The necessity of a health insurance policy

Contrary to what one might think, the Koupot Holim are far from covering all our healthcare needs Muriel Bitton writes regularly on this subject to draw the attention of the French-speaking public to the consequences of lacking coverage. And do not think this only concerns exceptional cases, because in reality it concerns all of us.

Why make private health insurance a genuine battle horse?

First of all, French speakers focus on home, vehicle, or supplementary health insurance (mutuelle), but do not have the necessary reflex for the private health system, which is very widespread in Israel.

They think that the modules offered by the Koupoth 'Holim (Mouchlam and Platinium for Clalit/כללית, Zahav and Chéli for Maccabi/מכבי, Adif and Si for Meuhedet/מאוחדת, or Kessef and Zahav for Leumit/לאומית) offer optimal coverage, whereas this is not the case at all.

Israeli public healthcare is satisfactory, but its resources are limited. That is why, out of the country's 9 million inhabitants, 4.5 million have private health insurance.

In France, there is no real private healthcare circuit. French private clinics have good surgeons, but their equipment is generally less advanced than that of public hospitals. In Israel, it is often the opposite. The medical elite practices essentially in the private sector, thanks to the cutting-edge equipment available in private institutions.

The importance of supplementary coverage A majority of olim from France think that this coverage is only necessary in the event of a serious illness. That is wrong! The Israeli private health system accompanies insured people throughout their lives. For example, when a woman wants to consult the best fertility specialist, she must pay out of pocket. The choice of specialists that the Koupoth 'Holim offer is limited.

If an intervention is necessary, it is often beginners who perform them in the public sector, with larger scars. When it comes to health, who would not prefer to be in the hands of an experienced practitioner?

It is particularly important to be able to broaden one's options so as not to be caught with no choice when it comes to selecting a specialist or facing waiting times for an intervention.

Concrete cases of patients confronted with the limits of the public health system After the Pessa'h holidays, several insured people contacted Muriel Bitton. A 29-year-old man suffered from an inguinal hernia following heavy lifting. At the Koupath 'Holim, he was told that his case was not urgent and that he could wait weeks for an operation. Thanks to his private health insurance, he was able to be operated on within five days at the Hertzliya Medical Center.

A 33-year-old man had been suffering constantly from knee pain since a motorcycle fall. The Koupath 'Holim refused an MRI and authorized only a scan. After Pessa'h, he had an MRI privately and was operated on in less than a week.

Another insured person was suffering from lower back pain. His general practitioner told him to make an appointment with an orthopedist, but there was no available slot for a month and a half. He contacted Muriel Bitton and was sent urgently to the Assouta hospital in Tel Aviv. An MRI revealed a tumor and he was operated on within a week.

Encouragement to take out private health insurance

It is imperative to take out private health insurance, especially for children. What does one do when a child needs a treatment not covered by the Ministry of Health? Fundraising appeals are often necessary to finance vital treatments. Children are particularly active and prone to injury. Why should a child have to wait weeks for a tonsil operation?

Costs and coverage of private health insurance

The costs of private health insurance are affordable. At Muriel Bitton's office, they offer significant discounts. The cost depends on age and the level of coverage chosen. For a child, maximum coverage costs approximately 50 shekels per month up to the age of 20. After that, rates increase progressively and are capped at age 70.

Certain conditions cannot be covered. For example, a person suffering from diabetes cannot insure against that condition, but they can be insured for everything else, including complications related to diabetes.

It is crucial to understand the importance of private health insurance. Many people do not cut corners on car or home insurance, but do not always understand the danger they expose themselves to without adequate health insurance.

For any additional information, please contact me directly at 054 307 0916 or by filling in the form below.

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