Kuwaiti's parliament approves health insurance for retired citizens

The National Assembly unanimously approved, during two readings Tuesday, a draft law on health insurance for retired citizens.
Article II of the law, which contains 15 articles, states that "the provisions of this law list retired citizens enrolled in the Public Institution for Social Insurance as eligible under this law." Article III of the law states that "the health insurance system would be mandatory to those eligible by the law while Health ministry covers the total cost of health insurance on behalf of the insured." According to Article IV, the health Ministry holds a tender among approved and authorized insurance companies to provide health insurance services, including health services contract, covering charges, and the health insurance policy as well as all the terms and conditions specified by the health ministry which will also be included in the bid.
The same article also state that the conditions and specifications setup by the health ministry can make more than one contract with an insurance company.
Health services under this law will include the expenses, treatment, and medication for the insured, in addition to charges for being hospitalized in normal and emergency conditions.
Other services cover dental treatment and various types of medicines to be covered by the insurance policy, however the Health Minister must issue a decision that will determine all medical and rehabilitation services covered by the health insurance policy.
During the parliament's session, Minister of Health Ali Al-Obaidi pledged to include all segments of society in this law, if the plan succeeded with retired citizens.
The minister added that his ministry is working on several projects, including the establishment of nine hospitals, in addition to expansions in Al-Adan, Farwaniya, and Ibn Sina hospitals.