A practical guide to filing a long-term care insurance claim with Harel: locating the cover, preparing documents, the functional assessment and tracking the decision.
Before approaching Harel
The first step is to establish which policy applies to the insured person. It may be a private policy, an older policy or group cover. Do not draw conclusions about your own case from someone else's policy terms.
Gather the policy number, the date cover began and any document explaining the insurance definition of an LTC condition or of mental frailty.
Documents and filing
Harel's official claims page offers an online filing route, forms and a way to check status. Before uploading, make sure the form is complete, that signatures are in the right places and that every file is legible.
- A current claim form
- Relevant medical and functional records
- A confidentiality waiver as instructed
- Account details and identifying information through the official channel only
- Contact details for someone who knows daily function at home
What happens after the file is received
Harel may request further documents or refer the insured person for a functional assessment. Keep confirmation of every submission and compare each request against what has already been sent, to avoid duplication and gaps.
When a decision arrives, read all the grounds and all the dates. An approval, a partial approval and a refusal each call for a different examination.
The definition of an LTC condition in Harel policies
As in most policies on the market, the definition at Harel generally rests on two routes: a functional route examining an inability to perform a number of the six daily activities, and a mental frailty route examining the need for supervision because of cognitive decline.
The exact wording — how many activities are required, what counts as "unable to perform" and how mental frailty is defined — varies between products and between periods. An older policy may be worded differently from one sold in recent years, and sometimes on more favourable terms.
So the step that precedes gathering any documents is obtaining the policy wording itself and reading the definitions clause. The functional description you submit needs to address precisely the areas the definition covers.
The waiting period and the date the condition began
Long-term care policies generally include a waiting period — a span of time from the moment the LTC condition exists until the benefit begins to be paid. Its length is set in the policy and varies between products.
The practical meaning is that the date the condition began matters no less than the date of filing. A medical document created at the time, describing the functional difficulty, is worth far more than a memory reconstructed after the event, so it is worth gathering documentation from the relevant period rather than only current records.
How Pele Yoetz helps
The guidance focuses on organising the material, presenting function factually and following up on requests and decisions. There is no way to promise approval or a timeline, and the specific policy is the binding document.
Frequently asked questions
How do you file a long-term care claim with Harel?
Locate the policy and its number, download the current claim form from Harel's official claims page, attach medical records and a functional description, and file through the channel set out in the instructions. Keep proof of delivery and a claim number.
Which documents are needed for a Harel long-term care claim?
Usually a completed and signed claim form, current medical records, a confidentiality waiver as instructed, a factual description of the help needed day to day, and authorisation documents if a family member is acting for the insured person.
How long does it take to get an answer from Harel?
There is no uniform period. It depends on how complete the documents are, whether further material or a functional assessment is needed, and the company's procedures. Answering requests promptly reduces delay.
What do we do if a Harel long-term care claim is refused?
Read the refusal letter in full, identify the precise ground and the deadline for a further approach, and compare it against the policy and the material submitted. Only then decide whether to complete documents, request a review or appeal.
How do we find out whether a Harel policy exists?
Check the company's personal area, documents sent over the years, and the Har HaBituach registry of the Capital Market, Insurance and Savings Authority, which helps locate insurance information.
Official sources for further checking
This is general information and does not replace personal medical, legal or insurance advice. Eligibility is determined by the documents and rules that apply to each case.
