National Insurance Institute (Bituach Leumi) — Premiums, Exemptions, and Maternity Insurance for New Immigrants

Source: Israeli Government Guide for New Immigrants · 2026-05

90 Some allowances require a qualification period (insurance seniority) (tkufat achshara - vetek bituchi) in order to receive them and it is not possible to receive them immediately when arriving on aliyah, such as assured income (havtachat hachnasa). Some allowances may be available for new immigrants from the moment they arrive such as chronic-care allowance and mobility allowance, all dependent on the conditions of eligibility. For further information contact the NII. The NII website: www.btl.gov.il Payment for monthly national insurance premiums and health-insurance premiums Israeli law mandates that every resident age 18 and above must be insured by the National Insurance Institute and pay monthly national insurance premiums and health-insurance premiums; this does not include certain groups who are exempt from payment (the list of exemptions is on the NII website). The regular payment of national insurance premiums entitles one to most of the NII allowances. The payment of health-insurance premiums entitles one to the services of the health funds. New immigrants (including a returning minor or an immigrant citizen) who are not working and have no source of income, or whose income is lower than the sum set by the National Insurance Institute, are exempt from national insurance and health insurance premiums for six months from the date of aliyah. It is possible to receive an exemption for another six months (twelve months altogether) if, in addition to the above mentioned condition, the new immigrant is receiving assured income from the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration. To actualize the additional six months benefit, you must provide the National Insurance Institute with confirmation of a receipt of assured income (from the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration). The additional exemption will be given only for those months in which assured income was paid.

91 Please Note! New immigrants who were exempt from payment for national insurance and health insurance premiums during their first year of aliyah (or part of that year) must start paying them at the end of the exemption period, even if they are unemployed and their income is unchanged. One has to contact the NII branch near one’s place of residence or sign up online through the NII website. If you do not sign up, you will incur a debt and will have to settle it by an index linked payment. People receiving senior citizen pension stop paying the national insurance payments; the health insurance payments are deducted from the senior citizen pension. The amounts of the sums of national insurance and health insurance premiums are calculated in accordance with the amount of income the insured person has from work and from other sources, and also depends on the status of the person: (salaried employee, self-employed or unemployed). Forms of payment of national insurance premiums Employees working for a salary: Employers pay National Insurance Institute and health insurance premiums on behalf of their employees and deduct a certain percentage from their salary. Self-employed people, students, or those who do not work: must pay National Insurance and National Health Insurance themselves. For detailed information about health insurance see the chapter on the subject of health services. Insurance for Mothers (Bituach Imahot) The National Insurance Institute (NII) provides coverage of hospitalization to a woman who gives birth as well as a birth grant (Ma’anak leida). Employed women who give birth are entitled to maternity-leave benefits (Dmei leida) as compensation for resultant loss of income due to pregnancy and birth. Benefits are paid for 8-15 weeks, based on length of employment prior to the birth, and on condition that the mother paid National Insurance Institute premiums during her period of employment. Compensation is based on salary prior to maternity leave (up to a set maximum). It is subject to income tax. National insurance and health insurance are also deducted from the payment.