Dear Sir/Madam, I took up breast cancer insurance back in September 2006; they take £14 pound every month. And if I don’t make a claim after 20 years I get all of the money I paid since joining refunded. People without insurance here have to pay £180 for initial consultation (just to see the doctor once), and then pay separately for diagnostic tests (an MRI scan costs up to £500 per area) and treatments. When I developed sever neck and back problems I had to pay a lot of money to see different doctors and physiotherapy, to the point where I had to take out a loan from the bank. However had I been insured the insurance company would have covered all of the costs. So my question is; is it Halal or Haram to take up health insurance?? JAZAKALLAH KHAIR

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

We have already issued Fatwa 83693 clarifying that the ruling on health insurance is the same as that of other kinds of commercial insurance and that it is not permissible to undertake it except in case of dire necessity. Therefore, if you cannot afford the cost of the necessary treatment you need except through health insurance, then it is permissible to subscribe to it but only to the extent of achieving the necessity.