Sharap 101 - Private Hospital Clinics: Specialists & Surgeries

What is SHARAP (שר״פ)?

SHARAP is an acronym for sherutim refuim prati’im (שירותים רפואים פרטיים) - which means private medical services. Sharap services are available throughout many public hospitals in Israel, such as Hadassah Hospitals, and Shaarei Tzedek (Equivalent private clinics are available throughout the Merkaz as well). Services include: private specialists, private surgeries, private diagnostic testing, and more. Wait times are often less than through the public Kupah or hospital system.

How do I make an appointment at SHARAP?

Call your hospital’s SHARAP (see below), and ask for an appointment for a specific service or with a specific doctor. 

How much does Sharap cost? 

The cost of SHARAP varies significantly, depending on the service. A consultation with a specialist may cost between 800-2,000 NIS, while private surgeries will cost significantly more. However, with supplemental insurance (שב״ן) through your Kupah, the cost may be reduced significantly. 

How do I get coverage/discounts from my Kupah? 

In order to receive partial coverage for private specialist and surgeries through SHARAP, you must have supplemental insurance. You must also see a specialist that is specifically contracted with your Kupah. Consultations for private specialists are limited to 3-4 times a year depending on you Kupah.

There are 2 ways to receive the discount:

1. Payment & Reimbursement: At the appointment, you pay in full, out of pocket. After the appointment you submit the receipt to your Kupah (either via the app, or in person with the medical secretary), and receive partial reimbursement directly to your bank account. The amount reimbursed will vary based on your level of supplemental insurance, but is typically a maximum of 80% or 660 NIS.
2. Automatic Discount: For private surgeries, and some specialist consultations, your Kupah will have an automatic discount, where you pay a co-pay directly, and there is no reimbursement process. Co-payments for specialists are between 100-500 NIS, and co-payments for private surgeries are generally between 1,500-5,000 NIS. This will vary greatly depending on your Kupah, the specialist, the surgery, and more. When you arrive at SHARAP for your appointment, you will give them your Kupah card, and the discount will applied automatically. 

Are there limitations to SHARAP?

Yes. Within your Kupah, you must have supplemental insurance, and can only use these services 3-4 times per year.

Most importantly, according to a law passed in 2019, you may not see a doctor privately under any circumstances if you have been to them through the Kupah in the last 6 months. If you received any care at all from a Kupah doctor (prescription, consultation, etc), SHARAP will deny you the ability to see them privately upon your arrival.

IMPORTANT TIPS!

• You must have supplemental insurance in order to receive partial coverage for SHARAP from the Kupah. The higher the level of supplemental insurance, the higher the discounts available
• In order to receive the coverage from your Kupah, you need to see a doctor that is contracted with them and on their list.

• Use the Kupah website or call the branch secretary to ask for the complete list. Sometimes calling SHARAP directly may be necessary as well.
• There are times when you can have a specialist approved or added to the list that isn’t generally on the list of the Kupah. This must be done in advance of seeing a specialist in order to receive the coverage.
• If you see a specialist that is not on their list, they will not reimburse you.
• Keep in mind, that since 2019, when paying for a completely private surgeon (i.e. not through SHARAP on your Kupah’s), the Kupah no longer covers the hospital stay. That means if you choose to go to this surgeon anyway, you will need to pay for the cost of the surgeon in addition to the cost of associate hospital stays. This makes non Kupah affiliated private surgeries extremely expensive (50,000 NIS +).

• Hafnayot are sometimes, but now always required. As usual, we recommend you bring a Hafnaya in any case. A Hitchayvut is generally not needed in these cases.
• Hospitals & Kupot do not actively share information. Make sure to bring copies of any testing done through the Kupah to the SHARAP specialist appointment. Also make sure to get an appointment summary (סיכום ביקור) from the specialist to bring back to your Kupah doctor.

SHARAP Contacts:

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Hadassah Ein Kerem-

Phone: 02-6778899

Hours: Sun-Thurs 8 AM - 7 PM; Fri 8 AM - 12 PM

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Hadassah Har HaTzofirm-

Phone: 02-5844044

Hours: Sun-Thurs 12:30 PM - 8 PM

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Hadassah Tel Aviv-

Phone: 03-6077222

Hours: Sun-Thurs 12 PM - 8 PM; Fri 8 AM - 12 PM

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Sha’arei Tzedek-

Phone: 02-6555999

Hours: Sun-Thurs 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM

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