The United States and Israel face many of the same health care challenges, from prescription drug costs to quality of geriatric care services. Both nations can learn a great deal from each other when it comes to healthcare delivery; with Israel’s universal healthcare system, transparency, and national service basket providing America a roadmap towards creating more sustainable models of healthcare delivery.
Israel’s universal health care system is built upon the principle that all citizens have an entitlement to basic healthcare services. To fund it, an earmarked income tax contribution is divided among four public health insurers known collectively as Kupat Cholim.
Each Kupat Cholim offers the standard Health Basket and Medicine Basket as mandated by law, while also offering unique basket options tailored specifically to that plan. Coverage levels differ between plans as do their co-payment costs.
Kupat Cholim plans provide basic services, as well as subsidizing alternative therapies like acupuncture and reflexology, dental care, eyeglasses/contact lens purchases or contribute towards eyewear costs; the costs for additional services typically range between $60 to $90 depending on plan selection. Furthermore, there is also access to specialty providers including obstetricians and orthopedists for added support.
Israelis enjoy one of the highest life expectancies worldwide, yet Israel continues to face significant challenges: costs are growing faster than economic expansion and national health service basket doesn’t cover some high-cost treatments like heart valve replacement surgery; to address this situation, government efforts include introducing new technologies and cutting costs in areas like pharmaceuticals that fall outside its purview.
Another challenge facing patients in Israel is its national system, which only reimburses doctors and hospitals for certain medical procedures without giving patients the option of selecting their preferred provider – something many find extremely frustrating. Finally, while Israel generally ranks highly on international comparisons lists, there remain significant reservations over both geriatric care quality and its cost as specialties services are concerned about in particular.
Though Israel’s healthcare system faces unique challenges, its model provides important lessons for American policymakers and advocates. Israel’s experience with universal healthcare could serve as an inspiration to create similar options in America if states took greater control of their own healthcare provision and developed systems of complementary private and public insurance options.
Before leaving home for Israel, visitors must secure additional travel medical insurance. Friends and family may recommend doctors who speak their native tongue; hotels or the embassy of the nation may provide information about available health care options in their vicinity; furthermore many Kupat Cholim (communal services organizations) offer special programs for nonresidents that operate similarly to what Israeli citizens receive; these plans often charge monthly fees comparable to some travel medical plans.