Health insurance and returning to Israel

Arranging for national health insurance, and the possibility of receiving medical services on arrival in Israel, are an essential component of the family's reestablishment in Israel.  The National Health Insurance Law currently subjects Israeli residents who have spent more than two years abroad without paying national health insurance fees to a waiting period of up to half a year before they are eligible to receive health services.

Alternatively, returnees can redeem the waiting period by making a special payment to the National Insurance Institute. The amount of the payment (currently) is NIS 9,990 per person, and it confers eligibility for health services immediately after payment has been completed (provided the individual has been recognized as a resident). The payment can also be made while still abroad, six months before returning to Israel, so that upon arrival in Israel eligibility for health services is in force (provided the individual has been recognized as a resident by the National Insurance Institute).

To help the returnee's family in the initial period following their return, the government has decided that returning residents who choose to pay the waiting period redemption fee will be refunded the full redemption payment. The refund will be made in two parts: fifty percent of the redemption fee will be refunded immediately when effecting the payment on returning to Israel, and the balance of the amount will be returned one  year after the date of return.

Calculating the waiting period

An Israeli resident returning to Israel after March 1, 2001 after residing abroad for two years or more, who did not pay health insurance fees to the National Insurance Institute, or who is more than 12 months behind in payments, will not be entitled to receive medical services in Israel, in accordance with the National Health Insurance Law.

Similarly, an Israeli citizen that resides abroad,  who ceased being an Israeli resident, and who subsequently returned to Israel and was recognized as an Israeli resident by the National Insurance Institute, is not entitled to receive medical services in Israel, in accordance with the Law.

To renew entitlement to medical services, the returning Israeli must undergo a waiting period of one month for each year of absence from Israel, if the returning resident left Israel after November 1, 2008. If the returning resident left earlier, the waiting period will be two months for each year of absence.

A year of absence from Israel is considered a year during which the resident resided at least 182 consecutive or nonconsecutive days outside of Israel. A waiting period of one month will be deemed to be residence of at least 25 consecutive days per month in Israel.

As of November 1, 2008, the minimum waiting period is two months, and the maximum period is six months. If an individual began the waiting period before November 1, 2008, then the balance of the waiting period applying after November 1, 2008 will not exceed six months.

Payment of the waiting period redemption fee

Persons recognized as Israeli residents, who are obligated to a waiting period, may, as noted, redeem the waiting period through a special payment established by law. The payment, which is currently NIS 9,990, is updated on January 1 of each year.
As of November 1, 2008, the insured can pay the waiting period redemption fee in one payment, or up to a maximum of six installments.

After receiving authorization of residency from the National Insurance Institute, and completing payment of the waiting period redemption fee, the returning resident is entitled to health services according to the National Health Insurance Law, and to join the health fund of their choice. 

Eligibility for refund of the special payment

Receipt of the refund is subject to compliance with all of the following conditions:

1. Recognition by the Ministry of Immigrant Absorption as a returning resident who resided abroad for at least five years, except for visits to Israel permitted by the basic guidelines for assistance.
2. Recognition as a “returning resident” by the Ministry according to Ministry regulations no later than the end of four months from the date of return to Israel.
3. The returning resident or his/her spouse performed military/national/civil service in Israel, or both spouses received an exemption from military service for reasons of age, or because the woman was married, was pregnant or the mother a child, for health reasons or because of service in a foreign army.
4. The returning resident began and completed the special payment to the National Insurance Institute under section 58 of the National Health Insurance Law during the period from May 16, 2010 to September 30, 2012.
5. The returning resident returned to Israel during the period between May 16, 2010 and September 30, 2012.

Conditions for refunding the special payment

Refunding of the special payment is subject to the following conditions:

1. Recognition by the Ministry of Immigrant Absorption as a returning resident.
2. Receipt of a returning resident certificate from the Ministry of Immigrant Absorption, following return to Israel.
3. Opening of a bank account in Israel for each eligible person.
4. Completion of the special payment to the National Insurance Institute.
5. The presence of the eligible person in Israel on the date set for transferring the refund.

The payment will be refunded directly to the eligible person's bank account, following their return to Israel and application to the Ministry, and only following completion of the special payment to the National Insurance Institute.

Method of payment
The payment will be made in two installments:

• The first installment (50%) after completion of the payment of the redemption fee to the National Insurance Institute.
• The second installment (50%) one year following the date of granting of returning resident status.

To receive the payment, eligible persons must report to the Ministry office nearest their home before each payment date and submit a request.

A request for each of the two payments may be submitted up to 15 months from the date of receipt of returning resident status, or up to 31/01/2013, whichever date is earliest. The payment is individual to each eligible person, according to the amount of the payment made to the National Insurance Institute.

An immigrant who extends their eligibility (not within their first year with the Ministry of Immigrant Absorption) and returns to Israel during the determined period, can choose between benefits as a new immigrant that extended their period of rights, and benefits as a “returning resident,” such as a refund of special payment to the National Insurance Institute, on condition that they meet the criteria of a returning resident that resided overseas for five years. In order to take advantages of benefits as a returning resident, it is necessary to sign a declaration in the presence of a personal absorption counselor at nearest the Ministry of Immigrant Absorption branch or district office.  You may sign a statement of renunciation of extension of benefits and file the request in Israel only.

A change made to an immigrant's request involving a waiver of rights is irrevocable.

Note!
It is recommended to arrange for private health insurance coverage until receipt of approval of residency from the National Insurance Institute and entitlement to receive health services from the chosen health fund.

Registration Process

1. Any Israeli citizen can register on the registration form on this website.

2. Means of payment:

• Payment on the National Insurance Institute's internet payment site, from anywhere in the world, via credit card. Please note that payments via credit cards issued abroad are permitted in only one installment.
• Israeli checks – Israeli bank checks can be sent for payment in six consecutive monthly installments.
• Guidelines for writing the checks:
  • The checks should be written: To order of the National Insurance Institute – "Payee only".
  • It is advisable to send the checks by registered mail.
  • Personal details should be enclosed: identity card number, first name, last name, email address (if any), address for sending the receipt.
  • The checks should be sent to

    
    The National Insurance Institute
    13 Weizmann Boulevard, Jerusalem
    91909
    Attention: Ms. Talma Friedberg
    Health Department

  • Confirmation of receipt of the checks will be sent directly to the address indicated.

3. Receipt of a returning resident certificate from the Ministry of Immigrant Absorption following return to Israel, subject to the Ministry regulations.

4. Opening of a bank account in an Israeli bank.

Notes

In order to prove residency, the returning resident must present the National Insurance Institute with documents proving that the center of their life is in Israel. For example: the shipment of goods to Israel, the renting of an apartment, an employment contract, the registration of children in school, etc.

To assure health insurance coverage for the returning resident and the resident’s family, it is necessary to return to Israel by the end of 18 months from the date of the first payment of the redemption fee to the National Insurance Institute.

For further details

Questions can be addressed to the Insurance and Health Department, 13 Weizmann Blvd. Jerusalem 91909 (National Insurance Institute).  
Telephone: 02-6463221, 02-6709920, 02-6709540
Fax: 02-6515471, 02-6520616

See also the National Insurance Institute's website.

or to the Ministry of Immigrant Absorption's Special Information Center – 972-3-973-3333 or to the Israeli House Coordinators in the various Israeli consulates.

You can also contact (from abroad) the call-center:
972-8-9369669
The service is available: Sun - Thu 08:00 - 15:00 (Israel time)