Fertility

According to the Israeli National Health Insurance Law, insured persons (i.e. all Israeli citizens) are entitled to fertility testing and treatment including: treatments to increase sperm counts, medications, hormonal treatment, in-vitro fertilization. These treatments are an entitlement to a couple who do not have children in their current marriage (may have from previous marriages) for the first and second child and where the woman is under age 45 (there is no limit to the number of "attempts". In general the treatments are given at no cost to the patient, apart from co-payments. These co-payments are minimal and may be for the physician visits (about 17 shekels for 3 months of visits), injections (12 shekels/treatment) and others. Health funds are only required to provide fertility services in conjunction with government hospitals. Private hospital stays and treatments may be covered partially under the health plans' supplementary insurance or via private payment.

Supplementary insurance plans at the health plans include additional benefits including partial payment for services received in private hospitals, treatments for third, fourth, etc. child. There may be a waiting period of up to two years for these services.

Several private not-for-profit organizations provide support, information and services at no cost: These are Machon Puah http://www.puah.org.il/ and Zir Hemed http://www.zirchemed.org/index2.asp.

On a different note, Israeli law allows a working woman to a paid leave of up to 16 days per treatment up to four times a year. Women may not be laid off during the time of fertility treatments.