The experts are warning that if Health Minister Yaakov Litzman continues implementing his healthcare reforms, the lines for care will get longer and longer while healthcare costs will skyrocket. The Knesset is expected to pass a part of the Arrangements Law which will result in a sharp increase in the cost of private medical care in Israel, warning this will impact about 80% of Israelis who are insured. This refers to the supplemental healthcare insurance sold to Israelis by the nation’s kupot cholim (HMOs). These additional services are regarded as private healthcare. Each of the kupat cholim organizations operating in Israel offer multi-tiered packages with the more expensive ones offering a more comprehensive healthcare package.

The approval in Knesset is likely to come as soon as this week and this will result in a 9% tax on the supplemental insurance on a sliding scale. This means the more one pays for additional healthcare the higher the tax will be. Litzman is hoping to compel HMOs to shut down the private healthcare by removing services that are sold as premium services and include them in the general health basket. A kupot cholim that complies will receive financial incentives for Litzman feels the healthcare should be all-inclusive in the basic kupat cholim plan without having to pay for additional private HMO supplements. Litzman is concerned that those citizens unable to pay for the premium plans are being deprived of basic healthcare as a growing number of services are now listed as a premium service for those paying additional fees.

Litzman is adamantly opposed to the premium services, insisting each kupat cholim should include healthcare services in the standard package and they should not be charging additional fees for what they are entitled to for the basic monthly fee.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)