Universal Health Insurance for expats
Your questions about the general health insurance continue to come in. Here are some more answers.
Your questions about the general health insurance continue to come in. Today, the first question is from Clive. He says:
“We have read with interest your recent two articles in the Hürriyet Daily News about universal health insurance, or UHI, but have heard that this scheme only applies to resident expatriates who are employed in Turkey. Is this true, and, if so, is there a similar scheme for resident expatriates who have retired here and are not employed? We are too old for private health insurance policies, and there is apparently no reciprocal arrangement between British and Turkish health authorities, so we would be most interested in a Turkish state scheme [ideally at a lower cost] for retired people.”
Dear Clive, not only employees but also other foreigners should apply (if they have other conditions) for UHI. It does not matter your age or your retirement. If you have these four conditions:
· If you are foreigner
· If you are not insured your country
· If you have a residence permit
· If you have completed one year in Turkey
You should be registered as UHI-insured. The lowest premium amount is 182 Turkish Liras. This premium covers both husband and wife.
The second question came from Gerhard. He asks:
“Dear Sadettin Orhan, last Saturday I read your article with great interest. I am Austrian, my wife German, both residing in Turkey for 25 years. My wife is still running a small personal company, while I have been retired for a number of years. We are both covered by Austrian health insurance, which is only valid in Austria and to a certain extent in EU countries. In case of emergency we could reclaim some medical expenses in Turkey, but for normal medical treatment we have to shoulder all expenditure ourselves. Could we, in our case, join the UHI system? Your answer would be very much appreciated. Best regards.”
Dear Gerhard, if your health insurance does not cover treatment in Turkey, you can apply for UHI.
The third question from Shaun. Shaun asks:
“Thank you for an interesting article; until you wrote this article I was unaware of this scheme. What is not mentioned in your article is exactly what UHI will provide to those who register for it. Does it simply mean we will be able to use the Turkish health service as Turkish citizens do, or is it a separate scheme? I should be grateful if you could let me have any more information that you have on this topic. Regards.”
Dear Shaun, citizenship does not change UHI regulations. Foreigners and Turks are subject to the same regulations. There is no distinction in terms of any insurance coverage.
The last question is from Theresa. She says:
“Dear Sadettin Bey, I found your email address at the end of the article in the Hürriyet Daily News and I have a few questions I hope you will be able to answer about the new health insurance law for foreigners. As I have been in Turkey for over a year I will come under the law and so:
1) I currently have private medical insurance [yatarak] which covers me and my son. Will I also be obliged to take out SSK [UHI] insurance as well or will private Turkish medical insurance be accepted instead?
2) When people take out the SSK insurance, what kind of cover does that provide them with? I.e., will they access the same services equivalent to those an employed Turkish person has? Best.”
Dear Theresa, even if you have private health insurance, you should apply for UHI. The UHI is regarded as a compulsory insurance. As a UHI right-holder, you can use state hospitals, private hospitals and university hospitals. The UHI covers almost all health problems including operations, treatment and pregnancy, but excluding plastic surgery.
Hurriyet Daily News/20.08.2010
Your questions about the general health insurance continue to come in. Today, the first question is from Clive. He says:
“We have read with interest your recent two articles in the Hürriyet Daily News about universal health insurance, or UHI, but have heard that this scheme only applies to resident expatriates who are employed in Turkey. Is this true, and, if so, is there a similar scheme for resident expatriates who have retired here and are not employed? We are too old for private health insurance policies, and there is apparently no reciprocal arrangement between British and Turkish health authorities, so we would be most interested in a Turkish state scheme [ideally at a lower cost] for retired people.”
Dear Clive, not only employees but also other foreigners should apply (if they have other conditions) for UHI. It does not matter your age or your retirement. If you have these four conditions:
· If you are foreigner
· If you are not insured your country
· If you have a residence permit
· If you have completed one year in Turkey
You should be registered as UHI-insured. The lowest premium amount is 182 Turkish Liras. This premium covers both husband and wife.
The second question came from Gerhard. He asks:
“Dear Sadettin Orhan, last Saturday I read your article with great interest. I am Austrian, my wife German, both residing in Turkey for 25 years. My wife is still running a small personal company, while I have been retired for a number of years. We are both covered by Austrian health insurance, which is only valid in Austria and to a certain extent in EU countries. In case of emergency we could reclaim some medical expenses in Turkey, but for normal medical treatment we have to shoulder all expenditure ourselves. Could we, in our case, join the UHI system? Your answer would be very much appreciated. Best regards.”
Dear Gerhard, if your health insurance does not cover treatment in Turkey, you can apply for UHI.
The third question from Shaun. Shaun asks:
“Thank you for an interesting article; until you wrote this article I was unaware of this scheme. What is not mentioned in your article is exactly what UHI will provide to those who register for it. Does it simply mean we will be able to use the Turkish health service as Turkish citizens do, or is it a separate scheme? I should be grateful if you could let me have any more information that you have on this topic. Regards.”
Dear Shaun, citizenship does not change UHI regulations. Foreigners and Turks are subject to the same regulations. There is no distinction in terms of any insurance coverage.
The last question is from Theresa. She says:
“Dear Sadettin Bey, I found your email address at the end of the article in the Hürriyet Daily News and I have a few questions I hope you will be able to answer about the new health insurance law for foreigners. As I have been in Turkey for over a year I will come under the law and so:
1) I currently have private medical insurance [yatarak] which covers me and my son. Will I also be obliged to take out SSK [UHI] insurance as well or will private Turkish medical insurance be accepted instead?
2) When people take out the SSK insurance, what kind of cover does that provide them with? I.e., will they access the same services equivalent to those an employed Turkish person has? Best.”
Dear Theresa, even if you have private health insurance, you should apply for UHI. The UHI is regarded as a compulsory insurance. As a UHI right-holder, you can use state hospitals, private hospitals and university hospitals. The UHI covers almost all health problems including operations, treatment and pregnancy, but excluding plastic surgery.
Hurriyet Daily News/20.08.2010
