Israeli Insurance Companies Accused of Withdrawing Elderly Nursing Care Benefits Through Covert Investigations
Yigal Babayan was shocked when his wife, 74-year-old Devora, was suddenly denied her nursing care insurance benefits by Harel Insurance. Despite her deteriorating condition and difficulty performing basic daily tasks, a brief video showing Devora walking with a cane instead of a walker during a short wait outside a clinic led the insurer to revoke her entitlement. Babayan emphasized that the walker was left at home due to its bulkiness and no explanation was requested by the insurer before the decision.
This case is not isolated. A petition filed to Israel's Supreme Court details 12 elderly individuals who lost their nursing care benefits after covert investigations by insurance companies, often based on brief footage that the insured claim does not reflect their true condition. For example, Dalia Veber, 78, who suffers from Parkinson’s and cancer, was caught on camera bending to pick up a fallen cane. After appealing, her benefits were reinstated, but she remains fearful of future revocations.
The insurance regulator permits covert investigations if there is reasonable suspicion that the insured’s functional ability differs from their medical evaluation. However, legal clinics representing elderly clients question whether these investigations are routine practice rather than exceptional measures. Some investigations reportedly involve deceptive tactics, such as pressuring elderly clients to leave their homes under false pretenses to document their mobility, violating official guidelines.
Advocacy groups like Aviv for the Elderly argue these cases represent only a fraction of a widespread strategy by insurers to avoid paying benefits. They criticize both the insurance companies, including Harel and Menora Mivtachim, and the Capital Market Authority for insufficient oversight. The Authority reported only six justified complaints about such investigations, dismissing broader concerns. Both insurers stated they operate professionally and will respond to the petition through legal channels.
The petition highlights a troubling trend of tightening eligibility and aggressive benefit cancellations, despite years of premium payments by elderly clients who rely on these protections. Legal experts call for stronger state supervision to prevent the erosion of insured rights and ensure fair treatment of vulnerable seniors.
