A Quirk Which Deprives a “Returning Minor” of His Health Benefits in Israel

 

The Bituach Leumi regulations state that a "returning resident" (an Israeli who left Israel for two years or more) will be recognized as a resident of Israel only after a six-month waiting period upon returning to Israel, after which he is entitled to receive Bituach Leumi’s basket of medical services. He may dispense with the period of waiting by paying a specific amount prescribed by law after which he is immediately eligible for medical services without having to wait.

 

The regulations also state that a “returning minor” (a person who left Israel as a minor, even if he returned to Israel as an adult) is exempt from the waiting period and is entitled to Bituach Leumi medical services immediately without waiting, contingent on him providing Bituach Leumi with a "returning minor" certificate from the Ministry of Immigration and Absorption.

 

Israeli Shortcut has heard from numerous returning minors that their applications to receive Bituach Leumi even after they were already 6 months in the country were turned down because Bituach Leumi claimed that they needed a "returning minor certificate" from the Ministry of Immigration and Absorption to establish their “returning minor” status.

 

Israeli Shortcut wrote to Bituach Leumi to express its astonishment. On what legal basis did they reject the applications of returning minors even after they had waited the six month period? 

 

We explained that some returning minors prefer to wait six months and then apply for Bituach Leumi just like regular returning residents to avoid having to deal with the cumbersome government bureaucracy. Why are they being penalized more than other returning residents whose status is accepted without a Ministry of Immigration certificate?

 

It is not even clear why returning minors need this certificate from the Ministry of Immigration because the government’s population registry contains all the details of the returning minor’s exits and entries just like a regular returning resident and doesn’t need any confirmation from the Immigrant Ministry.

 

Lest one think this is a minor issue, Israeli Shortcut chairman Mr. Zev Zer explains that it may become a huge problem if a “returning minor” suddenly needs a medical procedure six months after his return to Israel, and in light of this quirky requirement by Bituach Leumi, may lose his right for medical care.

 

The organization will continue to monitor developments until this unfortunate glitch is corrected.