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Welcome to Israel!
Welcome to Israel! Whether you have arrived with the assistance of Nefesh B’Nefesh, The Jewish Agency, or any other way, we at Leumit Health Services are here to provide new immigrants (olim) with world-class medical services from the moment you arrive in Israel.
The National Health Insurance law states that every citizen of the State of Israel is entitled to health care. They have put together a package (called a ”basket”) of basic health care services including doctor visits, laboratory services, imaging studies, hospitalizations, rehabilitation, paramedical services (speech therapy, occupational therapy, etc…) prescriptions and medical equipment to cover all of your basic health care needs. The health funds are the providers of these services. The basket of services is the same for all the health funds.
The coverage for this basic package is funded by proportionate monthly payments from your income to the National Health Insurance Fund (Bituach
Leumi). If you are unemployed, retired or a student, there is a fixed monthly payment. New immigrants (olim) receive the basic health care package free for the first six months.
When olim or other citizens join the Leumit Health Fund, the services are provided in Leumit medical centers by Leumit providers or by private health care specialists who accept Leumit. The services are given free of charge or, at times, with an additional co-payment as set forth by the Health Insurance law.
The Leumit Health Fund was established in 1933 before the establishment of the State of Israel. The same pioneers with the vision to establish a Jewish state are the ones who helped establish our health fund. It all started in the kitchen of one physician, Dr. Vinshal. This clinic was the first clinic to belong to the Fund,
The Fund’s first manager, Mr. Melamedowitz, determined that the Fund would be open to everyone, regardless of income, age or history of prior illness, and demanded that the employees and managers relate to the members of the Fund as acquaintances and not as numbers.
The Fund indeed continues to pursue this path: a Fund whose doors are open to all residents of Israel, including new immigrants (olim), city, kibbutz and settlement dwellers, the religious and ultra-religious, minority groups and secular Israelis.
Back in the 1930s, its founders determined that the uniqueness of the Leumit Health Fund would be expressed by offering its members the right to select the fund, physician and medical services of their choice – a uniqueness that has remained to this very day. Our guiding motto, “Taking care of your future health today,” indicates our commitment to preventative health care as an integral part of our community service.
Leumit has:
Health care in Israel is quite well developed. While there may be individual medications or technologies that haven’t yet arrived here, 98% of the care that you received in the US, Canada, England, Australia and other Western countries, you can get here.
Access to physicians, specialists, medications, radiology, is actually probably better in Israel than the US and other Western countries. The major differences are: 1) how much time a physician will spend with you, 2) the after hours access to your physicians, 3) the lack of continuity of care with your personal physician when you should need to be hospitalized, 4) the importance of supplementary health insurance.
Immunizations and growth records for children are all done through Tipat Chalav, a government office which has a good track record of making sure everyone is immunized. However, your HMO and your physician have nothing to do with this part of your child’s medical care, so you will need to update your pediatrician/family doctor of what happens at Tipat Chalav. Warning: tipat chalav nurses are known to exaggerate any possible issue that they find with your child. Don’t take their criticism of your parenting too seriously and discuss any issue that they raise with your personal physician.
Remember that usually your OB/GYN that you have in the HMO will do your routine gynecology and obstetrics but will not be delivering your baby in the hospital. Deliveries are all done by midwifes that work in the hospital. If you want your own physician to do the delivery, you will have to find out if they have privileges at the hospital (very few of them have privileges) and you will have to pay about $2000-3000. Private deliveries are only done by physicians. Midwifes are not authorized to do private deliveries.
In general, most people coming from Anglo countries want availability, access and choice when it comes to their medical care. Your first choice will be in choosing which Kupat Cholim (Health Fund/HMO).
There are four HMO’s in Israel. In order of increasing size: Leumit, Meuchedet, Maccabi and Clalit. Each kupah has in benefits and down sides. Check out the details of each kupah before you decide and don’t just rely on word-of-mouth.
Fortunately, health care in Israel is quite well developed. Access to physicians, specialists, medications, radiology, is better in Israel than the US and other Western countries.
