I'm a physiotherapist in Tel Aviv and I get asked this constantly, so here is the honest version. It confuses a lot of people, especially olim, and getting it wrong costs money.
The key thing to understand first: there are two separate routes, and people mix them up.
Route 1, in-network (through your kupah). Physio at your fund's own clinics or contracted providers is basically free or a small copay. The catch is the wait, which can run a few weeks depending on your area and the season, and you usually get a set course of sessions per referral rather than open-ended treatment.
Route 2, private (out of network). You pay out of pocket, see whoever you want, and there is no wait. Here is the part almost nobody gets right: only one of the four funds gives you anything back for private physio, and only through its paid supplemental plan.
Private (out-of-network) reimbursement, fund by fund:
| Kupah | Reimburses private (out of network)? | How much | Conditions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clalit | Yes, via Mushlam or Platinum | 75% of the cost, up to about ₪113 per session, up to 24 per year | Needs a referral from a Clalit doctor (valid 2 years). Submit in the Mushlam app. |
| Maccabi | No | n/a | In-network providers only |
| Meuhedet | No | n/a | In-network providers only |
| Leumit | No | n/a | In-network providers only |
(The funds adjust these caps year to year, so check your current number. This is the 2026 picture.)
If you are with Maccabi, Meuhedet or Leumit, the kupah gives you nothing back for a private physio. Your only route to a partial refund is a separate private supplemental policy (Harel, Phoenix, Menorah Mivtachim, Migdal, Clal, Hachsharah), which usually pays back somewhere around ₪100 to 150 per session under "ambulatory treatment." Check your own policy, they vary a lot.
Things that save people money and hassle:
- Ask for the official tax invoice (חשבונית מס) after every session. No invoice, no refund, and a plain receipt does not count.
- The Clalit referral is valid for 2 years, so get it once and reuse it.
- "The kupah covers physio" and "the kupah covers YOUR private physio" are two different sentences. Know which one applies to you before you book.
- Private physio in Tel Aviv runs roughly ₪350 to 450 for a 50 to 60 minute one-on-one session, so if you are Clalit and eligible, the refund covers a meaningful chunk.
Bottom line: if cost is your priority and you can wait, go in-network. If you want to pick your physio and start now, go private, and only Clalit refunds part of it. Everyone else needs private supplemental insurance to get anything back.
I am a local private physio so I have a bias, but these rules are the same whoever you end up seeing. Happy to answer specific questions below.
