What is the ruling on health insurance for employees at the companies where they work?
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The questioner : May Allah reward you: A man is ill and has a subscription to the health insurance provided by the company where he works. Is it permissible for him to enter the hospital using this insurance?
The Shaykh : Do they take anything from him?
The questioner : Yes, they deduct it from his salary.
The Shaykh : Very well.
The questioner : A monthly amount, whether he is ill or not.
The Shaykh : He is treated to the extent of what they took from him.
The questioner : The amount is very small.
The Shaykh : Huh?
The questioner : The amount is very small.
The Shaykh : Nothing that contradicts [the ruling], even if it is a riyal. A riyal buys an aspirin tablet; they do not charge him for the aspirin tablet and give him the remainder. However, if they are the ones paying, sometimes companies do not take anything from the worker's wage, but they insure between themselves and the hospital. In that case, there is no harm, because he has not suffered any loss.
The questioner : Even if his illness requires large amounts and he does not have the ability to pay for treatment?
The Shaykh : May Allah help him.
The questioner : Meaning, he does not enter the hospital using this insurance?
The Shaykh : He does not enter, as long as his contract with the hospital is with himself. The important point is that if the insurance is from the company where he works and nothing is taken from his salary, there is no harm, because he has not entered into a contract of gambling. But if it is with him [i.e., he pays], it is gambling, and it is not permissible to deal with it.
The questioner : May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh : Do they take anything from him?
The questioner : Yes, they deduct it from his salary.
The Shaykh : Very well.
The questioner : A monthly amount, whether he is ill or not.
The Shaykh : He is treated to the extent of what they took from him.
The questioner : The amount is very small.
The Shaykh : Huh?
The questioner : The amount is very small.
The Shaykh : Nothing that contradicts [the ruling], even if it is a riyal. A riyal buys an aspirin tablet; they do not charge him for the aspirin tablet and give him the remainder. However, if they are the ones paying, sometimes companies do not take anything from the worker's wage, but they insure between themselves and the hospital. In that case, there is no harm, because he has not suffered any loss.
The questioner : Even if his illness requires large amounts and he does not have the ability to pay for treatment?
The Shaykh : May Allah help him.
The questioner : Meaning, he does not enter the hospital using this insurance?
The Shaykh : He does not enter, as long as his contract with the hospital is with himself. The important point is that if the insurance is from the company where he works and nothing is taken from his salary, there is no harm, because he has not entered into a contract of gambling. But if it is with him [i.e., he pays], it is gambling, and it is not permissible to deal with it.
The questioner : May Allah reward you with good.