Netanyahu Family Used False Names to Claim Unauthorized Medical Expenses from Maccabi Health Fund

Documents revealed in an investigative report by Haaretz show that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife Sarah used false names to obtain unauthorized medical treatments and reimbursements from the Maccabi Health Fund. The report states that during Netanyahu's first term as prime minister starting in 1996, senior officials attempted to secure coverage for medical expenses beyond legal entitlements. Dr. Yitzhak Lifshitz, then the Knesset doctor, managed the family's medical affairs directly with Maccabi's management, with treatments billed under aliases such as "Amichai Meirovich" and "Betty Meirovich." This practice caused significant discomfort among Maccabi executives, who raised administrative, ethical, and legal concerns.

Shortly after Netanyahu assumed office, Maccabi began receiving demands for payments covering treatments at various hospitals, including requests for coverage of non-insured treatments and medications. These included dental care for the Netanyahu children, complementary therapies, hospital commitments, and reimbursements for medications purchased at Super-Pharm, sometimes for small amounts. Lifshitz reportedly acted as an intermediary with Maccabi's CEO at the time, Shabtai Shavit, even purchasing medications personally and later seeking reimbursement from the fund.

Tensions escalated as Maccabi's management confronted the Netanyahu family over unpaid debts and unauthorized claims. Shavit informed then-Prime Minister's Office Director Moshe Leon that Maccabi had already covered over 18,000 shekels beyond legal entitlements that year and could not continue to bear additional costs. He also opposed direct dealings with Sarah Netanyahu or the payment request procedures in place. Meanwhile, some private doctors and therapists remained unpaid for services rendered, with one therapist demanding settlement of a 12,000-shekel debt and another doctor reporting long delays in receiving payment.

These events preceded the Amadi affair, which surfaced after Netanyahu's first term and involved allegations of charging private expenses to the state health fund. The Netanyahu family did not respond to Haaretz's request for comment.