أسئلة وأجوبة
Can the hospital force me to pay more money for emergency claiming that treatment exceeds insurance limit?
We went to the hospital for an emergency and stayed for 3 days, then, before leaving, they asked us to pay 10% as per our insurance policy.
After 2 weeks, they informed us that the insurance policy covers only 2k, and we have to pay 3.2k, the balance I was not informed about before.
Then, they sent the invoice to debt collectors to warn us
What shall we do now?
I read that they have to tell us about the cost in advance.
Can this debt collector sue us?
Thank you for sharing your situation.
Under UAE law, healthcare providers are legally obligated to inform patients of all treatment costs and insurance coverage upfront, even in emergency cases.
If you were not properly notified that your insurance only covers AED 2,000 and now face an unexpected AED 3,200 bill, you have strong grounds to dispute this charge.
It’s important to formally request a detailed itemized invoice and, if necessary, file a complaint with the relevant health authorities.
While debt collectors can pursue legal action, they must provide proper documentation and adhere to ethical guidelines.
Given the complexity and potential implications, I recommend scheduling a consultation so we can review your case in detail, assist you in disputing the charges effectively, and explore options for negotiating with the hospital or debt collectors to protect your rights.
Please let me know if you’d like to arrange a meeting to discuss the best way forward.
Dear Inquirer
We are pleased to serve you and address your inquiries.
The insurance policy must be checked to see whether it covers all the medical services provided or not, and whether it provides the patient with coverage regarding his medical condition.
Contact us via email or call our offices in Dubai, Sharjah, or RAK.
Jasim Al Haddad Advocates & Legal Consultants
In most cases, hospitals are required to provide an estimate of treatment costs, especially if the cost is not covered by insurance.
However, since your case was an emergency, the law allows the hospital to provide treatment without waiting for insurance approval or providing you with financial details, as the priority in emergency cases is saving the patient's life.
Thank you for contacting us via Legal Advice Middle East.
Your case concerns a hospital bill dispute where you were asked to pay only 10% initially under your insurance, but later the hospital demanded additional charges and referred the matter to debt collectors.
We have handled an almost identical case, where the hospital failed to disclose the full extent of coverage and costs in advance.
The court recognized that the patient could not be held liable for undisclosed expenses beyond what was communicated at the time of admission.
There are several paths available. One is to dispute the invoice formally in writing, explaining that you relied on the hospital’s initial confirmation and were not informed about the insurance cap.
Another is to file a complaint with the Health Authority in Dubai or Abu Dhabi (depending on the Emirate), as they regulate hospitals and require cost transparency before treatment.
As for the debt collectors, they cannot file a case in their own name; only the hospital can bring a legal claim. Debt collectors are limited to sending reminders or notices on behalf of the hospital.
The next step is to keep all documents (insurance policy, hospital admission papers, initial payment slip, and later invoice) and submit a formal dispute.
At RASHID ALKAITOOB ADVOCATES & LEGAL CONSULTANTS, we have successfully defended clients in similar medical billing disputes and prevented unjustified claims.
We also provide a free 20-minute listening session, and our multilingual consultants speak Arabic, English, Russian, Hindi, and Chinese.
