Kuwait suspends retiree health insurance law, ‘Afya’ for one year
The law’s implementation revealed a limited number of qualified insurance companies, resulting in inadequate health services for those intended to benefit from it.
• Due to the mismanagement of the health insurance market, the ‘Afya’ law has been suspended while alternatives are explored to balance public expenditure with healthcare needs.
Decree-Law No. 105 of 2024 has been officially issued to suspend the provisions of Law 114 of 2014 regarding health insurance for retired citizens, known as ‘Afya.’ The suspension will last for one year, the Al Rai newspaper reported.
The explanatory memorandum emphasizes that Kuwait has always provided healthcare to citizens, especially retirees, without financial compensation.
The ‘Afya’ law was initially enacted to encourage private sector involvement in health services for retirees and to expand insurance coverage to other segments of the population.
However, the memorandum notes that the law’s implementation revealed a limited number of qualified insurance companies, resulting in inadequate health services for those intended to benefit from it.
Additionally, the health insurance market has been controlled in a manner that does not reflect the funds allocated from public resources. Consequently, the decision was made to suspend the ‘Afya’ insurance law while further options and alternatives are explored to ensure effective healthcare delivery that balances public expenditure with the needs of the population.
