seem to be tightening up but I continue to see too many individuals recommended the wrong sort of plan for the wrong reason eg so called offshore pension plans marketed by companies such as Royal Skandia, Friends Provident International etc and worse still Hansard. These investments are ultra high charging vehicles that are marketed to expats and sold by offfshore advisors as they offer high commission rates. These are plans with high early surrender penalties, high charges and a complete and utter waste of time, as they represent incredible poor value for money. What about the tax efficiency of such investments - well thats another story.

I do agree that a voice on the ground can be invaluable, but seek the voice of more than one advisor, even contact the company direct who is being recommended. Be 110% sure about what you are committing yourself to, and if you are not sure then do not do it.

Meow

Please do not tar us all with the same brush.

I am fully UK authorised, highly qualified, experienced and apply the same standard to my work in the UAE.

Yes, regulation is limited, but it is improving and many companies out here are 'compliant'. As for the products available, they are limited compared to the UK market, but your comments are disingenuous.

I assume you are in the UK, so I really don't understand why you are posting here.

expatadvisor

Peronal apologies to Meow, nothing personal I assure you, and from what you say you deserve to be successful where you are as I am sure you will provide a high standard of advice albeit as you say from a limited range of products.

However, the points I made in a previous posting were very serious, I deal with cases time and time again where expats are advised to take out so called investment products which whilst appearing to be suited to their needs do little more than tie them up into long term contracts which given a typical nomdic lifestyle of an expat can be harmful to their future wealth. I have seen to many expatriate pension plans, expatriate savings plans over the years where someone has stopped paying into them after 2 or 3 years due to job changes, location changes, lack of affordibility etc and them being not aware of the extra charges and penalties for stopping payments and even worse for surrendering them.

I am interested though that you are UK authorised but based out in the UAE. If you are there permanently and it is your own company then I am suprised that you are FSA regulated or even allowed to be FSA regulated, unless of course you work for a UK based IFA. For my sins I and my colleagues have been dealing with expats for almost 20 years.

I subscribe to this site as I find some of the discussions very interesting and do like to contribute occasionally, I also learn things from this site re tax regimes in different countries, aspects of foreign tax legislation etc. I currently have clients located in over 40 countries.

Finally re the FSA then please be aware of the situation re advertising which if you are UK authorised applies to wherever you are based in the world. Good luck though.

Meow

No problem


I work for both UK & UAE companies. (An odd set up, but I service my UK clients through the wonder of technology & travel back & forth regularly.) I don't actively promote my UK services out here, but as I see clients I frequently 'change hats' so I can talk about UK plans. FYI - the FSA is aware of the set up & is quite happy with it.

I understand your point regarding long term savings plans. I believe that a short term arrangement is better for most people, as many do move around. Sadly, I too have come across many people who have been 'mis-sold' plans that penalise them for having to cancal premiums. I also don't approve of all the plans with capital units - should be banned everywhere IMO.

Patsy Stoned

Hey meow, any news?

Meow

hello - I am waiting to hear from you. In response to my PM.

Do you have that?