The Welcome program allows residents in a waiting period under section 58 to benefit from all of Maccabi's health services.
Under section 58 of the National Health Insurance Law, an Israeli resident returning after 2 years or longer abroad, after March 1, 2001, who has not paid National Health Insurance dues, or is behind on payments for over 12 months, loses the right to health services in Israel.
Those who have lived abroad, ceased to be Israeli residents, and later move to Israel again and have been recognized as residents by the National Insurance Institute, are also not automatically entitled by law to receiving health services.
To become eligible again for health services, there is a one month waiting period for every year of absence from Israel for those who left after November 1, 2008. For those who left earlier, the waiting period is 2 months for each year of absence. A year of absence from Israel is a year during which the resident lived outside of Israel for at least 182 days, even if they were not consecutive.
In any case, the waiting period will be at least 2 months and no more than 6 months. The waiting period can be redeemed with a special payment to the National Insurance Institute of Israel. Immediately after this special payment medical services can be used.
Eligibility for a waiting period is determined by the National Insurance Institute and the information is then sent to the health service providers.
Further information regarding the number of waiting period months is available at the National Insurance Institute or any Maccabi branch.