Article 1 of the Saudi Cooperative Health Insurance Law
المادة 1 من نظام الضمان الصحي التعاوني
The article sets the Law's objective: providing and organizing health care for all non-Saudi residents in the Kingdom, with the option of applying it to citizens and others by decision of the Council of Ministers.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يهدف هذا النِظام إلى توفير الرعاية الصحية وتنظيمِها لجميع المُقيمين غير السعوديين في المملكة، ويجوز تطبيقُه على المواطنين وغيرِهم بقرار مِن مجلس الوزراء .
This is the official Arabic wording, the only legally binding version. We do not translate the law itself; the explanation below is ours. Official source: Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers
Article 1 explained in plain English
This article sets out the objective and scope of the Cooperative Health Insurance Law. The Law aims to:
- provide health care,
- and organize it,
for all non-Saudi residents in the Kingdom. The basic position is therefore that the Law is directed at resident non-Saudis.
The article then allows the scope to be widened: the Law may be applied to citizens and others, provided that this is done by decision of the Council of Ministers. The Law does not extend to citizens automatically; that requires a decision of the Council of Ministers. The article itself does not say whether such a decision has been issued or what its scope is.
It is noted that the text uses the description "residents", so what is basically meant is a non-Saudi who resides in the Kingdom, not a passing visitor.
This article is connected to Article 2, which clarifies that cooperative health insurance coverage includes everyone to whom the Law applies and their family members, as stated in paragraph (b) of Article 5. Article 1 sets who the Law is intended for, and Article 2 extends coverage to their families.
Anyone with a question about whether the Law applies to his situation would do well to consult the competent authorities or a lawyer who specializes in health insurance cases.
Practical example
Rami is a non-Saudi engineer who lives and works in Riyadh. He is in the group the Cooperative Health Insurance Law basically targets, because he is a non-Saudi resident. His Saudi neighbor, however, is not covered by the Law unless the Council of Ministers issues a decision applying it to citizens.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
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Frequently asked questions about Article 1 of the Saudi Cooperative Health Insurance Law
Who does the Cooperative Health Insurance Law apply to?
Basically, to all non-Saudi residents in the Kingdom, and it may be applied to citizens and others by decision of the Council of Ministers.
Does cooperative health insurance cover Saudis?
Not basically, but the Law may be applied to citizens and others by decision of the Council of Ministers.
What is the objective of the Cooperative Health Insurance Law?
Providing and organizing health care for all non-Saudi residents in the Kingdom.
More articles on Persons Covered by Health Insurance
- Article 2
Cooperative health insurance coverage includes everyone to whom the Law applies and their family members, as the Council of Health Insurance determines under paragraph (b) of Article 5.
تشمل التغطية بالضمان الصحي التعاوني جميع من ينطبق عليهم هذا النِظام وأفراد أُسرِهم وِفقاً لما جاء في الفقرة (ب) مِن المادة الخامسة.
- Article 3
Anyone who sponsors a resident must subscribe to cooperative health insurance for him, and a residence permit is not granted or renewed without a policy covering the period of residence.
مع مُراعاة مراحِل التطبيق المُشار إليها في الفقرة (ب) من المادة الخامسة، وما تقضي بِه المادتان الثانية عشرة والثالثة عشرة مِن هذا النِظام، يلتزم كُل من يكفل مُق
- Article 12
Employees of government entities covered by the Law, and their families, are treated in government health facilities if they are contracted directly with those entities and under their sponsorship and their contracts state a right to treatment.
يكون علاج العاملين في الجِهات الحُكومية المشمولين بهذا النِظام وأفراد أُسرِهم في المرافِق الصحية الحُكومية متى كانوا مُتعاقدين مُباشرة مع هذه الجِهات وتحت كفالت
- Article 13
The Council of Health Insurance may, by decision, exempt institutions and companies that own qualified private medical institutions from subscribing for the services they provide to their personnel.
يجوز بقرار مِن مجلِس الضمان الصحي إعفاء المؤسسات والشركات التي تملك مؤسسات طبية خاصة مؤهلة من الاشتِراك في الضمان الصحي التعاوني عن الخدمات التي تُقدِّمُها لمنس
- Article 15
A resident who is not under a work sponsorship takes the employer's place in the obligations the employer would otherwise bear under the Cooperative Health Insurance Law.
يحل المُقيم غير المشمول بكفالة عمل محل صاحِب العمل في الالتِزامات المُترتِبة على هذا الأخير بموجب هذا النِظام.
The texts are reproduced from the official website of the Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers for reference; where they differ, the officially published Arabic text prevails. This content is not legal advice.