Health fund deficit narrowed – and how will this affect you as insured members?

The Ministry of Health's 2025 report reveals a 44% reduction in the combined deficit of the health funds, from 346 million shekels to 194 million shekels. Alongside the improvement, the funds depend on government support of about 4.6 billion shekels, and hospitalization expenses continue to rise. The article examines what the data means for insured members, highlighting the gap between the financial improvement and questions about service quality.

The Ministry of Health's 2025 report, published today (Tuesday), points to a 44% reduction in the combined deficit of Israel's four health funds – from 346 million shekels in 2024 to 194 million shekels in 2025. However, government support received by the funds rose by about 491 million shekels and totaled 4.58 billion shekels. Excluding this support and one-time profits, the operating deficit stands at about 4.9 billion shekels. Clalit Health Services recorded a deficit of 364 million shekels, while Maccabi, Meuhedet and Leumit recorded surpluses. Clalit's hospitals ended with a deficit of 2.83 billion shekels. Hospitalization expenses rose by 3.5% and constitute 43% of the funds' total expenses. The cost of the health basket rose by 6.2% to 80.6 billion shekels. Ministry of Health Director-General Moshe Bar Siman Tov noted that the report indicates financial stabilization, but stressed the need to adapt the budget to demographic challenges. The article raises open questions about the quality of medical service, waiting times and gaps between the center and the periphery, which are not answered by the financial data.