The differences worth establishing between group long-term care cover through an Israeli health fund and a private policy, and how to locate every policy before filing a claim.
There may be more than one policy
A family may know about cover through the health fund and have no idea that a private policy was also bought years earlier. Before assuming what exists, gather certificates, statements and policy documents and check each one separately.
Har HaBituach can help locate insurance information, but the binding text is the policy document and the certificate that applies to the insured person.
What to compare between covers
There is no general answer as to which policy is better for a given claim. You have to compare the terms that actually apply.
- The definition of an LTC condition or of cognitive incapacity
- The insurance period and the date cover began
- The waiting period and the duration of payment
- The benefit amount or how it is calculated
- Exclusions, reservations and the instructions for filing a claim
Group cover through a health fund
Cover is provided under a group arrangement and its terms may be tied to the specific period and agreement. When filing, follow the current forms and instructions of the body that administers long-term care cover for that fund's members.
A private policy
Private policies may carry terms fixed at the time of joining. So do not infer anything about your cover from someone else's policy, even where the product name looks the same.
An efficient way to check
Build a simple table: company name, policy number if known, period of cover, the relevant definition, the form required and the current status. That makes duplicates, gaps and routes needing further checking visible.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better — cover through a health fund or a private policy?
There is no general answer. The comparison has to be made against the actual terms: the definition of an LTC condition, the waiting period, the duration of payment, how the benefit is calculated and the exclusions. Two covers with similar names can differ substantially.
Can we hold two long-term care policies at once?
Yes, and it happens often. Each cover then has to be checked separately and a claim filed according to each body's instructions. The terms governing multiple cover and how payment works are set in the policies themselves.
How do we find out which policies exist?
Check the personal area of the health fund and of the insurers, look through documents sent over the years, and search Har HaBituach, the registry of the Capital Market, Insurance and Savings Authority.
Can the terms of group cover through a fund change?
Group cover rests on an agreement that is renewed periodically, so terms may differ between periods. A private policy is generally fixed at the time of joining.
What do we check first when there is more than one cover?
Build a comparison table: the body, policy number, period of cover, the relevant definition, the waiting period and the form required. That shows which cover is the more favourable and what each route needs.
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.
