TURKISH HEALTH INSURANCE GUIDE FOR RESIDENCE PERMIT APPLICATION

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TURKEY RESIDENCE PERMIT ID CARD LEGAL REQUIREMENTS
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The purpose of providing below supporting documents to Turkish immigration authorities (Goç Idaresi) is to determine and evaluate according to Foreigners and International Protection Law No.6458 that during your residency in Turkey you are established for residency and have at the minimum:

• Turkey health insurance.
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• A clean and livable premise for accommodation and your Turkish rental apartment lease contract for local address establishment.
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• A Turkish bank account with some balance to easily show the Migration authorities on how you plan to support yourself during your stay (equal to the Turkish minimum wage index) even if you are not employed in Turkey. (If a Turkish person can live with minimum wage in Turkey, so can foreigners).

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“Foreigners may not request the Turkish government for FREE healthcare assistance or welfare during Touristic stay in Turkey…”

“Foreigners after completing 1 year residence permit stay in Turkey may take SGK social security healthcare insurance for full coverage advantage and benefits…”
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However by Foreigners and International Protection Law 6458 the Turkish government grants foreign national children (with a valid Touristic residence permit) to attend government public schools for Turkish language and education with free healthcare coverage upto age 18. (same as Turkish national students without discrepancy).
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WHAT TO PAY ATTENTION TO TAKE COMPLEMENTARY TURKEY HEALTH INSURANCE?
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With the pandemic, the importance of health insurance increased even more. Complementary Health Insurance has become a preferred product by many due to the fact that it has a lower premium than private health insurance and is more understandable on the consumer side in terms of coverage structure.
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Experts note what to consider when taking out complementary health insurance as follows;
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1. COLLATERAL LIMITS
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   Complementary health insurance coverage consists of inpatient coverage and outpatient coverage. Inpatient coverage is unlimited in all insurance companies that provide complementary health insurance. But the limit of outpatient coverage varies according to the insurance company. For this reason, it would be a more accurate decision to choose among the insurance companies that give the highest outpatient limit.
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2. COVERAGE
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   Surgery, intensive care, minor intervention, doctor’s examination, physical therapy, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, dialysis and room costs are covered by the coverage of all insurance companies that provide complementary health insurance. However, artificial limb, home care, medical equipment and surgical material guarantees are not covered by every insurance company. It should be investigated whether these services are covered by the policy.
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3. ADDITIONAL GUARANTEES
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   Insurance companies also include some health services free of charge in complementary health insurance coverage to provide their insured with better quality health care and to raise the standard of the policy. Dental care package, dietitian, psychological counseling or check-up are usually given to insured persons as part of additional coverage. We recommend comparing insurance companies to take advantage of free health services covered by additional coverage.
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4. CONTRACTED HOSPITAL NETWORK
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   Before obtaining complementary health insurance, the list of contracted health institutions should be examined from the official websites of insurance companies. Additional health insurance should then be obtained by choosing between the insurance companies that are contracted with the preferred private hospitals.
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5. STANDBY TIME
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   Insurance companies apply a waiting period from the start date of the policy to find out if the person has already had diseases, whether they have an existing disease, and hereditary diseases from the family. Except in emergencies, inpatient coverage is not activated until the specified waiting period expires. The waiting period for inpatient coverage in complementary health insurance is not fixed. Some insurance companies activate inpatient coverage 1 month after the policy start date, while some insurance companies provide inpatient coverage 3 months later.
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6. NON-COLLATERAL CASES
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   Although health insurance is generally considered to provide insurance for each disease, insurance companies do not guarantee the treatment costs of certain diseases under the policy. Before obtaining complementary health insurance, special conditions must be examined, which diseases and conditions are excluded from the scope of the policy
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   WHICH FOREIGN NATIONALS MAY BENEFIT FROM TURKEY UNIVERSAL HEALTH INSURANCE?
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   Considering the Principal of Reciprocity Law in Turkey;
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   Foreign nationals
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   • Who has receive valid Residence Permit ID Card,
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   • Who are not insured under any foreign social security legislation and have no right to benefit from health insurance,
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   • Whose residence duration exceeds continually one-year in Turkey and applied to benefit from universal health insurance as of this date shall benefit from universal health insurance.
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   Is it obligatory for all foreign nationals to apply for universal health insurance?
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   No. Foreign nationals shall be recorded under universal health insurance upon their request.
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   Where should foreign nationals submit their application for universal health insurance?
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   Foreign nationals are required to submit their application to the nearest provincial/central directorate of social security institution in the place of their residence.
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   Which documents foreign nationals are required to submit in the application for universal health insurance?
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   • Residence permit,
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   • Original or copy of the documents given by the relevant foreign country’s social security institution or labor attaches and indicating social security status in terms of universal health insurance,
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   • Recognizance form.
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   Which health services do the foreign nationals benefit from?
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   Universal health insurance includes the treatment of illnesses except for chronic illnesses which occur before the date when foreign nationals are regarded as universal health insurance holders or their dependents.
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   Is it possible for the dependents of foreign nationals under universal health insurance to receive healthcare services?
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   On condition that they reside in homeland territory, except for those who study abroad, and are not insured under the legislation of any country, foreign nationals;
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   • Partners,
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   • Children under the age of 18,
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   • Unmarried children under the age of 20 in case of receiving high school education,
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   • Unmarried children under the age of 25 in case of receiving university education,
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   • Unmarried children who are ascertained disabled regardless of their age,
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   • Parents who are identified to be looked after by the foreign nationals according to the criteria determined by the Institution. shall benefit from healthcare services.
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   How are foreign nationals’ universal health insurance terminated?
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   In this context, foreign nationals universal health insurance shall be terminated as of the date when;
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   • The duration of the residence permit ends,
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   • They are insured under the legislation of any foreign country,
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   • They are insured under another coverage,
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   • They are regarded as dependents of universal health insurance holder.
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   How do the persons who are holder of the international protection application or status and regarded as stateless persons benefit universal health insurance?
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   The persons who have no social security or are unable to afford the premium may benefit from the universal health insurance upon their application within one month following the date when they are identified as the holder of the international protection application or status and the stateless by the Ministry of Interior Directorate General of Migration Management. The universal health insurance premiums of those persons are paid by the relevant institutions.
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