Advanced Medical Technologies & Devices in Private Cover

Modern medicine now offers advanced treatments and devices that were once rare or very expensive — hyperbaric therapy, pain-treatment technologies, implants and sophisticated assistive devices. Some of these are not fully covered by the public health basket or by the funds' supplementary plans (Shaban), so private health policies often offer dedicated coverage for this area. In this guide we explain in plain language what coverage for advanced technologies and medical devices typically includes, what a "service certificate" is, and how the reimbursement mechanism works — as general information only, not advice or a guarantee of coverage.

What advanced-technology and device coverage includes

Coverage for advanced medical technologies and devices is designed to reimburse costs for advanced treatments and for expensive devices, in Israel and sometimes abroad. Commonly cited examples include hyperbaric (pressure chamber) therapy, pain-treatment technologies, and high-cost implants or assistive devices. The core idea is to enable access to treatments that have developed beyond what the public system fully covers.

It's important to understand that this area differs from other coverages such as private surgery in Israel or out-of-basket drugs. Each coverage answers a different need, and they sometimes complement one another within the same insurance package.

Why it's needed — the gap versus the public basket

Private health insurance exists to fill gaps that the public basket and the funds' supplementary (Shaban) plans do not always fully answer. New technologies enter the public basket at a limited pace, and certain devices are not funded, or are only partially funded.

This is where private coverage comes in: subject to its terms, it allows you to receive reimbursement for a treatment or device you would otherwise pay for out of pocket. This is especially relevant when the costs are high and hard to fund in one payment.

What a service certificate is (added coverage)

A "service certificate" is an add-on or extension to the base policy that provides additional coverage for specific services or treatments. Policies can be bought individually, or as a bundle to which various service certificates are attached to broaden the protection.

The practical meaning: coverage for advanced technologies may appear as a separate service certificate, and not necessarily as part of the "regular" policy. So when checking what is covered, it's worth reviewing the attached service certificates and not only the base page. Similar extensions exist, for example, in oncology coverage and a second medical opinion.

How reimbursement works — percentages, ceilings, prior approval

The common structure in this type of coverage is reimbursement of a high percentage of the cost — for example around 90% of the expense — up to a defined ceiling, such as up to about 100,000 ₪. These figures are only a typical example; the exact percentage, the ceiling amount, and whether a deductible applies vary from policy to policy.

In addition, conditions usually apply: prior approval from the insurer is typically required before the treatment or purchase, and the treatment or device generally must be recognized or approved and appear on the policy's inclusion list. A technology not on the list may not be covered, even if it is advanced.

What to check in your own policy

Before relying on coverage, it's worth checking a few key points in your policy documents: the reimbursement percentage, the ceiling, whether there is a deductible, whether the treatment or device appears on the inclusion list, and whether prior approval is required. It's also worth checking whether the coverage applies abroad, a point relevant also to surgery abroad.

If the information is unclear or the evidence in the policy is weak, it's better to treat it as uncertainty and verify with the insurer before undergoing treatment — rather than assuming everything is covered.

How Ravit can help

Ravit reads your personal policy documents that you send her on WhatsApp, and answers in free language based on what is written in your specific policy — including a pointer to the relevant clause so you can verify it yourself. When the information is ambiguous or missing, Ravit says so honestly instead of guessing, and recommends checking with your insurer.

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.