One of the biggest financial benefits of Aliyah is not paying $20–30K per year for U.S. health insurance, right?

One of the biggest financial benefits of Aliyah is not paying $20–30K per year for U.S. health insurance, right?

Wrong, most of the time.

In the U.S., that $20K–$30K figure is the total annual cost of a family plan.

But if you worked as a professional for a large company, you probably never paid most of it yourself. Your employer did.

That employer-sponsored plan was worth about $20,000 a year and was one of the biggest hidden parts of your compensation package.

When you move to Israel, you lose that benefit.

Yes, everyone gets national coverage through Bituach Leumi, but that is funded from your own paycheck.

And if you want the kind of access you had in the U.S. such as senior specialists, choice of surgeon, shorter waits, or private hospitals, you will need supplementary and private coverage that can cost ₪800–₪1,500 per month for a family.

But what about people in the U.S. who really do pay $20–30K?

That is usually the self-employed or those without employer benefits.

They buy insurance on the Marketplace (Obamacare), often with premium subsidies that reduce costs based on income.

Those with lower incomes can even qualify for Medicaid, which provides free or very low-cost coverage. 

For children, the income thresholds are especially high, meaning many middle-income families qualify for free or near-free coverage for kids through Medicaid or CHIP.

So yes, some people truly pay those high premiums, but most professionals with employer coverage do not.

For them, Aliyah does not remove a $20K expense. It removes a $20K benefit and adds a new cost that you will now pay yourself.

Takeaway: Before assuming you will “save” on healthcare by moving to Israel, look carefully at what you are giving up and what you will need to replace.