A private specialist consultation in Israel is a visit to a senior physician outside the health-fund system, booked directly and usually available within days. No referral or Form 17 is required. You pay the center and receive an invoice and a medical summary; most supplementary health-fund plans (Shaban) and private insurance policies reimburse part or all of the fee under their terms. The consultation results in a written opinion and recommendations that your family doctor and health fund can act on.
How the Israeli system fits together
Every resident belongs to one of four health funds (kupot holim) that provide the basic basket of services. Within that system, seeing a specialist normally requires a referral from your family doctor and a Form 17 (Tofes 17), the health fund’s commitment to pay, followed by an appointment with a specialist contracted to the fund. The system is comprehensive and generally good, but the waiting time for a specialist, especially in some fields and in smaller communities, can be weeks or months, and appointment slots are short.
Alongside the basic basket, most residents also hold a supplementary plan from their health fund, known as Shaban, and many hold private health insurance as well, often through an employer or a policy taken out on arrival. These layers are what make private consultations affordable for a large part of the population, because they were designed precisely to cover private specialist visits, second opinions and private surgery.
What “private consultation” means in practice
A private consultation is booked directly with the clinic, without a referral. The physicians in private centers are, in most cases, the same senior doctors who head departments or units in the public hospitals, seeing patients in private time. The differences are practical: the appointment is available quickly, the visit is longer, the physician has time to read your file and explain, and the tests that can be performed on site, such as ultrasound, echocardiography or minor procedures, are often done at the same visit rather than booked separately.
Private centers do not replace the health fund. You remain a member and continue to receive medications, imaging and hospital care through it. What the private consultation provides is the specialist’s opinion, diagnosis and plan; the recommendations are then carried out through your fund, privately, or both, according to what is quickest and what your coverage allows. A private specialist consultation center is also not a hospital: surgery and procedures such as colonoscopy are performed in hospital or dedicated units, to which the specialist refers you, often on a fast track.
Referrals: what you do and do not need
For the consultation itself, nothing. You book, you attend. A referral letter from your family doctor is welcome if you have one, because it summarises the question, but it is not a requirement.
For what comes after, the health fund’s rules apply. If the specialist recommends an MRI, a procedure or a hospital referral, you take the written recommendation to your family doctor, who issues the referral and the fund issues Form 17. Health funds generally accept private specialists’ recommendations as the clinical basis for these referrals. The specialist’s summary is written to make that step smooth.
Reimbursement: how to get your money back
Reimbursement depends on your coverage, and it is worth understanding it before the visit rather than after:
- Health-fund supplementary plans (Shaban). All four funds’ supplementary tiers include reimbursement for private specialist consultations, typically a fixed amount or a percentage per visit, with a limit on the number of visits per year. Some tiers require the specialist to be on the fund’s list; others reimburse any licensed specialist. Check your tier’s terms or ask the fund before booking.
- Private insurance. Policies from the main insurers usually cover private consultations in full or up to a ceiling, sometimes with a small co-payment, and usually without limiting the choice of specialist. Employer group policies vary.
- Both. Many people are covered twice and can claim from one and then the other for the remainder, within the policy rules.
To claim, you need an itemised invoice with the center’s details and the physician’s licence number, and often the medical summary. Reputable centers provide both as a matter of routine. Claims are submitted online through the fund’s or insurer’s app or website, and reimbursement typically arrives within a few weeks. Keep copies of everything.
What to bring and how to prepare
Preparation makes the difference between a good consultation and an excellent one. Bring:
- Your health-fund card and, if relevant, your private insurance details.
- Any previous test results related to the problem: blood tests, imaging reports and the images themselves on disc or via a link, previous specialist letters and hospital discharge summaries. Health-fund apps allow you to download most of this.
- A complete list of medications and supplements with doses.
- A short written timeline of the problem: when it started, how it has changed, what has been tried.
- Your questions, written down, in order of importance.
If your Hebrew is limited, say so when booking. Many senior specialists in Israel trained or worked abroad and consult comfortably in English, and the summary can be written in English on request. A family member or friend is welcome to attend.
What happens at and after the visit
A private specialist consultation typically lasts far longer than a public appointment. The physician reviews your history and documents, examines you, and performs or arranges tests. You leave with a written summary containing the assessment, the recommendations and the plan, plus an invoice for your claim. Follow-up visits, when needed, are arranged directly.
If you are looking for this kind of care in the Modi’in area, EliteMed is a private medical center in Modi’in with senior physicians across dozens of specialties, English-speaking staff, and consultations usually available within days. The information here is general guidance on how the system works; the terms of your own coverage take precedence, and clinical decisions are made with your physician.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a referral or Form 17 for a private specialist consultation?
No. Private consultations are booked directly, and neither a referral nor a Form 17 is required. If the specialist recommends further tests or procedures, those are arranged through your health fund with your family doctor’s referral, using the specialist’s written recommendation.
How much of the fee will my health fund or insurer reimburse?
It depends on your supplementary tier or policy: typically a fixed amount or percentage per visit under the health funds’ supplementary plans, and full or near-full coverage under many private policies, subject to limits. Check your terms before booking and keep the invoice and medical summary for the claim.
Can the consultation and the summary be in English?
Yes. Many senior specialists consult in English, and the written summary can be provided in English on request. Mention your language preference when booking so that the appointment is scheduled accordingly.
Are the private specialists different from the hospital doctors?
In most private centers the specialists are senior physicians who hold or held positions in the public hospitals and see patients privately in addition. The difference lies in availability, appointment length and continuity, not in qualifications.