The Ministries of Health and Finance are proposing a 35-Shekel deductible for each psychotherapy session in Israel's public mental health system. While children and adolescents will be exempt, most adults, including those with disabilities and low-income individuals, will face this charge. For those below the poverty line, this could total 140 Shekels or more per month.
On August 13, 2024, Bizchut, the Association for Civil Rights in Israel, and Physicians for Human Rights sent legal correspondence to the ministers of health and finance opposing the proposed outline. They argue that the deductible will create a significant barrier to accessing mental health treatment, worsening existing obstacles for disadvantaged populations and infringing on the right to health and equal access to services.
The organizations provided data showing that financial costs often deter people from seeking necessary health services. They argue that the proposal is disproportionate, its purpose unclear, and that it was introduced without sufficient examination of its potential impact. They are calling for the proposal’s cancellation or, alternatively, for amendments to minimize harm to vulnerable populations, including reducing the deductible amount, expanding exemptions, and setting a quarterly payment cap.
The legal correspondence, August 13, 2024 (Hebrew)