The Q & A day
Questions regarding UHI continue to be asked so today I will give priority to these questions
My last few articles were related to United Health Insurance, or UHI. Today, however, I wanted to write about something else, yet questions regarding UHI continue to be asked so today I will give priority to these questions. The first question is from Terry. She asks:
“Merhaba Sadettin Bey. I have just read your article in Hurriyet “Attention to this date.” I don’t doubt you will be bombarded with questions and I’m afraid my mail will just add to them. While I have no problems being treated the same as a Turk while residing in Turkey and expect to pay my way, my question relates to the common law status of a de facto couple. In the UK my partner and I are recognized as partners and recognized as being the mother and father of our daughter. We’ve been together some 13 years and have had no desire to formally marry. Your article states “The monthly payment covers spouses and children.” If John makes the monthly payment does that mean my daughter and myself are covered, or just my daughter? Or will we both have to make monthly payments? Hoping you can help with a worrying situation, Kind Regards.”
Dear Terry, “The monthly payment covers spouses and children” means officially married couples pay a single monthly premium. In Turkish law, as you may know, unofficial marriages (de facto partnerships) are not legally recognized as marriage. Accordingly, John will pay a single premium for himself and your child. You will also pay the premium for yourself.
The second question is from Rosemarie. She asks:
“Dear Mister Orhan, we read your article in the HDN on Sunday, and of course there are questions. My husband and I have been living in Turkey for 15 years now, we are of German origin, but we are not insured in Germany. Whenever we wanted to be insured in Turkey with whichever insurance company, we happened to be too old: once we were 60 and then 65, so we did not make it into private insurance.
We both have residence permits, we live close to Datca, Mugla. So, did I read your article right if I presume that we have to go to Datca with our residence permits, our Turkish ID numbers and our passports and apply there for health insurance? Looking forward to your answer.”
Dear Rosemarie, there is no age limit for UHI. You and your husband can apply for UHI. As I understand, there is no social security directorate in Datca. However, you can apply at the Muğla directorate.
The last question is about bureaucratic procedures. The reader asks:
“Dear Orhan, thanks for the questions and the answers. I am a Belgian citizen and my wife is Turkish-Belgian. I am not officially retired but I am no longer working (a special status for teachers in Belgium). For that reason my Belgian insurance is only valid in Belgium and EU countries. I applied for the UHI and began to pay each month in Istanbul-Beyoğlu. But for the summer I am living in Marmaris, from May to October. Two problems: it’s impossible to pay the monthly fee for more than one month, and also impossible to pay from the bank. You have to go always to the place where you are registered. So my UHI expired in June and I can't pay (I want to but it seems impossible). Is there a solution?”
Dear reader, unfortunately, UHI premiums can not be paid through banks. Of course, this is a primitive practice. I expect Social Security Institution officials will find the solution to this problem as soon as possible.
Hurriyet Daily News/27.08.2010
My last few articles were related to United Health Insurance, or UHI. Today, however, I wanted to write about something else, yet questions regarding UHI continue to be asked so today I will give priority to these questions. The first question is from Terry. She asks:
“Merhaba Sadettin Bey. I have just read your article in Hurriyet “Attention to this date.” I don’t doubt you will be bombarded with questions and I’m afraid my mail will just add to them. While I have no problems being treated the same as a Turk while residing in Turkey and expect to pay my way, my question relates to the common law status of a de facto couple. In the UK my partner and I are recognized as partners and recognized as being the mother and father of our daughter. We’ve been together some 13 years and have had no desire to formally marry. Your article states “The monthly payment covers spouses and children.” If John makes the monthly payment does that mean my daughter and myself are covered, or just my daughter? Or will we both have to make monthly payments? Hoping you can help with a worrying situation, Kind Regards.”
Dear Terry, “The monthly payment covers spouses and children” means officially married couples pay a single monthly premium. In Turkish law, as you may know, unofficial marriages (de facto partnerships) are not legally recognized as marriage. Accordingly, John will pay a single premium for himself and your child. You will also pay the premium for yourself.
The second question is from Rosemarie. She asks:
“Dear Mister Orhan, we read your article in the HDN on Sunday, and of course there are questions. My husband and I have been living in Turkey for 15 years now, we are of German origin, but we are not insured in Germany. Whenever we wanted to be insured in Turkey with whichever insurance company, we happened to be too old: once we were 60 and then 65, so we did not make it into private insurance.
We both have residence permits, we live close to Datca, Mugla. So, did I read your article right if I presume that we have to go to Datca with our residence permits, our Turkish ID numbers and our passports and apply there for health insurance? Looking forward to your answer.”
Dear Rosemarie, there is no age limit for UHI. You and your husband can apply for UHI. As I understand, there is no social security directorate in Datca. However, you can apply at the Muğla directorate.
The last question is about bureaucratic procedures. The reader asks:
“Dear Orhan, thanks for the questions and the answers. I am a Belgian citizen and my wife is Turkish-Belgian. I am not officially retired but I am no longer working (a special status for teachers in Belgium). For that reason my Belgian insurance is only valid in Belgium and EU countries. I applied for the UHI and began to pay each month in Istanbul-Beyoğlu. But for the summer I am living in Marmaris, from May to October. Two problems: it’s impossible to pay the monthly fee for more than one month, and also impossible to pay from the bank. You have to go always to the place where you are registered. So my UHI expired in June and I can't pay (I want to but it seems impossible). Is there a solution?”
Dear reader, unfortunately, UHI premiums can not be paid through banks. Of course, this is a primitive practice. I expect Social Security Institution officials will find the solution to this problem as soon as possible.
Hurriyet Daily News/27.08.2010
