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  • Writer's pictureExpat101

How to Benefit from Health Services in Turkey?

Updated: May 24, 2022

In order to benefit from health services in Turkey, it is basically necessary to have health insurance. Health insurance comes in two forms. These are general health insurance and private health insurance.


Foreigners living in the Republic of Turkey can benefit from health services with a fee. The insurance premium rate that foreigners must pay is 24% of the minimum wage. This rate is 4% of the minimum wage for foreign students.


Foreigners who meet the following conditions can benefit from general health insurance:

  • Foreigners who have obtained a residence permit in Turkey,

  • Foreigners who do not have insurance in a country other than Turkey,

  • Foreign nationals who have lived in Turkey for more than one year and applied after this period


What are the Application Documents?

Application documents are as follows:

  • Residence permit,

  • The original or photocopy of the letter showing the social security status in terms of the general health insurance application received from the relevant foreign country's social security institution or labor attaché,

  • Commitment form

  • Foreign nationals, excluding those studying abroad; residing in Turkey, without insurance in Turkey or another country;

  • Wives,

  • Children under the age of 18,

  • Unmarried children who have not completed the age of 20 in case of high school education or its equivalent,

  • Unmarried children who have not completed the age of 25 in case of higher education,

  • Unmarried children who are found to be disabled regardless of age,

  • Parents, whose livelihood is provided by the foreign national, determined according to the criteria determined by the Institution, can benefit from health services.


Foreigners must have private insurance in order to obtain a residence permit in Turkey. Private health insurance is provided by various insurance companies operating in the country. There may be some differences between the coverages offered by insurance companies. Foreigners who have private health insurance can benefit from the health services within the scope of the coverage free of charge. After obtaining a residence permit, foreign nationals can apply for general health insurance by cancelling their private insurance policy.


For more information please see Law No. 224 on Socializing of Health Services and Announcement on Costs of the Health Services for Foreigners


Link: https://www.mevzuat.gov.tr/mevzuat?MevzuatNo=224&MevzuatTur=1&MevzuatTertip=4

Link:

https://khgmfinansalanalizdb.saglik.gov.tr/Eklenti/37019/0/yabanci-hastalarin-tedavi-giderleripdf.pdf

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