Purchasing Hearing Aids

The fitting of hearing aids and/or a personal R.M./F.M. system (hereinafter: hearing rehabilitation devices) for children (from birth to age 18) is a complex process that is integrated into the child’s overall rehabilitation program. Early hearing rehabilitation is an essential condition for the optimal development of hearing abilities, language skills, communication, speech skills, and learning abilities.

Following the reform, as of May 1, 2025, hearing aids for children are provided by the health fund as part of the Government Health Basket.

• Ages 0–5: Hearing tests, fitting, and recommendations for hearing aids and hearing rehabilitation devices will be carried out at a designated rehabilitation center or at an audiology institute within a medical center with sufficient experience in pediatric hearing rehabilitation.
• Ages 6–18: Hearing tests, fitting, and recommendations for hearing rehabilitation devices will be carried out by the health fund’s contracted providers.

Up to age 5 (inclusive), eligibility for hearing aids is once every three years, and eligibility for a personal FM/RM system is once only.

Step 1: Obtaining a Recommendation for Hearing Rehabilitation Devices

At the first stage, a referral from an ENT (ear, nose, and throat) physician is required in order to perform several tests: a hearing test, tympanometry, ABR (up to age 3), and otoacoustic emissions testing.
The list of required tests will be determined according to clinical medical need.

Based on the test results, you will receive a referral to a rehabilitation center to begin the hearing rehabilitation process.

A rehabilitation center must be selected.

A financial authorization must be issued. The authorization can be generated directly via the link or through the customer service center.

A co-payment is required.

The hearing rehabilitation process at the rehabilitation center is expected to take place over up to three sessions. During these sessions, hearing tests are performed and counseling and fitting meetings are held between a speech and language therapist, the child with hearing loss, and the parents, in order to fit and recommend an appropriate hearing rehabilitation device according to clinical indications.

If more than three sessions are required, the rehabilitation center will contact Leumit, and representatives of the health fund will contact the parents.

A recommendation for an FM/RM system will be given only after at least six months of experience using hearing aids.

Step 2: Trial Period

At the end of the hearing rehabilitation device fitting process, the rehabilitation center will provide hearing aid(s) and/or an FM/RM system for a trial period. The trial period will not exceed three months. During this time, the rehabilitation center will monitor the suitability of the device or system.

To receive the hearing rehabilitation devices, a security check must be deposited at the rehabilitation center, payable to the hearing rehabilitation device supplier. This check will be returned once the device or system is returned.

At the end of the trial period, the rehabilitation center will submit its recommendation for hearing rehabilitation devices to the health fund.

The choice of supplier is determined by the type and model of device recommended by the rehabilitation center. If the parents wish to change the supplier, the fitting process must be restarted at a rehabilitation center.

Step 3: Approval of the Request

Approval of the hearing rehabilitation devices is granted by a professional authority at Leumit after reviewing the recommendation from the hearing aid supplier. A decision will be made within 15 business days from the date all required documents are submitted. Notification will be sent by SMS.

Once approval is received, the co-payment must be paid and the supplier contacted to receive the hearing rehabilitation device.

The validity of the authorization for hearing rehabilitation devices is six months. However, it is recommended to complete the purchase within the timeframe recommended by the rehabilitation center, as changes in the child’s needs may occur over time.

Step 4: Device Supply and Follow-Up

The hearing aid and/or FM/RM supplier will provide the devices no later than 7 business days from the date of order. Devices or products requiring personal customization (such as earmolds or in-ear devices) will be supplied within up to 15 business days.

The rehabilitation center will monitor the fitting of the devices.

The first follow-up will take place within three months of device delivery.

For toddlers up to age 2, follow-up will continue every three months.

For children aged 2 to 6, follow-up will take place at least once every six months, with or without devices, at the discretion of the speech and language therapist.

Appropriate authorizations must be obtained as instructed by the rehabilitation center.

For children aged 6–18, eligibility for hearing aids and a personal FM/RM system is once every four years.

Step 1: Obtaining a Recommendation for Hearing Rehabilitation Devices

At the first stage, a referral from an ENT (ear, nose, and throat) physician is required for a comprehensive hearing test (click the link to search for an audiology institute, or enter service code 90760 under “Search for Clinics and Providers”).
The list of required tests will be determined according to clinical medical need.

After receiving the test results, you must return to the treating physician, who will issue a request for hearing rehabilitation devices.

Select the preferred hearing rehabilitation device supplier from the health fund’s list of contracted providers.

A financial authorization must be issued. The authorization can be generated directly via the link or through the customer service center.

A co-payment is required.

The hearing rehabilitation process at the rehabilitation center is expected to take place over up to three sessions. During these sessions, hearing tests are performed and counseling and fitting meetings are held between a speech and language therapist, the child with hearing loss, and the parents, in order to fit and recommend a hearing aid and/or an FM/RM system according to clinical indications.

If, at the end of the process, no recommendation is made for hearing aids, you must return to the treating physician for further care.

Step 2: Trial Period, Supplier Recommendation, and Health Fund Approval

At the end of the fitting process, the supplier will provide hearing rehabilitation devices to the client for a trial period of at least one month.

To receive the hearing rehabilitation devices, a security check must be deposited at the rehabilitation center, payable to the hearing rehabilitation device supplier. This check will be returned once the device or system is returned.

At the end of the trial period, the rehabilitation center will submit its recommendation for hearing rehabilitation devices to the health fund.

Step 3: Approval of the Request

Approval of the hearing rehabilitation devices is granted by a professional authority at Leumit after reviewing the recommendation from the hearing aid supplier. A decision will be made within 15 business days from the date all required documents are submitted. Notification will be sent by SMS.

Once approval is received, the co-payment must be paid and the supplier contacted to receive the hearing rehabilitation device.

The validity of the authorization for hearing rehabilitation devices is six months. However, it is recommended to complete the purchase within the timeframe recommended by the rehabilitation center, as the child’s needs may change over time.

Step 4: Device Supply and Follow-Up

The supplier is responsible for follow-up of the device fitting. The first follow-up will take place within six months of device delivery, and thereafter once a year, or as needed, at the discretion of the speech and language therapist.

For follow-up visits, the appropriate authorizations must be obtained in accordance with the supplier’s instructions.

The hearing rehabilitation device supplier is responsible for repairing malfunctions and damage to the devices, except in cases resulting from negligent handling.

A hearing aid and/or FM/RM system sent for repair will be repaired and returned within 6 business days. If the repair is expected to take longer than 48 hours, the supplier will provide a replacement device for use during the repair period.

In the event of a first loss of hearing rehabilitation devices, Leumit will approve the provision of a replacement device, subject to an additional co-payment of NIS 1,000, in addition to the co-payment defined in the Health Basket.

Replacement of devices in cases of repeated loss will be the sole responsibility of the client and their family.

Clients aged 18 and over are eligible for a hearing aid under the Government Health Basket once every three and a half years (every 42 months).

Eligibility is granted to individuals for whom a contracted audiology institute has recommended the need for a hearing aid and who have not yet exercised their entitlement.

The co-payment amount is determined by the price of the device minus the Health Basket entitlement amount.
Please note: co-payment amounts for hearing aids vary between different providers.

For the hearing test, it is recommended to contact the preferred supplier from whom you intend to purchase the hearing aid, although there is no obligation to purchase the device from the supplier that performed the hearing test.

Each contracted provider offers hearing aids from a range of different manufacturers.

The co-payment required for a hearing aid varies depending on the contracted provider you choose and the category to which the device belongs.

With some providers, certain hearing aids are fully covered under your entitlement, with no co-payment required.

Hearing aids cannot be purchased from non-contracted providers with reimbursement.

There is no obligation to purchase a hearing aid from the same provider who performed the hearing test.

Hearing aids are classified into five categories (1–5).

Funding for hearing aids is provided exclusively through the Government Health Basket.

When choosing a provider for a hearing test, it is important to know that if a need for a hearing aid is determined, the device may be purchased from any of the contracted providers, regardless of where the test was performed.

Please note that the co-payment is determined by the chosen provider, and that with some providers it is possible to purchase hearing aids from all models with no co-payment at all.

Once a decision has been made to purchase a hearing aid from one of the contracted providers, a Form 17 (financial authorization) must be issued. The form can be generated directly through the app or at your medical center.

The request must include the recommendation for hearing aid fitting and the recommendation for purchasing hearing aids, including the names of the hearing aid models you wish to purchase.

When issuing the authorization, your personal details (such as age and device category) and the requested contracted provider will be reviewed. Based on this information, the authorization will be issued.
If required, a co-payment will need to be paid.

The contracted provider will provide you with the recommended hearing aid for a 45-day trial period.

The hearing aid will be provided upon presentation of Leumit’s financial authorization (Form 17).

If you decide to return the device before the end of the trial period, the provider will accept the hearing aid back and return Leumit’s financial authorization form to you.

If you decide not to purchase an alternative hearing aid, the co-payment you paid will be refunded once the signed financial authorization form, confirming the return of the hearing aid, is submitted to Leumit by the contracted provider.
The refund will be made via deposit to your bank account.