Switching Between Health Funds (Changing Your Kupat Cholim)
How to switch from one health fund to another in Israel — who can switch, how often, the online and in-person processes, what waiting period applies, and when supplementary insurance carries over. Governed by the National Insurance Institute (Bituach Leumi) and the National Health Insurance Law.
Time Estimate
~4 min read
Priority
Medium
Step-by-Step Instructions
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In brief
Every Israeli resident has the right to belong to one of the four kupot cholim (health funds): Clalit, Maccabi, Meuhedet, or Leumit. You can switch from one to another as long as you meet the timing rules below — the National Insurance Institute (Bituach Leumi) handles the transfer.
There is no fee to switch. The new fund cannot reject you — basic membership is guaranteed under the National Health Insurance Law.
Heads-up: supplementary insurance (bituach mashlim) does not automatically transfer. See the Important caveats section.
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How often you can switch
Under current rules, you can switch health funds:
- Up to twice in any 12-month period.
- After each switch request, a waiting period applies before the new fund's coverage starts (see When the switch takes effect below).
You cannot switch:
- During an active hospitalisation — wait until you're discharged.
- If you're enrolled in a specific multi-month treatment course the fund is currently paying for, in some cases (rare; check with Bituach Leumi).
- Repeatedly in quick succession beyond the two-per-year limit.
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How to switch
Two paths — the online one is the simplest:
1. Online via Bituach Leumi's personal area:
- Sign in to your Bituach Leumi personal account using your Teudat Zehut and password.
- Go to the Health Insurance section and select "Switch Health Fund" (Ma'avar Kupat Cholim).
- Choose the new fund and submit. You'll receive a confirmation with the effective date.
2. In person at an Israel Post branch:
- Take your Teudat Zehut to any Israel Post (Doar Yisrael) branch that processes Bituach Leumi services.
- Fill in the kupat cholim transfer form and pay the small handling fee to Israel Post (the transfer itself is free; only Israel Post's service fee applies).
- The post clerk submits the transfer to Bituach Leumi on your behalf.
Children: parents transfer minors as part of their own switch (or separately, if the parents stay put). Both parents' consent may be required if they belong to different funds.
No need to notify your current fund — Bituach Leumi handles the cancellation automatically on your behalf.
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When the switch takes effect
After Bituach Leumi processes your request, the switch takes effect on the 1st of the second month following the request, OR the 1st of the following month if you filed in the first half of the month. In practice:
- File in the first 15 days of the month → switch takes effect on the 1st of the next month.
- File in the second half of the month → switch takes effect on the 1st of the month after that.
During the waiting period, your old fund still covers you. Don't stop using your current kupah's services or pharmacies before the new fund's start date — you'll be billed privately if you do.
Your new kupah will send you a welcome packet, membership card, and instructions for selecting your new family doctor and home clinic.
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Important caveats — supplementary insurance and ongoing care
Supplementary insurance (bituach mashlim) does NOT transfer automatically.
Each kupah has its own supplementary plan. When you switch:
- You lose your previous fund's supplementary insurance.
- You automatically receive the basic supplementary plan from the new fund — but this isn't guaranteed for every benefit and may include a fresh waiting period for some treatments.
- If you're in the middle of a treatment funded by your old supplementary plan (e.g. dental work, fertility treatments, alternative medicine packages), check with both funds before switching. You may lose mid-treatment coverage.
Continuity of care:
- Ongoing prescriptions are honoured by the new fund — bring your prescription list.
- Chronic-illness registration carries over but may take a few weeks to appear in the new fund's system.
- Specialist referrals issued by your old fund expire when the switch takes effect — request fresh ones from your new family doctor.
Tip: for major ongoing treatments, time the switch to start after the current treatment course finishes.
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Useful resources
Switch online:
- Bituach Leumi personal area — Ma'avar Kupat Cholim
Switch in person:
- Israel Post branch locator — find your nearest branch
Phone helplines:
- Bituach Leumi: *6050
- Ministry of Health Kol HaBriut: *5400 — independent guidance on health-fund rights
The timing and process described here reflect current Bituach Leumi rules. Specific timing of when supplementary insurance starts at the new fund varies by treatment — always verify with the new fund's customer service before switching if you have an ongoing treatment.
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Related guides
Other guides in the Kupat Cholim (Health Fund) — member rights series:
Useful Hebrew Phrases
- ma'avar kupat cholim — Health fund transfer / switchמעבר קופת חולים
- kupat cholim — Health fund / HMOקופת חולים
- bituach mashlim — Supplementary insurance (kupah's own plan, doesn't auto-transfer)ביטוח משלים
- Bituach Leumi — National Insurance Institute (processes the transfer)ביטוח לאומי
- Doar Yisrael — Israel Post (where to file in person)דואר ישראל
- Teudat Zehut — Israeli identity card (required for the transfer)תעודת זהות
- tkufat hamtana — Waiting period (before new fund coverage starts)תקופת המתנה
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