Israelis will be enjoying some decreased costs and increased benefits in the near future, thanks to recent government decisions in several ministries.
The Finance and Health ministries have announced a tripling of the national child dental care budget for 2009, with NIS 30 million being allocated to care for the teeth of Israeli children aged 5-18. Last year's budget for youth dental services was NIS 10 million.
The budget increase is a result of a petition to the High Court submitted a year ago by the Association for Civil Rights in Israel and Physicians for Human Rights, which demanded that Israel make youth dental care funding compulsory as part of the State Health Law. The budget will cover all checkups and follow up.
The Public Utlities Authority announced Monday that bill-payers will also smile brightly, thanks to a cut in electricity rates to start June 11.
Because of a drop in fuel prices, Israelis will pay NIS 0.4413 per kilowatt hour, down from NIS 0.4655, a drop of 5.2 percent. Business and public sectors will pay NIS 0.5002, compared to today's NIS 0.5259.
The price decline is in addition to May's 2.22% average rate drop as part of a regular rate update.