Israeli insurers are stepping up efforts to steer policyholders toward receiving care at home instead of heading to hospitals or emergency departments, with select firms providing cash incentives to support the change.

Nechama Goldwasser, who leads the Health Committee at the Israel Insurance Agents Bureau, noted at the group's yearly health event that companies are advancing this approach via payments, resulting in benefits for everyone involved.

Firms save on avoidable costs that can reach thousands of shekels per case, while clients gain quicker care in familiar surroundings plus partial refunds for services, Goldwasser explained.

Payments steer patients toward home treatment options

The approach once focused mainly on major operations, where firms urged use of health fund coverage in return for partial refunds on procedure fees.

Goldwasser pointed out that current tools and methods now support many services at home, such as heart monitoring, bone injury care, fever management, and similar needs, which also eases pressure on crowded emergency rooms and boosts overall care quality.

Bureau President Moshik Ben Porat added at the event that treatments once limited to hospitals are now reachable at home via new tech for clients.

"Agents now act as experts who prioritize client needs and arrange optimal care, making it essential for all to affiliate with the bureau to bolster their role," Ben Porat stated.

Insurance changes alter plans for many policyholders

Avi Ovadia, head of the Health and Long-Term Care Division at the Capital Market Authority, responded to a query from Health Committee director Shay Tener by noting that since reforms started roughly two years ago, about 500,000 clients have moved from basic policies to add-on plans that work with health fund services.

Ovadia confirmed clients still access all needed care under current plans and that the Finance Ministry plans rule updates to let firms restart sales of long-term care coverage.

He mentioned receiving reports of some agents switching clients between firms without full review of health records, which risks issues for those involved.

Yet he stressed such instances remain rare and that the majority of agents focus only on client welfare.