Family members of returned hostages may be eligible for support in medical matters.
To apply for support, please contact us:
- By email at mshavim@nioi.gov.il
- By phone or WhatsApp 050-628-6046
from Sunday through Thursday, between 8:00 and 16:00
Complementary (alternative) medicine
Parents, spouses, siblings and children of returned hostages are eligible for a funding participation in the following complementary medicine treatments:
Osteopathy, acupuncture, biofeedback, hypnosis, holistic weight loss, homotaxology, tuina, chiropractic, naturopathy, medical massage, Feldenkrais, Bach flowers, Chinese medicine, reflexology, Shiatsu, Alexander method, Paula method.
Participation amount
Up to 20 treatments per year as follows: up to NIS 162 per treatment, and NIS 3,240 per year.
To receive this assistance, you must submit:
An original invoice mentioning patient's name and ID, and a copy of the therapist's certificates if the therapist's occupation is not indicated on the invoice.
Medical consultation
Parents, spouses, siblings and children of returned hostages - who suffer from a chronic illness or require surgical intervention - are entitled to funding of a medical consultation with a specialist, once a year, for illnesses that require prolonged medical treatment or surgery.
The assistance can be used for one or more consultations.
Amount of funding
Represents the difference between the cost of the consultation and the amount of reimbursement from the health maintenance organization (HMO) or another entity, up to a maximum of NIS 979 per year.
To receive this assistance, you must submit:
- An original invoice for the payment.
- Confirmation from the HMO or another entity regarding the funding they have covered. If funding is not provided by another entity - a declaration must be signed.
Private surgery
Parents, spouses, siblings and children of returned hostages are entitled to private surgery funding (excluding cosmetic surgery).
Funding is provided for one or more surgeries, provided that the cost does not exceed the maximum assistance provided per year.
In the case of spouses who are both eligible, for example, parents of a returned hostage - each one can receive a full benefit separately.
To receive this assistance, you must submit:
A request within one year of the date of the surgery (reimbursement for surgery cannot be approved if a year has passed) and attach the following documents:
Amount of reimbursement:
Up to NIS 16,784 after deducting a deductible of NIS 2,806, and deducting payments received from supplementary insurance, if any.
Trips for medical treatment
Parents, spouses, siblings and children of returned hostages who, for medical reasons, cannot use public transportation, and have not exercised their entitlement to a vehicle for personal use - are entitled to participation in traveling expenses of by taxi or ambulance for medical treatment or for examination at a hospital or a specialist clinic.
- The number of approved trips is up to 10 per month (or 5 round trips).
- There is no limit to the number of trips for chemotherapy or dialysis.
- No assistance will be provided for travel to visit a family doctor or dental care.
To receive this participation, the following must be submitted:
- A certificate from a HMO doctor stating that the applicant cannot travel by public transportation due to his age and/or medical reasons (eligible persons over the age of 75 do not need to present this certificate).
- A certificate of the date and location of the medical treatment.
- Original invoices
Amount of reimbursement:
Up to NIS 61 for a city trip or NIS 122 for an intercity trip in each direction.
Medical devices
Parents, spouses, siblings and children of returned hostages - are eligible to participate in the purchase or rental of medical devices, in accordance with the list approved (in Hebrew) by the Rehabilitation Division and as a supplement to eligibility from supplementary insurance or the Ministry of Health.
To receive this assistance, the following must be submitted:
- A doctor's certificate regarding the need for the device
- A certificate from the Ministry of Health/HMO - Supplementary insurance on the amount of their participation
- An original invoice for the actual payment.
- For devices not on the list, a Medical Device Accessory (MDA) certificate must be provided from the supplier, in accordance with the Ministry of Health's registry.
Amount of reimbursement:
- For devices included in the list - up to NIS 10,855, less a deductible of NIS 352.
- For devices not included in the list - up to NIS 4,341, less a deductible of NIS 686.
- For medical device rental - up to NIS 576, less a deductible of NIS 61.
Medicines
Parents, spouses, siblings and children of returned hostages are eligible for assistance in financing medications for chronic and non-chronic illnesses.
Assistance will only be provided for a medication that is registered as a medication in the Pharmacists' Regulations - Ministry of Health.
Assistance does not include vitamins and food supplements, with the exception of vitamins that are registered as a medication (in Hebrew) in the Pharmacists' Regulations - Ministry of Health.
The claim will be examined by a qualified medical officer of the National Insurance Institute.
To receive this assistance, you must submit:
- A medication dispensing report that includes the names of the medications and the prices of the medications for at least three months.
- A medical certificate detailing the list of the eligible person's regular medications and the monthly dosage of each medication.
- Original receipts for purchases from a HMO pharmacy or a pharmacy under a payment arrangement with the HMO.
- If there is a medication that is not sold in the HMO pharmacy - a certificate from the HMO must be attached confirming that it does not fund that specific medication.
Amount of reimbursement:
- For medications used irregularly for non-chronic diseases - you can receive a refund for any medication that costs above NIS 26 per package.
- The claim must be renewed every year.
- For a single medication that costs more than NIS 400 - the certificate must be renewed every three months.
Absorbent products for adults
Parents, spouses, siblings and children of returned hostages - who consume absorbent products and pads due to incontinence, are eligible for a participation in financing those products.
To receive this assistance, you must submit:
- Medical certificate.
- Original invoice for payment (no later than one year from the date of purchase).
Amount of reimbursement:
Up to NIS 381 per month.
Orthopedic shoes
Parents, spouses, siblings and children of returned hostages - who need orthopedic shoes, manufactured in a special institute for orthopedic devices, are eligible for assistance upon recommendation of a specialist. The claim will be reviewed by a qualified medical officer of the National Insurance Institute.
To receive this assistance, you must submit:
A doctor's recommendation and a price quote.
Amount of reimbursement:
Up to NIS 1,482 per year, after subtracting a deductible of NIS 365.
Recovery after hospitalization
Parents, spouses, siblings and children of returned hostages - who have undergone hospitalization of at least 4 nights in a hospital, chemotherapy treatments or radiation therapy - are entitled to a participation in funding their stay in a hotel in Israel for a period of up to 7 days.
Assistance will be provided once per calendar year.
This benefit can be used up to two months after the end of hospitalization.
To receive this assistance, you must submit:
Reimbursement amount:
Up to NIS 471 per day (and after exhausting the entitlement from the HMO or supplementary insurance), up to a maximum of NIS 3,299 per calendar year.
In cases of supplementary insurance participation - the assistance will not exceed the difference between the actual payment and the insurance participation.
For those who are also recognized as disabled in hostile actions, the increment for help from others will be offset in the monthly compensation they receive.
Vision lenses
The assistance is intended for parents, spouses, siblings, children of returned hostages, who need eyeglass corrective lenses (excluding multifocals) as a result of a chronic eye disease or after surgery.
In the case of surgery - this benefit can be realized within a period of up to 6 months from the date of surgery.
To receive this assistance, you must submit:
- A certificate from an ophthalmologist indicating the need as a result of an eye disease or surgery (regarding first financing)
- In the case of lenses replacement, a doctor's certificate of need for replacement
- A certificate of supplementary insurance on participation or non-participation in the expense
- An original invoice for payment.
Refund amount:
NIS 839 per year or NIS 1,400 for two years.
Telescopic or microscopic lenses
Assistance is provided to parents, spouses, siblings, children of returned hostages, who need telescopic or microscopic lenses, and they hold a certificate of blindness or have a visual impairment, and have a recommendation for these lenses from the Low Vision Rehabilitation Institute.
The funding covers the difference between the participation of the Ministry of Social Affairs and the Center for the Blind, and provided that the lenses were purchased at the Low Vision Rehabilitation Institute or at a place to which the family member was referred through the Institute.
To receive this assistance, the following must be submitted:
- A copy of the certificate of blindness or visual impairment
- A recommendation from the Low Vision Rehabilitation Institute
- A confirmation of participation in the financing of the lenses by the Center for the Blind.
- Original invoice for payment
Amount of reimbursement:
The full difference between the assistance provided by the Ministry of Social Affairs or the Center for the Blind.
Panic button
Assistance is provided to family members suffering from chronic illnesses: individuals aged 65 and over or a couple of parents aged 70 and over.
Under the age of 65, a doctor's certificate must be submitted indicating a chronic illness and the need for a panic button.
To receive this assistance, the following must be submitted:
- Original receipt or standing order in the name of the eligible person (depending on the method of payment).
- Under the age of 65 - medical certificate of chronic illnesses and the need for a panic button.
Amount of reimbursement:
Up to NIS 468 per year or NIS 44 per month and for a period of up to 24 months.
Subscription to cardio-beeper and cardiac monitoring center services
Parents, spouses, siblings, and children of returned hostages who suffer from heart problems - are eligible for a funding participation in subscription to a company that provides cardio-beeper, cardiac monitoring center, and mobile intensive care services.
Subscriptions cannot be financed for those staying in a nursing home funded by the National Insurance.
To receive this assistance, you must submit:
- Cardiologist's confirmation of the need for this service.
- Original invoice for payment.
Refund amount:
- Individual: NIS 174
- Couple: NIS 254
Dental care
Assistance is provided to parents, spouses, siblings, and children of returned hostages and who need dental care.
To receive this assistance, you must submit:
A detailed treatment plan that includes: the number of teeth requiring treatment, the type of treatment required, and the cost of each part of the treatment plan.
The plan must include the name of the attending physician and the license number.
Reimbursement amount:
Up to 50% of the cost of treatment
Psychogeriatric diagnosis
One-time assistance intended for family members over the age of 65
To receive the benefit, you must submit: Original receipt for payment
Reimbursement amount:
Up to NIS 1,410
Mobility scooter
The assistance is intended for parents, spouses, siblings, and children of returned hostages who need a mobility scooter.
The scooter serves as an alternative to a vehicle and is provided only if entitlement to a car for personal use has not been realized.
Those staying in a nursing home are not eligible for this benefit.
If both spouses need and are eligible for a scooter - you can choose between purchasing two single scooters or one double scooter.
To receive the assistance, you must submit: Medical certificate indicating the need for a scooter.
Reimbursement amount:
- Per mobility scooter for couples: NIS 18,739
- Per mobility scooter for an individual: NIS 13,177 .
Fertility treatments or surrogacy
Assistance is provided to parents, spouses, siblings, and children of returned hostages who need help in financing treatments or a series of fertility treatments.
Before submitting the application for reimbursement, it is necessary to ensure that the eligibility has been realized with the HMO and the supplementary insurance.
To receive this assistance, the following must be submitted:
Reimbursement amount:
Up to NIS 27,892