How Much Do Israeli Households Really Spend on Health and Insurance?
Average Israeli households spend 1,551 NIS monthly on health expenses and health tax. The analysis covers supplemental insurance costs, co-pays, and medical spending.
An average Israeli household spends 967 NIS per month on health, according to the Household Expenditure Survey, while another 584 NIS is deducted from the paycheck as a health tax. Together, this amounts to 1,551 NIS per month, or about 18,600 NIS annually, even before any exceptional medical treatments.
Health Tax and Contribution Breakdown
The health tax rate is 3.23% on the first portion of the salary up to 7,703 NIS per month, and 5.17% on every shekel above it. Collection caps out at a salary of 51,910 NIS, setting the maximum monthly payment at 2,534 NIS. Starting in 2026, the transition bracket will be a fixed, index-linked amount rather than a percentage of the average wage.
"The combination of statutory health tax and voluntary supplemental insurances creates a landscape of overlapping coverages, where the same treatment is covered twice and paid for twice."
Supplemental Insurance and Out-of-Pocket Costs
An average household spends 364 NIS per month on health insurance, of which 216 NIS goes to health fund supplemental plans (Shaban), 125 NIS to private insurance, and 18 NIS to long-term care insurance. Dental treatments follow at 225 NIS per month, medications and medical equipment at 251 NIS, and health services at 127 NIS.
Prices vary significantly by age. A child's Clalit Platinum card costs 27 NIS per month, whereas a member aged 65 and older pays 156 NIS for the exact same card. Meanwhile, the Israeli public paid 17.9 billion NIS in private health insurance premiums over the year, with 7.4 million people—or 78.9% of health fund members—holding supplemental coverage.
