General health insurance is an insurance protects the health status of invidual and provides financing for the expenses occured when the person experiences a health risk.

Person covered by the General Health İnsurance are listed in Article 60 of the Social Security and General Health İnsurance Law.According to the article, which was presented taking into account the principle of reciprocity,it is indicated that foreigners who do not have insurance under the regulation of a foreign country but have a residence permit in Turkey are covered by the General Health Insurance.Therefore,foreigners residing Turkey more than one year are subject to General Health İnsurance premiums to receive insurance assistance in Turkey.

 

WHO CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF GENERAL HEALTH İNSURANCE

 

1)Foreigners obtained residence permit in Turkey

 

2)Foreigners do not have insurance in a country except Turkey

 

3)Foreigners residing Turkey more than one year and who apply after this period can benefit General Health İnsurance

 

A foreign citizen  who is entitled to general health insurance:

 

a)His/Her  Spouse

 

b)His/Her  child (or children) under the age of 18,

 

c)His/Her children who have not reached the age of 20 and are not married if they have a high school or equivalent education

 

d)His/Her children who have not reached the age of 25 and are not married if they have a higher education

 

e)His/Her Unmarried children who are found to be disabled, regardless of their age,

 

The parents whose livelihood is determined by the foreign national according to the criteria determined by the Institution can benefit from health services.

 

HOW İS THE GENERAL HEALTH INSURANCE PREMİUM CALCULATED ?

 

THE İNSURANCE PREMİUM RATE THAT FOREİGN CİTİZENS MUST PAY İS 24% OF THE MİNİMUM WAGE

 

THE İNSURANCE PREMİUM RATE FOR FOREİGN STUDENTS 4% OF THE MİNİMUM WAGE

 

Where Should Foreign Citizens Apply To Benefit from General Health Insurance?

 

Foreign citizens must personally apply to the nearest social security center to benetif from universal health insurance

 

There are more than 600 social security centers throughout Turkey to make this application.

 

DOCUMENTS FOR APPLY GENERAL HEALTH İNSURANCE

 

1)RESİDENCE PERMİT

 

2)THE ORİGİNAL OR PHOTOCOPY OF THE LETTER FROM THE RELEVANT FOREİGN COUNTRY SOCİAL SECURİTY İNSTİTUTİON OR FROM THE LABOR ATTACHÉ SHOWİNG THE SOCİAL SECURİTY STATUS İN TERMS OF THE GENERAL HEALTH İNSURANCE APPLİCATİON.

 

3)COMMİTMENT FORM

 

Foreigners are obliged to have health insurance during their stay in Turkey.In addition, residence (residence) or work permits must also be obtained.İf the health insurance coverage for foreigners in their country can compatible with the legal requirements in Turkey ,they can continue to have the same insurance coverage during their stay in Turkey.Foreigners working for a workplace based in Turkey are registered in the social security system (SGK) by the employer.

 

Social Security Institution (SGK) grants foreigners access to inpatient or outpatient services in all state hospitals and clinics.It covers most health care services, including pregnancy, occupational injuries and illnesses, while providing temporary incapacity benefits.

Also,Most private hospitals and clinics also grant discounts.

 

İn the present situtation,Foreigners who have a valid residence permit in Turkey but do not have an employment contract can benefit from health services by paying a monthly premium to SGK.Premium may vary depending on age, nationality, health record and insurance coverage.

 

PRİVATE HEALTH İNSURANCE

 

As an alternative to SGK,you can get private health insurance from local or international organizations that provide private health insurance services, which provides examination at contracted private hospitals.

Private hospitals more preferable by foreigners than public instituions ,thanks to they often have English-speaking doctors.

 

HOW CAN FOREİGN NATİONALS BENEFİT FROM PRİVATE INSURANCE?

Above all,foreign citizens must have private insurance in order to take a residence permit in Turkey .In other words, one of the most basic conditions for obtaining a residence permit is to have private health insurance.

 

Private health insurance is provided by various insurance companies operating in the country.

There may be some differences between coverages offered by insurance companies.

 

Just like general health insurance ,a monthly premium is paid to the insurance company in private health insurance.In return, they benefit from free health services.

 

After obtaining a residence permit, foreign nationals can apply for general health insurance by canceling their private insurance policy.

 

How to Get Private Health Insurance?

 

Insurance companies operating in Turkey have agencies in almost every city.These companies; They may specialize in health insurance, housing insurance, earthquake insurance, vehicle insurance and travel insurance.
For this reason, you can learn the necessary information from the websites of insurance companies that offer private health insurance, and you can get private health insurance by visiting insurance agencies in person.

 

WHAT HEALTH SERVİCES DOES PRİVATE HEALTH INSURANCE COVER?

 

Private health insurance covers many health services just like general health insurance:

 

To give an example of these;

 

1)Corneal,kidney,pancreas,liver,heart,lung transplantation

 

2)ESWL,Gamma Knife expenses

 

3)Doctor examination fees

 

4)Medication expenses

 

5)Diagnostic biochemistry, microbiology, pathology examinations, radiological examination and imaging performed during inpatient treatment

 

6)Postoperative physical therapy and rehabilitation

 

7)Home medical care services that assist the insured's daily life activities and provide social support

 

8)Cardiovascular angiography

 

9)Chemotherapy,radiotherapy,dialysis can be given as examples.

 

HOW TO GET SERVİCE FROM PHYSİCİANS WİTH SPECİAL EXAMİNATİON?

 

İn addition to doctors working in state and university hospitals and private hospitals,there also doctors who have their own clinic .These doctors dont work under any insurance .They has it own tariffs.Therefore, patients do not have the opportunity to benefit from insurance for the treatment they will receive in private clinic.

 

BENEFİTİNG FROM EMERGENCY HEALTH SERVİCES FOR FOREİGN TOURİSTS

 

For foreign tourists who are in Turkey for a short time,emergency medical services are free of charge without any discrimination between private or public health institutions.Thus,foreigners who are not covered by any insurance can benefit from health services free of charge in case of emergency.

STATUS OF FOREİGNERS EMPLOYED UNDER THE SERVİCE CONTRACT

With the Social Insurance and General Health Insurance Law No. 5510 Social insurances are regulated.The provisions regarding the insured individuals in article 4 of this law are also valid for foreigners working within the scope of service contracts.An exception to this is for citizens of countries that have entered into an international social security agreement according to the principle of reciprocity.

Foreigners who work for a short time on behalf of non-resident organizations or under their personal names and accounts and are still subject to the social security legislation of their own country are not considered insured in Turkey.

İn conclusion,foreigners working with service contracts, excluding international social security, are accepted by their employers as insurance holders to whom social security and health premiums will be paid.Naturally, such foreign nationals are entitled to use all health services under the payroll of a company established in Turkey.

İnternational Social Security Agreement

Turkey has signed international social security agreements with many countries.These bilateral agreements determine the legislation applicable to employed foreigners and equal treatment practices for foreign workers.Issues related to the protection of rights and consolidation during the insured service period are supported by these agreements.

Bilateral agreements were signed with Albania, Germany, Austria, Netherlands, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Luxembourg, Libya, Norway, Czech Republic, Romania, Denmark, Sweden, Turkish Republic of Cyprus, France, Macedonia, Switzerland and Georgia