Back to school: The insurance issue that not all parents are aware of
The coverage does not end at the school gate. Personal accident insurance for students, provided as part of parental payments, may also apply when a child is injured at home, at an extracurricular activity, or on vacation.
A child breaks their arm in the afternoon in the garden, gets injured at an extracurricular activity, or falls at home during the holidays. In such cases, many parents check their HMO and private insurance, but do not always remember that the child also has personal accident insurance for students — insurance that is not limited to school hours or accidents that occurred at school.
According to the Compulsory Education Law, a student entitled to free education is insured with personal accident insurance through the local education authority where their educational institution is located. In the 2026/27 school year, the mandatory payment for insurance stands at 69 shekels per student. In the current national tender, the company "Ayalon" won, and the engagement with it is supposed to continue until August 2028.
One of the key points that parents are not always aware of is the scope of the coverage. The policy applies, subject to its terms and exclusions, 24 hours a day and all year round. Therefore, it is not necessary for the accident to occur during a lesson, during a break, or on an annual trip. An injury at home, at an extracurricular activity, or during private activity may also fall within the scope of the policy. The coverage continues during vacations as well, including the summer vacation. The school administration is supposed to provide parents with the insurance policy and the disclosure form, and they can also be transferred digitally. Among the many documents sent at the beginning of the year, this is a document worth keeping.
The method of examining the claim is different from a regular tort claim. When a claim is filed under personal accident insurance for students, there is no need to prove that the school, the local authority, or another person was negligent and caused the accident. Eligibility is examined according to the terms of the policy and the damage caused as a result of the accident, and not according to the question of who is to blame for it. The Ministry of Education even clarifies that for the purpose of a claim under the policy, there is no need to present an accident report or prove who is responsible for the accident.
The policy does not grant a fixed amount for every injury. It includes coverage for various cases, including permanent disability (full or partial), temporary disability under conditions set in the policy, certain medical expenses not covered under the National Health Insurance Law, and rescue expenses. In the case of temporary disability, for example, at least 55 consecutive days of temporary disability are required. Therefore, a fracture or injury does not necessarily lead to compensation, and the duration of the injury, its results, and the specific insurance conditions must be examined.
After an accident, it is worth keeping medical documentation, including documents from the emergency room or medical center, tests, referrals, and certificates attesting to the recovery period and the limitations caused to the child. When the damage persists, documentation over time may be significant for the purpose of examining eligibility under the policy.
In cases where the accident was caused due to negligence, the student may also have a tort claim alongside the claim under student insurance. Thus, for example, when the injury is related to a safety hazard, poor supervision, or unreasonable conduct by a party responsible for the student. The identity of the defendant depends on the circumstances and can be the state, the local authority, the ownership of the educational institution, or another party. These are two separate tracks that can, in appropriate cases, be exercised in parallel. The compensation under student insurance is limited to the benefits set in the policy, while in a tort claim, one can claim compensation in accordance with the full damage proven, and therefore the compensation amount may be higher. Therefore, it is worth examining not only the eligibility under student insurance but also the circumstances of the accident and the possibility that there is liability of another party.
