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The Israeli rehabilitation system — who is responsible for what
In Israel the question "who pays and who is responsible" is decided by the circumstances of the injury: medical rehabilitation is provided through the health funds within the health basket; benefits and vocational rehabilitation — through the National Insurance Institute; IDF disabled veterans — through the Ministry of Defense Rehabilitation Division; and road accident victims — through compulsory motor insurance.
Why it matters in the exam
The State Health Insurance Law (1994) makes every resident insured with a health fund, and the health basket includes medical rehabilitation in hospital and in the community — physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy and rehabilitation psychology according to the basket. The Ministry of Health supervises, is responsible for part of long-term nursing hospitalisation and participates in funding rehabilitation and mobility devices. Rehabilitation departments operate in general hospitals and in dedicated rehabilitation centres, and the transfer from acute care to rehabilitation is made by referral and health fund approval.
The National Insurance Institute (under the National Insurance Law) pays a general disability pension according to the medical disability percentage and the degree of incapacity to earn set by medical committees; work injury benefits (injury allowance and work disability pension); a long-term care benefit for people of retirement age who depend on help with daily activities and live at home; a mobility benefit for people with leg-related mobility limitation; a disabled child benefit; and a special services allowance. It also runs vocational rehabilitation (training and job placement) and handles victims of hostile action. Disability percentages are set according to a list of impairments in regulations.
The Ministry of Defense Rehabilitation Division handles IDF disabled veterans under the Disabled Persons (Pensions and Rehabilitation) Law of 1959 — medical care, rehabilitation, benefits and lifelong support. Road accident victims are compensated under the Road Accident Victims Compensation Law (1975) without the need to prove fault, through compulsory insurance. The Equal Rights for Persons with Disabilities Law (1998) requires accessibility and anchors inclusion and participation. The Ministry of Welfare provides community services (day programmes and housing), and the Rehabilitation of Persons with Mental Disabilities in the Community Law (2000) anchors a "rehabilitation basket" for people with psychiatric disability. Fitness to drive after an injury is assessed at the Medical Institute for Road Safety, and volunteer organisations lend equipment.
Key points
- Medical rehabilitation — health funds per the basket.
- Benefits and vocational rehabilitation — National Insurance.
- IDF disabled veterans — Ministry of Defense Rehabilitation Division.
- Road accidents — compulsory insurance, no fault.
- Accessibility and equality — the 1998 law.
Summary table
| Body | Responsible for | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Health funds (State Health Insurance Law) | Medical rehabilitation in hospital and community per the basket | Inpatient rehabilitation after stroke or hip fracture |
| Ministry of Health | Supervision, part of long-term nursing care, participation in rehabilitation and mobility devices | A partly funded wheelchair |
| National Insurance Institute | Disability, work injury, long-term care and mobility benefits, vocational rehabilitation | A medical committee setting disability percentage |
| Rehabilitation Division, Ministry of Defense | IDF disabled veterans — care, rehabilitation and benefits | A soldier injured in service |
| Compulsory motor insurance | Compensation for road accident victims without proof of fault | A pedestrian hit by a car |
| Ministry of Welfare | Community services, day programmes and housing | A day programme for a person with disability |
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Sources
- State Health Insurance Law (Israel), 1994, consolidated version — Health services basket and the role of the health funds
- National Insurance Law (Israel), 1995, consolidated version — General disability, work injury, long-term care, mobility and vocational rehabilitation
- Disabled Persons (Pensions and Rehabilitation) Law (Israel), 1959, consolidated version — Rehabilitation of IDF disabled veterans by the Ministry of Defense
- Equal Rights for Persons with Disabilities Law (Israel), 1998, consolidated version — Accessibility and equal participation
Sources are given for further reading; the text is written afresh and not copied from them.
Reviewed by the Examqo AI Professor · 2026-11-06. The text may contain errors; when in doubt, check the source.