As part of ongoing efforts to enhance the experience of pilgrims and ensure their safety during Hajj and Umrah, the Council of Cooperative Health Insurance in Saudi Arabia has announced details of healthcare services provided to pilgrims arriving from outside the Kingdom. This initiative is facilitated through the "Pilgrim Health Coverage Policy," which aims to provide comprehensive insurance coverage, ensuring peace of mind for pilgrims from the moment they arrive until their departure.
Details of the health insurance policy for pilgrims
The health insurance policy for Umrah pilgrims is distinguished by its coverage for emergencies up to a maximum benefit limit, valid for 90 days from the date of entry into the Kingdom. This policy is designed to be a cornerstone of the services provided to visitors of the Holy Mosque, encompassing a wide range of essential medical services that a pilgrim may require unexpectedly.
Key benefits and health coverage
The policy includes comprehensive coverage for emergency medical expenses, and includes the following elements:
- Medical examinations and diagnosis: Coverage of all necessary tests and scans for diagnosing emergency cases.
- Treatment and Medication: Dispensing prescribed medications for emergency cases and immediate treatment costs.
- Hospitalization: Coverage of accommodation and medical services costs within the hospital when urgently needed.
- Traffic accidents: Providing treatment for injuries resulting from sudden traffic accidents.
- Exceptional cases: Coverage of isolation and treatment expenses for cases related to COVID-19.
- Emergency dental treatment: Dealing with cases of acute and emergency tooth pain.
- Emergency pregnancy and childbirth cases: Providing necessary care in critical situations.
The context of Vision 2030 and the development of the Hajj and Umrah sector
These regulatory measures are fully aligned with the objectives of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, specifically the Guests of God Service Program, which aims to facilitate hosting more Umrah pilgrims and providing them with high-quality services. Mandatory health insurance for Umrah pilgrims is part of the digital and health infrastructure developed by the Kingdom to ensure the accommodation of increasing numbers of visitors while maintaining the highest standards of health security.
This approach reflects the Saudi leadership’s keenness to ensure that the pilgrim’s journey is safe and healthy, thus reducing the financial and health risks that the visitor may be exposed to, and enhancing the Kingdom’s position as a leading destination in crowd management and providing integrated health care.
Statistics reflecting the strength of the health insurance sector
In a related context regarding the strength of the insurance sector in the Kingdom, recent data revealed the enormous number of beneficiaries of the Council of Cooperative Health Insurance services. The number of primary employees enrolled in the mandatory health insurance policy reached approximately 10 million beneficiaries, while the number of their dependents reached 4 million.
These figures are distributed between 4.5 million Saudi beneficiaries and 9.5 million non-Saudi beneficiaries, which confirms the enormous capacity of the health insurance system in the Kingdom and its readiness to deal with millions of visitors and pilgrims annually with efficiency and competence, in order to achieve a sustainable healthy society.
