Employee medical coverage in the US

25-1-2003 | IslamWeb

Question:

I currently live and work in the USA. Employers in addition to the salaries they pay, they give employees the option of having a health/medical insurance. As you know most types of insurance are not allowable. However, the cost the medical treatment in the USA is very high and many employees can not afford to pay even for a visitation. So, is it permissible under this situation to go into this contractual agreement? Please note the amount the employer contributes goes only for the medical insurance; I am not allowed to take it in cash.

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Answer:

Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds; and may His blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon all his Family and Companions.

It is forbidden to join any kind of health insurance scheme in the insurance companies because this is but pure gambling and risk, which are forbidden. In fact, the installments you pay for these companies are in case something may or may not happen because illness is a possible but not certain event. This is gambling. For its rule please read the Fatwa:81441.
We advise you, dear brother to leave this forbidden thing for the sake of Allah and be patient and bear anything that might happen to you in the future as long as you have the choice and you are not compelled to be part of this forbidden contract. Allah says: { …….And whosoever fears Allâh and keeps his duty to Him, He will make a way for him to get out (from every difficulty).} [65:2]
{And He will provide him from (sources) he never could imagine. And whosoever puts his trust in Allâh, then He will suffice him…….. } [65:3].
Allah knows best.