According to the National Health Insurance Law, every resident of Israel must be registered with one of the four health funds (kupat holim).
List of Health Funds
- Clalit – The largest health fund in Israel, founded in 1911 by the agricultural workers’ union.
- The first clinic was organized near Petah Tikva and was located in a regular tent.
- More than 50% of Israel’s population is insured with this fund.
- Due to the large number of insured individuals, the waiting time for an appointment with a specialist can reach several weeks or even months.
- Maccabi – Founded in the 1940s as an alternative to the Clalit fund.
- Serves patients in large cities and became the second-largest fund in terms of insured individuals since the early 1990s.
- Acquired the Assuta clinic network and serves over 2 million citizens.
- New immigrants who choose Maccabi receive free interpreter assistance until they learn Hebrew at a sufficient level.
- Leumit – Founded in 1933 by representatives of the Zionist movement.
- The first clinic was located in a doctor’s apartment in Tel Aviv.
- Serves less than a million people, ensuring quick access to specialists.
- Meuhedet – Founded in 1974 as a result of the merger of two health funds (Amamit and Tzionim Klaliim).
- Owns hotels and a network of nursing homes throughout Israel.
- The most financially stable fund with short waiting times for specialists.
Useful Information
- Since 2022, all health funds offer online doctor appointments.
- Every Israeli has the right to change their kupat holim an unlimited number of times, but no more than once a year.
How to Register with a Health Fund?
New immigrants can register with a health fund directly at the airport for free. If this was not done at the airport, registration is possible at the post office, where a special form must be filled out (this service is paid).
Children
Every child is automatically enrolled in the health fund of the parent receiving child benefits from birth.
