Bupa Arabia CBDO says 75% of private sector insured, 25% still uninsured

Ali Sheneamer, Bupa Arabia for Cooperative Insurance Co. Chief Business Development Officer (CBDO)

Bupa Arabia for Cooperative Insurance Co.'s Chief Business Development Officer (CBDO) Ali Sheneamer said the insurance compliance rate in the private sector stands between 70% and 75%, leaving a gap of about 25%, which is valued at SAR 11–14 billion.

In an interview with Argaam on the sidelines of the World Insurance Conference (ingate) in Riyadh, he said the implementation of he insurance mandate is expected to close this gap and boost market growth.

Health insurance currently accounts for 55–60% of the total insurance market in Saudi Arabia, driven by several factors, including mandatory coverage for private-sector employees, the expansion of covered health benefits, the increase in private-sector employment, and Vision 2030 projects that require large numbers of workers.

Sheneamer noted that the Saudi health insurance sector is witnessing rapid growth, expecting its market size to increase from SAR 42 billion in 2024 to between SAR 65 billion and SAR 83 billion by 2030.

As for competition, he said Bupa Arabia ranks first among health insurance providers in the Kingdom, thanks to its exclusive focus on the health segment, emphasizing that sustainable competition should be based on service quality rather than pricing.

The company developed an integrated healthcare model under the “Bupa Integrated Care” umbrella, which includes digital clinics and home-care services, Sheneamer said, noting that the platform currently provides more than 35,000 digital medical consultations per month, with plans to exceed 50,000 soon.

He added that Bupa manages around 15 on-site clinics within major clients’ workplaces and has delivered more than 130,000 home-care visits since the beginning of 2025. The company will open its first comprehensive clinic in Riyadh next year, covering 4,500 square meters, followed by three additional clinics in Riyadh and Jeddah in 2026.

Bupa Arabia’s current focus is on preventive care for patients with chronic diseases, noting that this group accounts for 15–18% of the population but 45–50% of total healthcare costs, making efficient management a top priority.

Sheneamer highlighted the “Bupa Direct Access Network” initiative, which allows hospitals to provide services without prior approval. The network currently includes 17 hospitals and is expected to expand to 20 major hospitals by the end of 2025.

Among the key challenges facing the sector, he cited the high utilization of medical services and health inflation, which stands at 10% to 12% annually, a significant rate that affects insurers’ loss ratios.

He added that Bupa is working with regulators to develop mechanisms to rationalize consumption, curb waste and fraud, and leverage advanced technologies and artificial intelligence to accelerate medical approvals and enhance customer experience.