Health Insurance & Visa info

Health Insurance
Ben-Gurion University requires that all students carry comprehensive medical insurance, covered by the Harel Insurance Company. This insurance offers a comprehensive health insurance policy specially designed for overseas students. Students must disclose all pre-existing medical conditions. The Israeli general policy does not cover pre-existing conditions. However, if you have a pre-existing condition, additional coverage may be arranged in advance. Insurance plans to cover accidents, overseas travel and personal belongings may be purchased.
The policy is affiliated with Kupat Holim Meuhedet, one of Israel's largest systems of medical clinics, including a clinic near campus, by the Soroka Hospital. The "ShiraUms" policy covers expenses for visits to the doctors' offices, medication, doctor-requested medical tests, and full hospitalization, as well as emergency house calls. Billing for these services  is done directly by the medical server to the insurance company. The Israeli policy is valid only in Israel, but offers additional health insurance coverage for travel outside of Israel.
After completing your application to the POC program, we will email you the brochures that explain the coverage under the "ShiraUms" plan, as well as information regarding the special University premium.  You will be expected to pay the Harel Insurance Company directly.
An agent of this insurance company will be available during the orientation to provide you with more information and to open such a policy for you.
On your "health guide" that you will receive from us you will find phone numbers of the insurance company and also other health clinics in Beer-Sheva.
If you don't have the Harel insurance we will not be able to assist you in case of illness. We highly recommend that you take this insurance.
For specific information regarding insurance please contact Mr.Amos Gilboa at y_health@yedidim.co.il.
Student Visa

Students from countries that have visa agreements with Israel will be issued a tourist visa at the airport upon arrival. We recommend that you issue your student visa at the Israeli Embassy in your country.  In order to receive the visa, you will have to present your acceptance letter to BGU, you must have valid medical insurance (from Harel-Yedidim insurance company. see insurance chapter), Your passport must be valid and must have an adequate number of pages for your visas. 

If students are not able to have their visas issued in their country, the University's coordinator can process the visas once in Israel. This will be done in a group manner and will require your cooperation in filling out forms and supplying the fees in exact cash, on time.

We ask students from countries that do not have visa agreements with Israel to contact the program coordinator ahead of time.