Whatever your reason for visiting Israel, make sure you take out travel or expatriate health insurance for you and your family. That way, you can leave with peace of mind and avoid any unexpected financial, health or legal risks. Cover for repatriation, hospitalization, civil liability and other emergency medical expenses is essential, whatever your destination. Choose Mondassur for your health insurance in Israel!
Political system: Parliamentary democracy
Capital: Jerusalem
Area: 22,072 km²
Population: 9.500 million
Languages spoken: Hebrew, Arabic
Currency: New Shekel
Israel’s healthcare system
Israel’s healthcare system includes both public and private healthcare. Since 1995, the government has been responsible for ensuring the health of all citizens without distinction. Every resident in the country must therefore take out health insurance with a health insurance company. In addition, every resident of Israel over the age of 18 must pay contributions. In return, they receive health insurance coverage from one of Israel’s 4 health insurance funds:
- Clalit ;
- Leumit;
- Maccabi ;
- Meuhedet;
These 4 health insurers are public-sector bodies. They provide basic health services, determining which medical services, equipment, treatments and medicines insurers can deliver to policyholders. In addition to these AMOs, policyholders can take out supplementary private insurance. Each insurance package covers different types of care (dental, optical, etc.).
How do I consult a general practitioner or specialist in Israel?
To consult a general practitioner or specialist in Israel, you’ll need to go to clinics affiliated to your health insurance fund. There are very few doctors working in independent practices.
Depending on your affiliation to a health insurance fund, you can consult a general practitioner, pediatrician, gynecologist or internist free of charge. These doctors are generally the first line of health care you will see if you need treatment. In Israel, we call them primary care physicians. You will not be able to consult other doctors in the same category in the same quarter. Unless your doctor is not available or you are more than 30km away when you need to see him or her. In Israel, the general practitioner must be the focal point for health care coordination. He must be able to get a global picture of your state of health. He must also have access to all medical data concerning you.
Specialist physicians are known as secondary physicians. They include chiropodists and dieticians. You can consult them after your GP has provided you with a referral letter (hafnaya). These consultations cost between 24 and 27 shekels (between €5.70 and €6), depending on the health insurance fund. However, you will only pay this amount once per quarter, i.e. if you consult the same specialist several times in the same quarter, you will only pay the amount once. Your health insurance fund will pay the fees directly to the doctor.
Hospitals in Israel
There are three types of hospital in Israel: public, semi-private and private.
These hospitals include specialized facilities, such as pediatrics, psychiatry, rehabilitation, etc. The health insurance covers part of the costs in public or semi-private hospitals, but not 100%. In addition, each medical examination requires a flat-rate contribution. You will be able to choose the hospital where you wish to receive treatment, and you will need to have a financial commitment form with you on the day of the examination.
Private hospitals offer exclusive but much more expensive care. However, some private insurers will cover 100% of the costs.
Some public hospitals offer private services, where a doctor can provide both public and private services. Generally speaking, the private sector offers much shorter waiting times than the public sector, even for simple consultations.
The emergency department in Israel
The Maccabi and Clalit insurance companies have a 24-hour emergency telephone service. A nurse will take care of you, advise you and decide whether or not you should be taken into emergency care. These two health insurance companies cover the emergency service. Their emergency numbers are as follows:
- Clalit: *2700 or 03-9405350 (from abroad: +972-3-6333333).
- Maccabi: *3555 or 1-700-50-53-53 (from abroad: +972-4-8188081).
- Meuhedet: *3833or 1-599-520-520.
- Leumit: *6101 1-700-507-507 (evenings).
Pharmacies in Israel
Once you arrive in Israel, if you need medication, you will find 3 different types of pharmacies:
- Health insurance fund pharmacies: each health insurance fund has its own pharmacies that are exclusive to policyholders of the respective funds. These pharmacies offer certain drugs only on prescription. In addition, these pharmacies sell medicines at a lower price than other types of pharmacy.
- Private and chain pharmacies: you can visit any private or chain pharmacy. However, if they are not affiliated to a health insurance fund, they will charge very high prices. We therefore strongly advise you to find out before visiting a pharmacy that has signed an agreement with a health insurance fund, so that you can benefit from reimbursement and avoid paying overpriced medicines.
- Hospital pharmacies have an agreement with the health insurance fund attached to the hospital in which they are located. In fact, for each drug you pick up at the pharmacy on a doctor’s prescription, you will have to pay a third-party fee that your health insurance company does not cover.
Dental care in Israel
Your health insurance fund covers only a very limited amount of dental treatment, even in approved practices. The health insurance funds cover the following dental treatments in particular:
- Dental care for children aged 0 to 18 ;
- 50% reimbursement for cancer patients before chemotherapy and 100% reimbursement for patients after chemotherapy.
Health insurance companies cover dental expenses for patients suffering from many serious illnesses.
You must subscribe to either :
- Private health insurance to cover dental expenses in both the public and private sectors.
- Supplementary local insurance that will cover you better for dental treatment in practices that have signed an agreement with a health insurance fund.
Medical examinations in Israel
The health insurance funds have medical infrastructures or agreements with medical centers where you can have the majority of examinations carried out. When your doctor prescribes a medical examination, ask him or her where it should be carried out. On the health insurance websites, you’ll find a search engine listing the laboratories, medical centers and hospitals where you can go for your examination.
Insurance card in Israel
Never lose your health insurance card, as it will enable you to benefit from free or partial reimbursement for your health care in medical facilities or with primary and secondary doctors affiliated to your health insurance fund.
Gynecologists in Israel
You can make an appointment with a gynecologist in Israel without going through a general practitioner. You can consult a gynecologist in an office or in a women’s health center. Maccabi and Clalit together have some sixty women’s health centers. In addition, the health insurance websites list each center.
Maternity in Israel
In Israel, your pregnancy will generally be monitored by your gynecologist. All the medical examinations you undergo will be carried out by nurses, whether it’s weight monitoring, blood pressure, blood tests, etc. A gynecologist from your health insurance company, private practice or hospital may also be able to monitor you. Some gynecologists have an ultrasound scanner in their practice, so you don’t have to go to a medical examination center or another specialist for an ultrasound scan. What’s more, some gynecologists will have their assistant take your blood tests, monitor your weight, etc.
The Israeli Ministry of Health also recommends a series of screening tests. This allows us to detect as soon as possible whether you are at risk of giving birth to a child suffering from a serious genetic disease. Certain tests may therefore be recommended for you or your partner. If tests are recommended, your insurance company will pay for those of one of you.
Some of the examinations you’ll need to have during your pregnancy are covered by your health insurance, which will pay for them in full (sometimes you’ll be asked to make a very small financial contribution). Provided you undergo them in a center approved by the Ministry of Health. Also, if the public health sector fully supports your pregnancy. Some supplementary insurances cover the part of the examinations that your insurance does not cover, and private insurances may cover 100% of your maternity.
Average cost of certain medical operations in Israel
- Initial consultation with a doctor: 1,530 shekels (approx. €365).
- Second consultation with a doctor: 950 shekels (approx. €225).
- MRI : 2,400 shekels (approx. €570).
- Cataract surgery: 13,400 – 15,300 shekels (between €3,200 and €3,630).
Child care in Israel
A network of medical centers focuses mainly on early childhood (0-6 years). They are usually staffed by nurses, pediatricians or other specialists. These clinics are run by the government, health insurance funds or the mayor’s office. They’re called ” Tipat ‘Halav “. These are generally the places where you will have your children vaccinated, rather than a pediatrician or general practitioner. During a consultation, these specialists will check that your child’s hearing, sight and communication are functioning properly. Visits and compulsory vaccinations are free of charge, and you’ll find these medical centers in all Israel’s major cities.
What vaccinations should I have before moving to Israel?
No vaccinations are required in Israel, only a complete vaccination record. These include a hepatitis A vaccine, which must be kept up to date, and a hepatitis B vaccine for long or repeated stays. Vaccinations against rabies and typhoid are also required for longer stays.
Is it necessary to take out private international health insurance for a stay or expatriation in Israel?
It’s a good idea to take out health insurance in Israel if you’re planning to visit the country, whether for a vacation, retirement or expatriation. Israel’s 4 health insurance funds offer coverage for standard health care. The funds cover many benefits either inadequately or not at all, with reimbursements ranging from 50% to a maximum of 80%. On the other hand, one of the health insurance companies directly links hospitals and practices. This means that you won’t be covered in all medical establishments in Israel; you’ll have to go to a facility affiliated to the health insurance company you’ve chosen.
This is why you need to take out private health insurance, which will enable you to receive treatment in private hospitals despite their very high cost, and to cover more medical services at better rates.
Which private international health insurance should I take out in Israel, and for whom?
If you wish to travel to Israel, we recommend that you take out private health insurance.
- If you are planning to work in Israel for more than 90 days, it is essential that you take out private GoldExpat insurance.
Once you’ve obtained an A5, B1 or B2 visa, you won’t be eligible for one of the 4 health insurance plans until you’ve been in the country for 6 months.
- If you are of the Israeli faith, and qualify under the Law of Return and Aliya, you will be granted the right to hold an Israeli passport, as well as Israeli citizenship. Private health insurance is essential if you are traveling between your home country and Israel.
- Last but not least, if you’re planning to visit Israel as a tourist, it’s essential to take out travel accident insurance so that you can be treated in the shortest possible time and under the best possible conditions. In fact, the private sector is much more efficient than the public sector in terms of care.
Visas Israel
If you are a French national, you do not need a visa for a tourist stay of three months or less. All you need is a passport valid for at least six months. Please note: You must be able to show proof of a return or onward ticket (with visas or residence permits for the return or onward country, if required).
Consulate General of France in Jerusalem
5 rue Paul Emile Botta – PO box 182 – 91001 Jerusalem
Tel: 972 625 94 81 (à 83)
Fax: 972 625 91 78
E-mail: diplomat@france-jeru.org
Embassy of France in Tel Aviv
112 promenade Herbert Samuel BP 3480 – 6357231 Tel Aviv – Israel
Tel: 972 520 85 00
Fax: 972 520 83 40
E-mail: diplomatie@ambafrance-il.org
Embassy of Israel in Paris
3, rue Rabelais – 75008 Paris
Tel: 01.40.76.55.00
Fax: 01.40.76.55.55
E-mail: info@amb-israel.fr
