Ministry allows citizens to apply for gov’t health insurance online

AMMAN — The Ministry of Health on Monday announced the launch of a website for citizens to apply for health insurance coverage.

Last week, the ministry called on citizens who are not covered by any health insurance to apply at any of the ministry’s health directorate across the Kingdom.

However, due to the large number of applicants and to facilitate the procedures on citizens, the ministry decided to create the online port, Hatem Azruie, the ministry’s spokesperson told The Jordan Times.

He added that those who have internet access can apply at www.hia.gov.jo, and “those who can not apply online, can still go to the nearest health directorate”.

The official explained that the application period will extend till April 15, where applications will be reviewed in coordination with the Social Security Corporate and the Income Tax Department.

The 2015 national census showed that 68 per cent of Jordanians and 55 per cent of the Kingdom’s overall population, including children under six years old, are covered by various types of health insurance.

Around 312,000 children benefit from a Royal Decree that provides all children under the age of six with free healthcare services. 

Excluding these children, the health insurance coverage rates drops to 63 per cent among Jordanians and to 52 per cent among the entire population.

Ministry of Health insurance covers 41.7 per cent of Jordanians, followed by the military-run Royal Medical Services (38 per cent) and private insurance firms (12.4 per cent), according to the census. 

The remaining coverage is provided by university hospitals, UNRWA, international insurance, and other sources.

Around a quarter of non-Jordanians are covered by medical insurance, with over 60 per cent of those living in Jerash Governorate covered, followed by around 59 per cent of the non-Jordanian residents of Mafraq Governorate, whose population has more than doubled due to the Syrian refugee influx.