Everything you need to know — from free insurance, price comparison, essential extensions, to filing a claim.
Israeli health insurance is not valid abroad — a night in a US hospital can cost $10,000, and medical evacuation to Israel over $50,000. Most premium credit cards include basic free insurance, but it's often not enough. This guide covers how to choose a policy, essential extensions (pre-existing conditions, extreme sports, flight cancellation), and common mistakes.
Why Do You Need Travel Insurance?
Israeli health insurances (HMOs and supplementary insurances) are not valid outside Israel. In case of illness or accident abroad, all medical expenses are on you.
Examples of medical costs abroad — USA: hospital night $3,000–$10,000, C-section $30,000+, ICU $10,000/day. Europe: hospitalization €1,000–3,000/day, helicopter evacuation €30,000+. Medical flight to Israel: $50,000–$150,000.
Free Insurance — Credit Cards & Clubs
Before buying insurance, check if you already have free coverage. Credit cards that often include it: Visa Platinum/Signature/Infinite, Mastercard World/World Elite, Amex Gold/Platinum. Common condition: you must pay for the flight with the card to get coverage.
Other sources: cellular providers (Partner, Cellcom), bank premium clubs, HMOs and labor unions.
Note: credit card insurance is usually very basic — it doesn't cover extreme sports or pre-existing conditions and has lower coverage limits. Check what is covered and supplement if necessary.
Basic Coverage & Extensions
What does basic insurance cover? Medical expenses and hospitalization, prescription medications, medical evacuation (ambulance/helicopter), medical flight to Israel, emergency dental care.
Common extensions (extra cost): baggage coverage for loss/theft, trip cancellation (requires a 3-day waiting period), search and rescue (essential for treks).
Pre-existing medical condition — the basic policy does not cover worsening of a previous medical condition. If you have heart disease, diabetes, asthma, etc., you must buy this extension.
Extreme sports and skiing — activities like trekking, diving, water skiing, or dirt bikes require an extreme sports extension (~$0.5/day). Skiing and snowboarding require a separate winter sports extension (~$7/day).
Insurance Companies Comparison
Menora — average $1.75/day, cheapest price. Migdal — average $1.90/day, fast approval. Clal — average $2.00/day, broad medical coverage. AIG — average $2.50/day, fast claim payments. PassportCard — average $2.70/day, direct payment card to hospitals.
Prices refer to basic insurance without extensions for Europe (USA rates are 30%–50% higher).
How to Choose
Check exclusions and the coverage limit (recommend $1M+), check the deductible amount, ask whether there is direct payment to hospitals, and buy immediately when booking.
Common mistakes: buying after takeoff (invalid), not extending the policy on time, not reporting pre-existing conditions, lack of documentation (receipts).
How to File a Claim
1. During the event — call the emergency hotline, follow instructions, and document everything (receipts, reports).
2. Required documents — hospital summary, doctor's diagnosis, original receipts, and prescriptions.
3. After returning — fill out the official claim form online, attach documents. Processing takes 30–90 days.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is travel insurance mandatory? Legally, no — but highly recommended. Israeli health insurance is not valid abroad, and medical costs can reach hundreds of thousands of dollars.
When is the best time to buy travel insurance? Immediately upon booking your flight, so you're covered if you need to cancel. The cancellation extension requires a 3-day waiting period. You can buy up to 24h before the flight, but not after takeoff.
Is credit card insurance enough? Usually not — it's very basic, doesn't cover extreme sports or pre-existing conditions, and limits are low. Verify coverage and supplement if needed.
What if I have a chronic illness? You must purchase a pre-existing condition extension. Without it, any worsening of your condition will not be covered. It costs a few dollars a day and is worth every penny.
What's the difference between insurance companies? Mainly: coverage limits, deductible amount, claim service, and whether there is direct payment to hospitals (like PassportCard) or you pay and wait for reimbursement.