By Dr. Asnat Raziel, bariatric surgeon specializing in obesity treatment, metabolic health and healthy longevity; Director of the Multidisciplinary Center for Obesity Treatment, Assia Medical, Assuta Ramat HaChayal, Tel Aviv
Mounjaro in Israel: where things stand now
Mounjaro in Israel is now available through all four health funds (HMOs), via their supplementary insurance plans. In December 2025, Clalit became the last of the four to offer it. Since then, anyone with supplementary insurance can get the drug with a lower out-of-pocket payment, as long as they meet the eligibility criteria. In this article, I have gathered the current picture: price, eligibility and what is still missing.
I first wrote this article in December 2025, when Clalit announced the move. Now, almost a year later, we can look at what has actually happened.
What Mounjaro is and why everyone is talking about it
Mounjaro contains the active ingredient tirzepatide. It mimics two gut satiety hormones, GLP-1 and GIP. As a result, it reduces appetite, increases fullness and improves blood sugar control. The drug was first approved for type 2 diabetes and later for the treatment of obesity as well.
In the SURMOUNT-1 trial, patients on the 15 mg dose lost an average of 20.9% of their body weight after 72 weeks. In addition, the SURMOUNT-5 trial compared Mounjaro head to head with Wegovy. Weight loss was 20.2% with Mounjaro, compared with 13.7% with Wegovy. That is why demand for the drug is so high, and why the question of cost matters so much.
When Mounjaro reached the health funds
Maccabi and Meuhedet were first. At the end of 2024, they cut the price of the drug in their supplementary plans by about 50%. Leumit followed in January 2025. Until then, Clalit offered only Wegovy, not Mounjaro.
That changed in December 2025. According to a report in ynet (in Hebrew), Clalit members with supplementary insurance have been able to buy Mounjaro since the end of that month. The copayment is 28% to 50% of the retail price. In other words, the discount is 50% or more, not exactly “half price.” The monthly cost ranges from 442 to 885 shekels, depending on the dose.
How much Mounjaro in Israel costs today
According to an overview published in August 2026 in Israel Hayom (in Hebrew), Mounjaro through the health funds costs about 450 to 900 shekels a month, depending on the dose. For comparison, Wegovy costs about 270 to 600 shekels a month. Prices are updated from time to time, for example in line with the euro exchange rate. Thus, in July 2025, the prices of many drugs, including Mounjaro, fell by 4.53%, as ynet reported.
There is also a special benefit for people with diabetes. At the Clalit launch, members with type 2 diabetes and supplementary insurance paid 360 shekels a month at every dose. So it is worth checking the exact price with your health fund, based on your own indication. For a broader look at what these drugs cost and what they may save, read my article on tirzepatide and healthcare costs.
Who is eligible for Mounjaro in Israel
The eligibility criteria are similar across the health funds. First, you need active supplementary insurance. Second, the treatment is intended for adults aged 18 and over. In addition, there are clear medical criteria:
- A BMI (body mass index, the ratio of weight to height) of 30 or higher.
- Alternatively, a BMI above 27 with at least one related condition, such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high blood lipids, fatty liver or sleep apnea.
- A doctor who approves the treatment and writes a prescription, according to the health fund’s guidelines.
However, the drug is not suitable for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding. If you are not sure whether the treatment is right for you, my obesity medication guide explains who these drugs are for. For the practical steps, see my step-by-step guide to starting weight loss medication.
Follow-up: not just a prescription
The health funds see the drug as part of an obesity treatment program, not as a magic fix. That is why they ask for medical and nutritional follow-up. For example, weigh-ins at the clinic, sessions with a dietitian, an obesity workshop or a visit to an obesity clinic. Later on, the health fund checks that the treatment is actually leading to weight loss, as a condition for continuing.
In my view, this is the right requirement. Thanks to follow-up, we can adjust the dose, spot side effects early and protect muscle mass. Ultimately, the combination of medication, nutrition and physical activity is what keeps the results going over time.
Is Mounjaro in Israel covered by the national health basket?
No. The 2026 national health basket did not include Mounjaro. According to the report on the basket decisions, the committee added Wegovy for teenagers aged 12 to 18 only. Adults, on the other hand, did not get coverage, mainly because of the high cost. The meaning is simple: adults can get Mounjaro through the health funds only via supplementary insurance. You can read more in my article on weight loss drugs and the national health basket.
Even so, the scale is already large. According to health fund data, about 282,000 people used weight loss injections in the first half of 2026. At Maccabi alone, about 55,000 people used Mounjaro.
Mounjaro or Wegovy: now there is a choice at every health fund
The big advantage of Clalit’s move is the freedom to choose. Some patients do not respond well to one drug, or suffer side effects on it. In such cases, switching to the other drug may help. Until December 2025, Clalit members could switch to Mounjaro only by paying the full private price.
Like any drug, Mounjaro has side effects. According to the FDA prescribing information, nausea occurred in 25% to 29% of patients in the obesity trials, and diarrhea in 19% to 23%. Therefore, we start at a low dose and increase it gradually. I wrote about ways to ease these effects in my guide to Mounjaro side effects.
What to ask your health fund before you start
The terms vary slightly between health funds and between levels of insurance. So it helps to come to the conversation with a short list of questions:
- What is the copayment at each dose, and what will it cost if I move up to a higher dose?
- What follow-up does the health fund require, and how often?
- Which documents should I bring, such as blood tests or a summary of my medical history?
- What happens if my weight loss is slower than expected?
It is also important to plan ahead. Obesity is a chronic disease, and when you stop the drug, the weight tends to come back. In other words, it is worth calculating the cost over months and years, not just for the first month.
Bottom line: Mounjaro in Israel
Today, Mounjaro in Israel is available to anyone with supplementary insurance who meets the criteria. The monthly price is roughly 450 to 900 shekels, depending on the dose and the health fund. However, the drug is still outside the national health basket for adults. Before you start, check the price and the follow-up requirements with your health fund, and build a complete treatment plan with your doctor.
The information in this article is general and does not replace personal medical advice. Prices are correct according to reports up to August 2026 and may change.
References
Clalit joins the wave: the weight loss injection Mounjaro is sold at a discount (ynet, in Hebrew)
A nation with obesity: about a quarter of a million Israelis are injecting (Israel Hayom, in Hebrew)
Weight loss injections: the health funds cut prices again (ynet, in Hebrew)
Tirzepatide Once Weekly for the Treatment of Obesity
Tirzepatide as Compared with Semaglutide for the Treatment of Obesity
