Digital Health Apps and Perks in Your Policy

Alongside standard medical coverage, private health policies and health-fund shaban (supplementary) plans now often include a digital layer too: health apps, remote medical consultations and tracking tools that can save time, travel and sometimes money. The common problem is that these perks almost never "pop up" on their own — you need to know they exist to use them. This article covers the common types of digital perks, explains where they usually sit — in the public basket, in shaban, or in private insurance — and how to confirm what exactly is included for you.

What counts as a "digital perk" in health insurance

The term "digital perk" covers a wide range of services, and not all of them exist in every policy. Common types include: your health fund's or insurer's app for scheduling appointments, viewing test results and renewing prescriptions; remote medical consultation services by video or phone; digital tools for tracking chronic indicators such as blood pressure or blood sugar; digital coaching programs for weight management or habits; and sometimes discounts or vouchers for external health apps (fitness, sleep, nutrition) offered as part of wellness perks in the policy. The exact scope, and whether a given service is included in the premium or requires an additional payment, are set by your specific policy or shaban terms.

Health-fund apps — what they usually include

All four health funds offer their own apps, through which you can usually schedule appointments, view test results, renew prescriptions and contact customer service. Some of these digital services belong to the basic public basket and are available to all members, while others — such as certain remote consultations or dedicated digital programs — are tied to the shaban plan and require membership in it. It is worth checking within your own health fund's app which services are shown as "included" and which are marked as requiring an extra payment or shaban membership.

Telemedicine and remote consultations: shaban vs. private insurance

Remote medical consultation — reaching a physician, often a specialist, by video or phone call without visiting a clinic — is one of the most common digital perks, and exists in different forms in both shaban and private health insurance. Availability, the number of consultations covered per year, and the list of participating medical fields vary between health funds and between policies, so it is worth checking against what is detailed under telemedicine coverage to see which terms actually apply to you. In some cases a remote consultation can also serve as a quick way to get an initial opinion before booking an in-person appointment.

Tools for managing chronic conditions and remote monitoring

For members with chronic conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure or heart disease, some health funds and insurers offer dedicated digital programs — for example, remote tracking of indicators, medication reminders, or support from a medical team through an app. Such programs are usually not automatic: they require a referral from a treating physician, advance registration, and sometimes dedicated equipment such as a connected blood-pressure monitor. They differ substantially from general wellness services, so it is worth asking your treating physician or your health fund's customer service whether a relevant program exists for your specific condition.

Related digital wellness perks

Beyond the medical services themselves, some policies and shaban plans include wellness perks connected to health more broadly — for example, a discount on a fitness, meditation or sleep app subscription, or a voucher for a remote nutrition consultation. Perks of this kind are usually considered part of the wellness perks in your policy, rather than medical coverage in the classic sense — meaning they are not necessarily tied to an insurance claim, but they can still be worth real money if you use them. They also tend to change relatively often, so it is worth checking them again periodically rather than relying on what was included in the past. Some of these digital programs also connect to periodic checkups — it is worth comparing against what is detailed under preventive checkup coverage.

How to find and activate these perks in practice

To avoid missing a digital perk you are already paying for, two sources are worth checking: the "my benefits" or "digital services" page in your health fund's or insurer's app or website, and the policy documents or shaban plan you received when you enrolled. Many digital perks are defined as a separate rider or service certificate — a general explanation of how such riders work can be found under policy riders explained. Sometimes the perk exists but requires separate registration or a one-time activation in the app, and is not turned on automatically when you join the insurance.

How Ravit can help

The answers relevant to you are in the policy itself. Send Ravit your policy documents on WhatsApp, ask in plain language, and get an answer based on your policy with a reference to the relevant clause — and when there’s no certainty, Ravit says so honestly instead of guessing.

The information in this article is general only and does not constitute medical, insurance, legal, or pension advice, and is not a substitute for reading your policy terms or consulting a licensed professional. Coverage, amounts, and conditions vary between policies and change over time — always verify against your own specific policy and an authorized professional.