What is Tofess 17?

What is Tofess (Form) 17?
Have you come across the term “Tofess 17” and weren’t sure what it meant?
Tofess 17, also known as a “hitchayvut” or a “commitment to pay” is, as its name suggests, a commitment from the health fund to pay for medical service given by a provider that is not the health fund itself – for example, a hospital, a medical institute, or another medical facility that has an arrangement with the health fund.

When is Tofess 17 needed?
When the medical service you need is not provided directly within the health fund, you must sometimes obtain approval and a commitment from the fund before receiving the service.

Who issues the tofess/form?
The health fund you are insured with issues the commitment to pay, according to your eligibility and the medical service required.

What do you do?
When you receive a referral from a doctor to a hospital, a medical institute, or an external medical service, check with the doctor or with the health fund’s office whether a hitchayvut is required for receiving the service. If so, contact the health fund’s office to arrange it in advance.
Today it’s also possible to submit a request, on your own, for a hitchayvut – online, through the personal area on the health fund’s website or app.

What is the processing time for a hitchayvut request?
Processing time varies depending on the health fund, the type of service, and the need for medical approval. Sometimes the hitchayvut is issued immediately, and sometimes it takes a few days.
Tip: If you already have an appointment scheduled, note the appointment date when submitting the hitchayvut request, so the fund can process the request according to the required timing.

Does Tofess 17 guarantee that all medical treatment will be given free of charge? Not necessarily. In certain cases there is a co-payment, depending on the type of service and the health fund’s rules.

What about choosing a specific hospital or medical institute?
Health funds have arrangements with various service providers. Depending on the service required, you can choose from among the options within the health fund’s arrangement.

And what happens in the case of a visit to the emergency room?
In certain cases, you may receive exemption from payment even without Tofess 17 – for example, following a proper referral or hospitalization. In other cases, a visit to the emergency room does involve payment.

Especially important:
As mentioned, it’s important to arrange for the undertaking in advance. Do not arrive for a scheduled examination at a hospital or medical institute without having received the undertaking from the office of the health fund you are insured with.

Want to know more about your rights in the health system?
For more information, visit the “Kol HaBriut” (All About Health) website of the Ministry of Health: https://www.gov.il/he/service/call-briut?utm_source=chatgpt.com

Good health!
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