National Insurance Institute Dramatically Increases Grants: Who Is Eligible for Reimbursement

The National Insurance Institute's expenditure on reimbursements for the purchase of medical cannabis for work-related injury victims and victims of hostile acts reached approximately 140.6 million shekels in 2025. This is a significant increase compared to previous years: in 2021, expenditure stood at approximately 57.3 million shekels, and in 2024, it reached approximately 127.2 million shekels. The data was obtained following a freedom of information request.

According to a report in Cannabis Magazine, in 2024, 9,175 work-related injury victims received a reimbursement for medical cannabis, at a total cost of 122.98 million shekels. The average reimbursement amounted to 13,404 shekels per year per patient, or about 1,117 shekels per month. For comparison, in 2021, the number of eligible individuals stood at 4,346, with expenditure at 55.3 million shekels and an average reimbursement of about 12,700 shekels per patient.

The data indicates that the growth in expenditure is primarily related to the increase in the number of eligible individuals. The number of work-related injury victims receiving reimbursement more than doubled within three years, while the average reimbursement per patient rose at a more moderate rate.

A particularly sharp change was recorded among victims of hostile acts. In September 2023, the month preceding the outbreak of the war, 153 victims of hostile acts received a monthly reimbursement for medical cannabis, at a cost of 195,000 shekels.

In December 2025, the number of recipients reached 735, and the monthly cost hit 840,000 shekels. In other words, within 27 months, the number of recipients grew 4.8 times, and expenditure increased 4.3 times. December 2025 was the peak month in the series, which begins in January 2020.

On an annual basis, expenses for this population also increased: from 2.53 million shekels in 2023 to 4.21 million shekels in 2024 and 7.88 million shekels in 2025. In the first five months of 2026, 3.42 million shekels have already been paid.

Who can receive a reimbursement for medical cannabis?

Reimbursement is not granted automatically to everyone who holds a license. The National Insurance Institute website states that a work-related injury victim may be eligible, under certain conditions, for partial or full reimbursement through their health maintenance organization (HMO) and in accordance with Ministry of Health criteria. Eligibility does not depend on whether the victim has been determined to have a medical disability rating.

To examine eligibility, a valid license for medical cannabis, a recommendation from a physician authorized by the Ministry of Health, and a recommendation from a treating physician at the HMO with expertise in the relevant medical field are required. If a claim for work-related disability has been filed, the medical committee's protocol must also be attached. The application is examined by the HMO service physician, who checks if the need for cannabis stems from the recognized work-related injury.

After confirming eligibility, reimbursement can be received through the HMO upon presentation of the required documents, receipts, and prescriptions. The eligibility period is tied to the validity of the license, and changes in approved funding may require re-examination. In the event of a rejection, an appeal can be submitted to the work-related injury department at the local branch.

Victims of hostile acts may also receive funding, provided they have a valid license and medical indications from the Ministry of Health, and the treatment is for an injury recognized as a result of a hostile act. Reimbursements are carried out in accordance with the type and dosage on the license, following proof of supply and payment.

The data provided does not include IDF and security forces disabled veterans, whose medical cannabis eligibility is handled through a separate track via the Ministry of Defense Rehabilitation Department.