Gulf Air, the national carrier of Bahrain, has introduced a new insurance scheme that offers comprehensive medical insurance benefits to all its employees, said a report.

The airline has tied up with Al Ahlia Insurance to offer medical insurance benefits under the ArigCare product, that will include for the first time, all Gulf Air employees and their eligible family members benefiting over 8000 individuals.

The agreement came into effect today (April 16). This is said to be the biggest ever medical insurance scheme in Bahrain.

“As the national carrier and one of the leading employers in Bahrain, Gulf Air aims not only to be the carrier of choice but also as the employer of choice,” said Ismail Karimi, Gulf Air deputy chief executive officer.

“As such this insurance tie-up marks an important milestone in our corporate employee relations as we strongly believe that Gulf Air is an organisation that not only takes care of its employees but also their extended family.”

For the first time, all staff members of Gulf Air are included in the scheme irrespective of their grade.

Furthermore, eligible family members of the staff will also be covered under the insurance package in stages to be implemented by the end of the second quarter of 2009.

The new insurance scheme also offers direct billing facility in addition to international medical assistance when members are away from Bahrain.

“We are glad to participate in Gulf Air’s efforts in caring for their employees and their family members that has bolstered Gulf Air’s image as employer of choice on the Island.” said Tawfiq Shehab, general manager of Al Ahlia Insurance.

'We strive hard along with our partner ArigCare to come up with products that match the clients' specification and win their loyalty and satisfaction,' he added. – TradeArabia News Service