In this article, we will explain how the people, non-citizens living in Turkey, can benefit from health services, especially public hospitals.
General Health Insurance (GHI)
General Health Insurance, the short name of the GHI, is a type of insurance which funded the health and hospital expenses of The citizens of the Republic of Turkey and foreigners living in Turkey.
People covered by general health insurance are as follows:
- Foreigners in Turkey who have received a residence permit
- Foreigners who are not insured in any country other than Turkey
- Foreigners who apply to general health insurance after living in Turkey for minimum 1 year.
It should also be noted that foreigners apply to general health insurance in Turkey with their own initiative.
In every province and almost every district of Turkey, It is necessary to apply for general health insurance and social security centers in person. For example, it is possible to see the list of social security centers in Istanbul by clicking here. Again, you can click here to contact and address information from the Social Security Administration provincial directorates in Turkey.
Documents to be Submitted for General Health Insurance
- Residence permit document
- Letter of undertaking
- A photocopy of a document taken from the social security institution of the country of citizenship showing the social security status of that person.
Who else can benefit from general health ınsurance?
When a foreign national is entitled to universal health insurance, his or her dependents are also entitled to general health insurance.
A foreign national who is entitled to general health insurance;
- Wife or husband
- Child or children under the age of 18
- High school student, child or children under the age of 20
- Unmarried children
- Child or children under the age of 25, if they have a university education
- Mentally or physically disabled child or children (There is no age limit in this article.)
- The parents who have been determined to be dependent by the official authorities
Persons under this scope can benefit from the insurance of the person who is entitled to general health insurance and can benefit from health services.
What is the General Health Insurance Premium?
general health insurance premium rate to be paid for the insurance of foreign nationals living in Turkey is 24% of the minimum wage. According to February 2021 data, the minimum wage is 2825 Turkish Liras. In the meantime, the amount that foreign students have to pay for general health insurance is 4% of the minimum wage.
Private Health Insurance
Foreigners can get private health insurance, referring to the large number of insurance companies in Turkey if they wish.
In this context, there is no single application method, as each insurance company will have its own terms and conditions. Therefore, it would be best to obtain the necessary information to get private health insurance by researching on the internet or visiting insurance agencies.
It is worth noting that some insurance companies have agreements with the Social Security Institution. In other words, if the health service you want to receive is provided only in state and university hospitals, your private health insurance may cover some or all of the services you will receive in these hospitals.
The scope of private health insurances offered by companies may vary. For example, some may include procedures such as implants and laser eye drawing.
However, to give you an idea, we can give examples of some of the substances and operations covered by many private health insurances as follows:
- Intensive Care
- Physician Examination
- X-ray - Assay
- Chemotherapy - Radiotherapy
- Outpatient Treatment Expenses
- Physical Therapy After Hospitalization
- Home Care
- Auxiliary Medical Equipment
- Ambulance Services
- Artificial Limb Coverage
- Pregnancy Follow-up Expenses
- Birth Coverage
- Newborn Baby Coverage
- Check Up Guarantees
- Glasses, Glass, Frame and Lens Expenses
- Rehabilitation Expenses
- Hearing Aid
If we give some examples of widespread agency network of insurance companies located in Turkey;
Anadolu Sigorta (Anadolu Insurance Company)
Anadolu Sigorta has a private health insurance offered only to foreign nationals. The insurance covers the health services provided by the hospitals, clinics, polyclinic insurers contracted by the Turkish Ministry of Health, private hospitals and physicians with private practice.
You can access the terms of private health insurance offered by Anadolu Sigorta for foreign nationals by clicking here.
Sompo Sigorta
Some of the expenses covered by Sompo Insurance, an insurance company based in Japan, under private insurance are as follows:
Inpatient treatment
- Surgery cost
- Hospital treatment
- Room-meal-attendant
- Intensive care
- Radiotherapy
- Dialysis
- Doctor examination
- Medicine
- X-ray
- Little intervention
- Home care
- Dental after traffic accident
- Medical counseling and ambulance
You can view the details of the health insurance offered by Sompo Insurance to foreign nationals by clicking here.
Allianz Sigorta
Allianz Sigorta has a private health insurance offered to foreign nationals who live in Turkey and want to get a residence permit available, which is Vitamin 2E. In addition to the items in classical private health insurances, Allianz Insurance offers the opportunity to benefit from the services offered in sports centers, beauty centers, optic stores and dental clinics at discounted prices. Click here to get information about Allianz 2E Private Health Insurance.
