Universal Healthcare and the Maccabi Card

One of favorite aspects of living Israel is this: my Maccabi card. Maccabi is my health and dental insurance. In Israel, every resident can choose from four different health insurance providers. Everyone who lives here gets health insurance.

When I need to see a doctor or dentist, I can book an appointment through an app, selecting from a wide range of practitioners. When I arrive, I just tap my card (or phone) at a kiosk, and within minutes, I'm in. The doctor or dentist has my full medical history. There are no endless forms, no multiple checklists, no stacks of signatures. It’s incredibly efficient.

I once took my daughter to an emergency dental appointment, and the cost? Just 27 shekels, about $7.50 USD. I was convinced there had to be a mistake. As an American, I’m simply not used to healthcare being this affordable, accessible, and universal.