The Health Insurance Reform and the Uniform Basic Tier: What Changed
The health insurance reform changed the structure of the market, aiming to enable comparison, increase competition, and reduce redundant double insurance. In this article: what the uniform basic policy is, how the tier structure is built, and what it means for you in practice.
The uniform basic policy
At the heart of the reform is a uniform basic health policy — a coverage structure that’s identical across all companies. The basic tier includes coverage for transplants and special treatments abroad, out-of-basket drugs, and surgery and surgery-alternative treatments abroad — that is, the most expensive catastrophic cases. The uniformity of definitions lets you compare companies mainly on price and service.
The tier structure
The reform defines a tier structure, where the first tier is the uniform basic policy, on top of which you can add further coverage (like surgery in Israel, ambulatory coverage, and more). The idea: every insured starts from a solid, uniform base and expands as needed and by budget — instead of complex packages that are hard to compare.
The ban on double insurance and what it means for you
One of the reform’s goals is reducing redundant double insurance — a situation where insureds pay twice for the same coverage without getting twice. For you, the practical meaning: it’s easier to compare policies, but it’s still important to check exactly what’s included in your tier and what you added on top. If you’re buying new insurance, it’s worth understanding the tier structure before adding coverage.
How Ravit can help
Which tier you have, exactly what’s included in it, and what additional coverage you added — are written in the policy terms. Send Ravit the documents on WhatsApp, ask in plain language, and get a policy-based answer with a clause reference — and honesty when something needs to be checked with the company or a licensed professional.
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.
Frequently asked questions
What does the health insurance reform include?
The reform defines a new market structure, at whose base is a uniform basic health policy across all companies, a tier structure, and a goal of reducing redundant double insurance. The aim is to enable comparison between policies, increase competition, and focus it on price and service.
What does the uniform basic tier include?
The basic tier includes coverage for transplants and special treatments abroad, drugs not in the health basket, and surgery and surgery-alternative treatments abroad — that is, the most expensive insured events not included in the National Health Insurance Law.
How is the tier structure built?
The first tier is the uniform basic policy, on top of which you can add further coverage such as surgery in Israel and ambulatory coverage. The idea is to start from a uniform, clear base and expand as needed and by budget.
How does the reform affect double insurance?
One of the reform’s goals is reducing redundant double insurance, where insureds pay twice for the same coverage without getting twice. The uniformity makes overlaps easier to identify, but it’s still important to check what’s included in your policy before adding coverage.
Want to check this against your own policy? Ravit answers usually within minutes, on WhatsApp.
Start talking to RavitMore details: www.ravit.ai · Free during the pilot, no commitment.