A visa holder must reside in Israel for 183 days before becoming eligible to apply for Bituach Leumi. Once accepted, Bituach Leumi retroactively recognizes their membership from the time they received their student (or A1) visas – up to one year back. Members must pay dues for that period (see our guide on Paying Bituach Leumi) and they may be eligible for a refund on either kupat cholim or private insurance membership fees and certain medical expenses incurred during that time.
Refund of Kupat Cholim and Private Insurance Premiums
Once accepted to Bituach Leumi, one must join a kupat cholim of their choice. The basic kupat cholim premiums will be paid by Bituach Leumi. (Supplementary coverage – such as Meuchedet Adif, Meuhedet C, Macabbi Zahav or Maccabi Sheli – must still be paid for privately.)
Because Bituach Leumi membership is retroactive, Bituach Leumi will reimburse 123 NIS per month for basic premiums paid – either to a kupat cholim or to a private Israel-based insurance company – from the date one was retroactively recognized as a member.
Note
This refund is given to both husband and wife, but not to children under 18. Each spouse must apply separately.
Refunds of kupat cholim/private insurance payments are processed by an office under the auspices of Bituach Leumi.
Applications should be submitted online here.
Upload the following documents:
- Receipts of kupat cholim/private insurance payments
Tip
Kupah receipts are obtainable from the local branch. It is not a problem if the receipt includes other fees paid to the kupah.
- Proof of a bank account in the applicant’s name (e.g., a void check, bank statement, or a letter from the bank titled ishur nihul cheshbon)
Note
It can take as long as six months to receive the refund.
Refund of Select Medical Expenses
Bituach Leumi may also reimburse medical expenses that would typically be covered by the kupah had the person been a member of Bituach Leumi at the time. This is provided that:
- The expenses were incurred during the retroactive period of coverage
- The individual was a member of kupat cholim or private Israel-based insurance at that time
These claims are reviewed by a joint committee of the Ministry of Health and Bituach Leumi.
Applications should be submitted online using the electronic tool on the gov.il website.
Alternatively, one may print and fill out the form by hand, then submit it – along with accompanying documentation – by mail or by fax. However, it is strongly recommended to apply online.
Note
Claims take over a year – and in some cases up to 2 years – to be processed and reimbursed, due to the involvement of multiple offices.
More than one expense may be included per application, but a separate form must be submitted for each family member.
Required Documents:
- All relevant supporting documents, including:
- Hospital receipts – must contain קוד משרד הבריאות or קוד משה”ב
- A detailed list of services provided
- A copy of the applicant’s Bituach Leumi acceptance letter confirming they were recognized as a toshav Yisrael (resident) on a date before the date of the medical expense. Upload this on the final page of the form, where there is an option to add additional documentation.
Once submitted, the applicant will receive an email confirmation.
Tip
Save the original documents for future reference.
For follow-up inquiries regarding claims:
Phone: *5400 ext. 5
Email: kvilot@moh.health.gov.il
Fax: 02-5655981
For more information on the process, see here.
