DavidShield
Cashless international health and travel insurance via a real-time card-based payment system
Overview
DavidShield is an international health and travel insurance MGA serving expatriates, corporate employees relocated abroad, and leisure travelers through its two primary brands: DavidShield (expatriate health insurance) and PassportCard (travel insurance). Founded in 1999 in Israel by Alon Ketzef, the company operates in more than 150 countries with offices in Israel, Germany, Cyprus, Australia, and the United Kingdom.
The company underwrites expatriate and travel health insurance programs backed by capacity from Allianz SE Group (AWP Health & Life SA). Its core technology differentiator is the DavidCard, a prepaid Visa/Mastercard debit card that receives real-time funding when a policyholder seeks medical care, eliminating out-of-pocket payments and paper claims at the point of service. In 2020, the group established DavidShield Insurance Company as a licensed insurer in Israel, adding direct carrier capacity alongside its MGA operations.
PassportCard holds approximately 40% of the Israeli travel insurance market with 2.1 million customers. The group reported core premiums of USD 212 million in 2024. White Mountains Insurance Group holds a 50% stake acquired through transactions in 2015 to 2018; founder Alon Ketzef holds the remaining 50%. The group also operates Robin, a US-market venture targeting digital health insurance (yourobin.com), and maintains innovation labs in Zurich and Tel Aviv.
Products & Services
DavidShield Expatriate Health Insurance
Comprehensive international private medical insurance for Israeli expatriates and corporate employees placed abroad. Coverage tiers offer annual benefit limits of USD 1M (Basic), USD 3.5M (Comprehensive), and USD 5M (Executive), with five geographic pricing zones. Coverage includes inpatient and outpatient care, cancer treatment, medical evacuation, and 24/7 support. Premiums start at approximately USD 150 per month.
Key Features
- Inpatient and outpatient care in any hospital accepting Mastercard, worldwide
- Cancer treatment and medical evacuation
- Real-time DavidCard payment at point of care -- no claim forms required
Target Users: Israeli corporations with employees abroad; individual expatriates relocating internationally
Distribution: Corporate (employer-sponsored), direct to individual policyholders
PassportCard Travel Insurance
Travel insurance product serving leisure travelers and digital nomads, operated as a separate brand since 2014. The DavidCard prepaid card system funds policyholders in real time at the point of medical care across 200+ countries. Big Data analytics support fraud prevention and claims management efficiency.
Key Features
- Real-time card funding upon medical care request -- no reimbursement required
- Coverage across 200+ countries
- Big Data fraud detection and claims analytics
Target Users: Israeli leisure travelers; digital nomads; approximately 2.1 million customers
Distribution: Direct consumer; Israel-market focused
Robin (US Market Venture)
A separate venture subsidiary co-founded by the DavidShield group, targeting the US healthcare and health insurance market with a digital-first customer experience. Operates at yourobin.com.
Target Users: US health insurance consumers
Distribution: Direct digital
At a Glance
- Founded
- 1999
- Headquarters
- Netanya, Israel (group HQ: London, United Kingdom)
- Employees
- 201-500
Category & Focus
Links
Last updated: 2026-06-25