The Q & A day
More answers to questions about universal health insurance and residents permits in Turkey.
Q: Dear Orhan Bey,
I read your recent column regarding the availability of UHI insurance for foreigners under Law 5510. I want to apply for UHI. Could you please advise me of the application procedure for this? Thank you. Kurt.
A: Dear Kurt, to register for Universal Health Insurance, or UHI, you can apply at the nearest Social Security Directorate (Sosyal Güvenlik Müdürlüğü), which has an office in located every city. When applying for UHI, remember to have these documents ready:
– Your residence permit document;
– Turkish ID number;
– Your passport.
After the application, you will be registered as insured.
Q: Hello Sadettin,
We went to the recommended office here in Fethiye for UHI registration and were told that we need to go to Muğla to register. The distance between the towns is probably over 100 kilometers. Surely there must be a local office where we can register? Come Oct. 1 it is unlikely that many local expats will be registering.
There seems to be little or no local information available, just rumors, and we are getting so close to the deadline, it's going to be pandemonium come that date. We don't want to break the law. Colin.
A: Dear Colin, you are absolutely right. The Social Security Institution, or SSI, should take precautions against the possible confusion. Thank you for highlighting this sensitivity.
Q: Dear Sadettin Orhan,
I have a residence permit. This is my third residence permit. After that, can I get a permanent residence permit? Best regards. Nancy.
A: Dear Nancy, I have written several articles about residence and work permits in the past. The residence permit can only be renewed a maximum of four times. According to Law 5683, Article 9, “Residency permits granted to foreigners shall not be more than five years.” However, in practice, taking into account the principle of reciprocity there may be an extended permit period.
Q: If I apply to private hospital as a Universal Health Insurance holder, should I pay extra fees? Jamal.
Q: Dear Jamal, if you apply to private hospital or private university hospital, you pay 30 percent of the total health costs. The remaining 70 percent is paid by SSI. Apart from that, you pay 15 Turkish Liras as a fixed contribution.
Hurriyet Daily News/24.09.2010
Q: Dear Orhan Bey,
I read your recent column regarding the availability of UHI insurance for foreigners under Law 5510. I want to apply for UHI. Could you please advise me of the application procedure for this? Thank you. Kurt.
A: Dear Kurt, to register for Universal Health Insurance, or UHI, you can apply at the nearest Social Security Directorate (Sosyal Güvenlik Müdürlüğü), which has an office in located every city. When applying for UHI, remember to have these documents ready:
– Your residence permit document;
– Turkish ID number;
– Your passport.
After the application, you will be registered as insured.
Q: Hello Sadettin,
We went to the recommended office here in Fethiye for UHI registration and were told that we need to go to Muğla to register. The distance between the towns is probably over 100 kilometers. Surely there must be a local office where we can register? Come Oct. 1 it is unlikely that many local expats will be registering.
There seems to be little or no local information available, just rumors, and we are getting so close to the deadline, it's going to be pandemonium come that date. We don't want to break the law. Colin.
A: Dear Colin, you are absolutely right. The Social Security Institution, or SSI, should take precautions against the possible confusion. Thank you for highlighting this sensitivity.
Q: Dear Sadettin Orhan,
I have a residence permit. This is my third residence permit. After that, can I get a permanent residence permit? Best regards. Nancy.
A: Dear Nancy, I have written several articles about residence and work permits in the past. The residence permit can only be renewed a maximum of four times. According to Law 5683, Article 9, “Residency permits granted to foreigners shall not be more than five years.” However, in practice, taking into account the principle of reciprocity there may be an extended permit period.
Q: If I apply to private hospital as a Universal Health Insurance holder, should I pay extra fees? Jamal.
Q: Dear Jamal, if you apply to private hospital or private university hospital, you pay 30 percent of the total health costs. The remaining 70 percent is paid by SSI. Apart from that, you pay 15 Turkish Liras as a fixed contribution.
Hurriyet Daily News/24.09.2010
