FAQ: Health Care System in Turkey

Foreigners living in Turkey have to fulfil some application procedures in order to be able to benefit from healthcare services is Turkey. Here are some headlines to draw an outline for the processes.

Who can take advantage of General Health Insurance?

1.     The foreigners who have taken residence permit in Turkey,
2.     The foreigners who have no insurance in country outside Turkey,
3.     The foreigners who have been living in Turkey for a time longer than one year and make application following end of this duration can benefit from general health insurance.

Where foreign persons should apply to benefit from General Health Insurance?

In order to lodge an application of general health insurance, foreign persons should go to the closest social security center personally. Social security centre exists nearly in each county of Turkey. The number of social security centre across the country is around 600.

What certificates are needed to make an application to be benefited from General Health Insurance for foreign persons?

1.     Certificate of residence permit,
2.     Original copy of photocopy of the letter which shows social security situations in terms of general health insurance application, taken from labour attache’s Office or social security institution of respective foreign country,
3.     Letter of undertaking form.

From which Health Services can foreign persons benefit?

Treatment of diseases excluding the chronic diseases present before date of being assumed as general health insured or dependent of general health insured is within the scope of general health insurance for foreign persons.

Can the dependent of foreign persons under General Health Insurance be benefited from General Health Insurance?

Except for those who study abroad, those who reside at home, not having insurance in Turkey or in another country of foreign persons,

1.       Their spouses,
2.       Their children who do not turn age 18,
3.       Their children younger than 20 and not married in case they study in high school or equivalent institution,
4.       Their children younger than 25 and not married in case they study in higher education,
5.       Their children whose disability is detected and not married regardless of their age,
6.       Their father and mother determined by the Institution that their subsistence is provided according to the criteria identified by foreign person can benefit from health services.

Which situations are not under Private Health Insurance?

1.       War, revolution, riot, internal disturbance
2.       To commit crime and criminal attempt
3.       To display actions to subject him/her to a grave danger intentionally  by insured excluding self-defence,
4.       Diseases and injuries taken place in consequence of suicide attempt,
5.       Drug use, etc. are excluded from private insurance coverage.

How do foreigners benefit from pharmacies?

Great part of the medicines sold in pharmacies are benefited free of charge by the persons who hold general health insurance of private insurance. Because medicine fee of these persons are met by state or insurance company.