Every resident of Israeli is insured for health care under the National Health Insurance Law through payment of monthly premiums to the National Insurance Institute (Bituach Leumi). New immigrants are entitled to up to one year of free health insurance if they are not working.
 
This health insurance entitles every resident to choose one of the four health plans (Clalit, Leumit, Maccabi and Meuhedet) regardless of their age or health state. The plans provide an identical basic basket of services, as required by law, but availability of services may differ
by location. These include doctor visits, diagnostic and laboratory services, hospitalization including births and discounts on prescription medications. Note that not every type of service, treatment or prescription is available in the basket. It is possible to purchase supplementary insurance (bituach mashlim) from your health plan in order to receive wider coverage. Differences between the plans may exist in these supplementary insurances.
 
You will either see your family doctor in a clinic setting where other specialists and services may be available or in a independent office. This is dependent on your health plan and your location.
 
Basic medications are covered in the basket of health services but the health department may have different specifications for these medications. If you take medications, it is critical to check the availability of your medications for your specific condition including dosage prior to your arrival in Israel. We recommend bringing a three-month supply of your medication.
 
We recommend getting more information on the health plans in the community you plan to live in by contacting friends or family who live there and by emailing the listserv in that area. You can also call the plans directly and ask to speak with an English-speaking representative
 or physician.
 
Some of the things to think about when choosing a health plan are:

1. What types of physicians will you need on a regular basis? What hours are the clinics open and are they conveniently located? What is their reputation? Do they speak English? (Note: most specialists in Israel have a high level of English.)

2. What types of physicians will you need on a regular basis? What are hours are the clinics open and are they conveniently located? Do they speak English? (Note: most specialists in Israel have a high level of English.)

3. Where are the pharmacies  located? Is there an option to use private pharmacies? What is the availability of laboratory (blood tests, etc) and diagnostic services (x-ray, ultrasound, etc.)? What are their working hours?

4. Do you have a chronic illness or other special needs? If so, we recommend getting information on treatment and medications well before making aliya to insure continuity of your care.

5. What do the supplementary insurances of each plan offer?