KUWAIT CITY, Oct 5: The official gazette, ‘Kuwait Al-Youm,’ published Decree-Law No. 105/2024 on temporarily suspending Health Insurance for Retirees Law No. 114/2014 for one year, starting from the date of the implementation of this Decree-Law, reports Al-Seyassah daily. The explanatory note to the decree stated that the State of Kuwait has been keen on providing healthcare to citizens, especially retirees, without financial compensation due to the State’s belief in the necessity of providing healthcare to this segment as they are most in need of health insurance. Law No. 114/2014 was issued to provide healthcare to retirees and expand the base of private sector participation in providing health services to retired citizens.

It was also decided for the same considerations to add other segments to insurance coverage, which necessitated a legislative amendment to Law No. 114/ 2014, under Law No. 71/2023. It added that the practical application of Law No. 114/2014 showed during its implementation the small number of competing insurance companies qualified to provide health insurance services. This yielded negative results like the failure to provide the necessary health services to those covered by the law and controlling the health insurance market by providing a service that is not commensurate to the amount paid through the public treasury.

In light of the above, Law No. 114/2014, as amended by Law No. 71/2023, must be suspended until other options or alternatives are researched and studied to provide the best healthcare to those entitled to it in a way that achieves a balance between the amount paid through the public treasury on one hand, and the interest of the State and that of the target groups of the health insurance system on the other hand.