“Health is number one”, “have a good and healthy new year”, “just health”.... We all have a tendency to make light of our aunts and grandmothers when they wish us good health and long life. But is that really justified? It’s obvious that good health is the necessary foundation for a good life. Beyond all the jokes and cliched sayings, the question remains: how can we preserve our health, which is so precious to us? How can we make sure that we can receive the best possible care in case of illness or emergency? What can we do to make sure our insurance coverage is enough to maintain and even improve our health?

Let’s talk about health insurance. Overall, the Israeli health insurance market offers a wide range of services and types of coverage: the services at HMOs are based on the national health basket and complementary health insurance plans.  Insurance companies offer private health insurance plans.

Before making a decision, it’s important to get a full picture of how health insurance works.

Ready? Begin!

We’ll start with the national health basket, which determines which health services are legally provided through state insurance and the HMOs to all residents of Israel. The basket, essentially, provides a basic tier of services and medical coverage, which includes: diagnosis and treatment at institutes, HMOs, and hospitals; diagnosis and treatment at laboratories and clinics abroad; specialty medical consultations, diagnosis, and treatment; hospitalization; medications (the list of included medications is updated by the government once a year); and various types of medical devices and equipment. All citizens pay for these services as required by the National Insurance Payment Law. These fees form the bulk of the budget for the services offered in the health basket. 

Is the national health basket enough?

Not all the health services needed by a family in Israel, whether day-to-day or in a crisis (Heaven forbid!) are covered by the basic national health basket. The services included in the basket are not enough to ensure peace of mind and the confidence that comes from knowing that your and your children’s health is guaranteed.

Complementary health services are for you!

Complementary health services from HMOs (also known by the Hebrew acronym ShaBaN) have pride of place as a middle ground between private insurance plans and the national health basket. The plans, which complement (hence their name) the coverage from the national health basket with supplementary services not included in the basket, provide broad quality coverage both for daily life (for preventative care and maintenance) and for emergencies (when patients need tests or treatments not included in the basic package).

All HMO clients may choose to join the complementary health plan at their HMO for an additional (monthly) fee set by the HMO to receive a package of services (the content of which depends on the track chosen) not included in the basic health basket. These plans include the following: the ability to choose their surgeon or health coordinator; copays on the purchase of medications and medical devices; coverage for medical treatments abroad; alternative medicine; medical opinions by specialists; dental care; pregnancy and childbirth programs; and more.

Unlike private insurance plans, anyone registered with an HMO, no matter his or her age or health status, may register for complementary health services.  

Complementary health services at Meuhedet

Meuhedet clients can choose between two complementary health plans: Meuhedet Adif and Meuhedet Si. The plans are differentiated by the extent of coverage and the services included in each. Meuhedet Adif is the first tier of enhanced insurance. Meuhedet Si is an expanded insurance plan and Meuhedet’s flagship plan. Members on the Si track receive more services than those on Adif, so you can ensure you and your family have the broadest and best-quality coverage.

Enhanced insurance lets you and your family take better care of yourselves during illness. Even more importantly, it can help preserve your health for a long time to come. 

Why choose Adif?

Meuhedet Adif offers clients a wide range of services beyond those included in the national health basket, such as: surgeries in Israel; advice from specialists (second opinions); discounts on medications not included in the health basket; discounts on alternative medicine; free emergency dental care and first aid; additional child development treatments; and more.

This is the only complementary health plan in Israel offered at a family rate for each member of the family.  

Complete confidence with Si

Meuhedet Si is Meuhedet’s premium plan, offering the broadest coverage in terms of discounts and the range of services. Si members receive the following benefits, among others: surgeries abroad; appointments with doctors and laboratory tests at home; upgraded pregnancy and childbirth plans including pregnancy tests worth 8000 NIS as well as other prenatal services; a comprehensive dental treatment plan (including discounts of up to 80% on prophylactic care and up to 50% on orthodontics, as well as free proactive treatments once a year); children’s glasses with copay costs of only 70 NIS; emotional care; advanced testing for attention deficit disorders; a range of esthetic treatments, including plastic surgery, at reduced rates; anti-aging treatments; vein reductions; and more.

What works for you?
When it comes to your and your family’s health, it’s always best to have the maximum coverage that best meets your needs. We also recommend that you read the descriptions of the Adif and Si plans carefully to determine what best suits you and your family (Are you planning on a pregnancy? Do you have kids? Do you need complex treatments?) and what you need. Based on this information you can select the complementary plan that works best for you. 

Any questions? - We’d be happy to answer you. Start a chat with a representative, call the support center at *3833, or contact the office at your clinic.