Medical Insurance Tzedoka suitable for Maaser ?

There is a tzedoka in our city which purchases private medical insurance for people that cannot afford one. Our public health options are very poor and this insurance ensures some level of private medical care when needed. Does this qualify as suitable for maaser?

Shalom!

Thank you for your question.

Yes...contributing to purchase private medical insurance for people that cannot afford it is considered to be permitted use of maaser money.

Here are some additional rulings of our Rabbi, Rav Amram Fried on the use of maaser money.

Maaser Money can be used for:

1. Supporting poor Torah scholars this is the optimal way to give maser.

2. Poor people

3. The performance of mitzvot.

4. Refreshments in the synagogue or yeshiva

5. Tuition for children over bar/bat mitzva

6. One is not allowed to use ma’aser money to pay for something, even ritual items that one is obligated to pay for anyways.

It is worth mentioning that charity money, including “ma’aser money,” may be given to poor relatives, and this is indeed preferable since relatives come first.

Such relatives include (in order of preference) one’s parents, one’s adult children, one’s paternal brothers, one’s maternal brothers, and most any other relatives, as well. However, it is better to give up to half of the ma'aser to family but if the situation is very difficult one may give it all.