Today I’m happy to be an Israeli

26Apr09

And I’ll tell you why…

I was at the fertility clinic this morning and while waiting in line for the vampire nurse to take my blood, I ran into someone who’d once lived on our kibbutz. He and his wife had just flown over from the states so they can do IVI and IVF. They live in L.A and have health insurance, but it would still cost them more money than they had to try fertility treatments there.  It’s cheaper for them to take months off work, fly across the world and have the fertility treatment here…where it’s almost free. I say almost because we have to pay the equivalent of about $5 every time we come in for a test or consultation. We also have to pay for the drugs that are prescribed…but it’s all subsidised and DH and I only paid about $120 for a month’s worth of GonalF and various other jabs.  

On one of the fertility forums I’m on (UK based) I’ve read about a lot of women who fly from the UK to Norway for treatment. Apparently fights, hotels, treatments, etc is all cheaper than having it done in the UK.

And it’s not just fertility treatments that are covered. Almost everything necessary is covered. There are some operations/experimental stuff/certain treatments for certain diseases that aren’t…but basically the Israeli health-care system has us covered!!!! Three years ago DH ended up in ICU for 5 days with an almost deadly bout of phenomena. Didn’t cost us a cent. Five years ago my little BIL snapped his hamstring and was in hospital for a week  –  didn’t cost the family a cent. I’ve had moles removed  –  for free. My MIL has had eye operations and operations for some lady issues…that didn’t cost her anything. DH’s grandmother broke first one hip then the other and has had 3 operations and endless tests and treatments…DIDN”T COST A CENT

So, today I’m thinking that while Israel can suck at many things…with regards to taking care of her citizen’s health — Israel rocks, our health-care system rocks…and I’m happy to be an Israeli.

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