For many years there have been significant gaps in the availability and accessibility of health services between the south of Israel and the national average. It was thought that the National Health Insurance Law might reduce these gaps by expanding the sick funds’ membership base, increasing the income of Kupat Holim Clalit (currently Clalit Health Services, Israel’s largest sick fund and the main provider of health services in the south), and providing incentives to sick funds through a capitation formula. However, the concern was expressed that residents of the south, because it is a peripheral area, would continue to receive a lower level of service than residents of central Israel unless additional incentives were introduced.
This study examines whether gaps in the availability and accessibility of health services in the south and in other regions have indeed been reduced since implementation of the National Health Insurance Law.