Finding the Resources you need when Apartment Hunting

If you are thinking of making Aliyah or have already moved here, you might be in need of finding a new apartment and / or community. Finding the right community and resources in the area that you move to is just as important as an apartment with the kind of space you might be looking for. 

If you have already selected your Kupat Cholim, knowing that healthcare is in your area might be of interest / necessity. If so, you can go onto their website to search for the location of branches. If need be, look up the phone number and call to make sure the frequency of doctors and nursing care, whether there is a pharmacy and any other medical need you might have. We are with Meuhedet and so, took a look at the Meuhedet website. You will need to read Hebrew or have someone with you who can read Hebrew as this information is not available in the English version of the Meuhedet website. The following link will take you to one of the pages for Muehedet in Jerusalem. You can of course search for whatever city or neighbourhood you might require. 

If you have a different Kupat Cholim, search on the website of your health insurance and look for the same. 

Once you have done your research about Kupat Cholim, you might want to know where the closest Mikvah is to the apartment you are considering. For women's Mikvaot, there is a Mikvah Directory which you can view on this link. Again I have clicked on Jerusalem Mikvaot but you can look for other cities if you need to. 

What other details are important for you when moving? Do you need assistance to navigate these sites or to understand the Hebrew? If you are in need of assistance, do be in touch for our personalized Aliyah assistance. We look forward to hearing from you.

Shoshanah Shear

Chessed Ve'Emet

Kupat Cholim - Free Medical Aid in Israel

In Israel, there are currently four different Kupot (medical aids) available - Meuhedet, Klalit, Maccabi and Leumit. Every citizen of Israel is entitled to choose to be a part of any of these (and must!) It is your right - but be aware, it's not free. You'll be paying for it. As a start, your Bituach Leumi (National Insurance) is considered the start of its payment and at a current entry level amount of ₪160 per month for the unemployed and those earning less than around ₪2000 per month, it can already be a hefty amount to pay - especially if you're not actually in need of any medical treatment (a condition you should be most thankful for in any case!)

Beyond the initial Bituach Leumi amount and dealing with increasing Bituach Leumi payments depending on your monthly income / salary, you can be paying up to 40% of your earned income - ultimately for your rights to "free" medical insurance. 

What do you get for it? Basic medical services allow you to visit your GP for free (the reason everyone will say it's free!) but don't let that fool you! In addition to seeing the GP, if there is anything remotely requiring a specialist (in practically almost every case) you will be sent to a specialist usually with a Hafnayah - הפניה - a referral. Currently you must pay ₪22 for each time you see the specialist and ₪22 for each additional specialist you see during a period known as "quarterly" - or Rivon - רבעון. Be aware that any doctors or authorities indicating to you that medical treatment is free in Israel are sadly misinformed. The costs may escalate even further. 

While in many countries, a GP is entitled to perform numerous small procedures, Israel limits the activities of the GP - forcing them to refer you on to a specialist. An example would be having one's ears syringed. In the event that one's ears become filled with wax, a regular doctor will not be permitted to remove the wax, but will refer you to a specialist. In other countries, GP's are quite capable of the small procedure themselves! 

In addition, though the specialist may be knowledgeable in his area of expertise, he too is limited by Israeli law to the procedures he may perform. As an example - a dermatologist may check your skin noticing various blemishes that can be easily removed with liquid nitrogen, but his authority allows him to only diagnose; he may not correct the problem, in essence being required to refer you to a surgeon - for the relatively simple burning procedure! Ultimately one's "free" medical treatment can well lead to visiting numerous doctors and being required to pay the Kupah for each additional visit - amounts which in other countries would be avoided due to one doctor being quite capable of performing the smaller procedures himself!

Dental and Eye Costs:

Dental treatment is not covered for by the Kupah and can be rather expensive. Likewise, seeing an optometrist to have spectacles prescribed will require almost full payment with very little if any subsidy by the Kupah.

Costs of Medications:

Upon purchasing a medication under the list of "subsidized" medications, you will pay a minimum of ₪14 per medication (currently.) There are many medications that require  a higher price or full payment thereof. All the amounts listed in this post, increase each year as a general rule. 

The Free Fertility Treatment Fallacy!

For those looking into the "free" fertility treatments that are offered in Israel - be aware, that while much may be "subsidized," all tests and procedures are charged for just as the referral to a specialist or more. You will be charged for injections, drugs and other invasive procedures as well as your net loss from days off from work (no pay) and with the emotional stress added to this, the financial costs can be a lot more than ever bargained for. It is hard for anyone not in such a predicament to ever imagine anything close to the actual costs, as they still maintain that fertility treatment in Israel is absolutely free! Indeed, those not actually involved in these special treatments will again assume that all is free. (It almost sounds too good to be true - even exciting!)

Kupah Plans:

In addition to the basic "free" structured medical treatment provided in Israel, each Kupah will offer numerous "special" - must-have options which will entail paying even larger amounts to be a part of the more appropriate medical aid systems which allow for even more "free" things. 

Choosing a Doctor:

Do remember that because Israel works with a Rivon (quarter) period, the doctor you choose - whether you know them are not - will be your doctor for a period of 3 months. You will not be able to change doctors. Get advice from others who may have used a particular doctor, to know if they are the right doctor for you. Join us for our next article where we will discuss more about the practical aspects of "what can go wrong" or "what can be right!" when choosing a doctor in Israel.

Important Points to be Aware of:

• Be aware of the actual costs. 
• Don't be fooled by those indicating that medical treatment in Israel is free.
• Choose the plan that is best for you after appropriate research.
• Be aware of the doctor you choose. You will be stuck with them for a quarter period - 3 months, without the ability to change!
• Be aware of the Kupah you choose. Though you can switch Kupot, it is not easy to work out which one will serve your needs better. 
• Visiting a GP may only be the start of treatment - often requiring seeing at least two other specialists - all at an additional cost.

What is National Health Insurance?

This post has been compiled for us by Tzvi Szajnbrum a lawyer who has some free services for Olim

What is National Health Insurance (“Bituach Briut”)?

The National Health Insurance Law came into effect in January 1995. The purpose of the law was to assure that every resident of Israel, including every new immigrant and temporary resident, is entitled to health insurance under the National Health Insurance Law. This insurance entitles you to membership in one of the four health funds (“Kupat Cholim”): Clalit, Maccabi, Meuchedit, and Leumit.

This law allows every citizen equal healthcare for all regardless of ones health or economic condition. This is one of the most comprehensive and liberal laws in the world. Despite any preexisting medical condition, you will be accepted without conditions.

The National Health Insurance Law allows you to receive medical care in several areas, including: preventive care, diagnostic care, mental care, medications, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, psychiatric care and hospitalization, some dental care for children, first aid including some ambulance transportation, medical care at work, and even some medical equipment.

You should be aware that this law does not include everything. There are exceptions, and not every existing medication is available through this law. Every year the parliament weighs and decides what new medication or service will be included. Unfortunately there are not enough national resources for every person to receive potentially life-saving treatment, so difficult choices are made every year.

Insurance premiums are paid to the NII, in the same manner in which National Health Insurance payments are made, either by you individually or by your employer.

The payment for the National Health Insurance (Kupat Cholim), is made through the NII.

In short, the health insurance system in Israel is very “socialist”. We are all insured and we all have rights by the National Insurance Law. You will always receive fair medical treatment, including hospitalization.

If you need more information or clarification on any subject concerning the NII, please feel completely comfortable to contact Tzvi. His contact details can be found on his web site: www.lawadv.com or www.voleh.org

Kupat Cholim in Israel

Let us take a look at the National Health Insurance, known in Israel as Kupat Cholim. Israel has four options for Kupat Cholim: Meuhedet, Maccabi, Leumit and Clalit. It used to be that there were major difference within these four Kupat Cholim, I have been told by some Israelis that their differences are no longer as clear.

I can not say that I am an expert of the Kupat Cholim but can share some information that I have experienced and then open up for other Olim to share or clarify and of course for potential Olim or Olim Chadashim to pose questions.

During the first 6 months after making Aliya, an Oleh enjoys free basic Kupat Cholim and Bituach Leumi. The Kupat Cholim provide 3 different levels: basic, Adif and C. There are certain services that are available more readily if one has Adif or C, however, I am still unclear as to what one gets by paying the extra.

In order to qualify or begin receiving your 6 months free or sponsored Health Care, an Oleh has to take a form to the Post Office on which s/he indicates which of the Four Kupat Cholim s/he is choosing. When I made Aliya, the Mercaz Klita (Absorption Centre) told me to do this within the first week. Probably you can take a little longer, I would check that out with your Aliya Counsellor and or Shaliach.

How do you decide which Kupat Cholim to choose? Some make a decision based on convenience, meaning, they find themselves to be perhaps in a certain Absorption Centre and the closest Kupat Cholim is X, therefore they go with X. Others select their Kupat Cholim as they already know a certain doctor and wish to go to that doctor. Others will use the Kupat Cholim that most of their friends or family are using.

If you can, do a little research before coming. Write out for yourself what your priorities and needs are in terms of Health Insurance. The Kupat Cholim do have websites, however, all the information is in Hebrew. If you are already fluent in Hebrew or at least read Hebrew well and can understand most of what you read, it is worth taking a look at the sites.

If you have compiled your list of your own needs in a Health Insurance, that will make it easier to ask specific questions when checking out which Kupat Cholim is best suited for you. This is a very good exercise to do prior to coming on a Pilot Tour. If you have some time, on your Pilot Tour, try to visit the different Kupat Cholim and ask your questions. Or when meeting Israelis, other Olim, organizations in Israel, you can pose your questions and gather the information prior to coming to Israel.

One feature that is important to mention is the policy of staying with a specific doctor or group of doctors for a 3 month period. The 3 month period is a set time span set out by the Kupat Cholim and not from the beginning of your first appointment with a given doctor. That means, if you need to see a specialist e.g. Opthalmologist, Neurologist, Orthopoedic Surgeon or other specialist, you pay the nominal fee of ILS 18 - 20 for that 3 month period. If you are lucky enough to go for your first appointment at the beginning of the set 3 month span, you can return however many times you need within that 3 month period and not have to pay again.

The down side is that if you go to a doctor, Family Doctor or Specialist and find they are not suitable for your needs for whatever reason, you have to wait out the 3 months period in order to change doctors. If you have a good reason to move and really need medical attention, there is a way to request permission to change from the main branch of the Kupat Cholim. From what I can work out, there is a Rofe Minhal (I hope I have transliterated that correctly), this is a doctor who acts as case manager in the main branch who can grant you permission to change doctors or advise a better or more suitable doctor for you. It is worth finding out the details of how to contact this person when signing up, just in case you ever need to go this route.

Another important piece of information is use of an ambulance. I think this information is relevant to the Adif level, but stand to be corrected. If you require going to hospital or emergency unit by ambulance, if the doctor has ordered the ambulance, your Kupat Cholim covers the fee, where as if you or a relative call the ambulance from your home, Kupat Cholim will pay half. However, you will be required to pay the full fee, send in the receipt for payment and then will be credited the half by Kupat Cholim, usually into your bank account.

I hope this has provided some information about Kupat Cholim in Israel. In another post we will try to cover some information regarding the Bituach Leumi. If you have specific questions, please do send them in and we will do our best to answer them, or to find a specialist who can assist you.