The Q & A day
Your questions answered about public health insurance in Turkey.
Q: Hello Sadettin Bey,
I read your article on July 9, 2010, in the Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review and I have a question for you if you don't mind. I am a dual American/Turkish Citizen. My Turkish is very weak, hence the reason why I am writing to you in English. I have had major surgery on my shoulder and believe I am not fit for military service. How do I look into this further? How do I begin the process of determining whether or not I am fit for service? I tried contacting the Embassy but they were not very helpful at all. Any advice you can give me will be very helpful. I appreciate your time and effort. Sincerely, Ergun.
A: Dear Ergun, the regulation about your status is located in Law number 1111, Article 26, which says: “The medical examination of any person applying to Turkish embassies or consulates abroad claiming to be unfit for military service shall be made at an official hospital deemed appropriate by the embassy or consulate, and the medical reports obtained after the medical examinations shall be sent to the Ministry of Defense after being endorsed by the relevant embassy or consulate. The military procedures for such a person shall be decided by the Ministry of Defense as a result of an investigation to be carried out on the basis of such medical reports. If any objection is raised against such a decision, the procedures shall be carried out according to a medical report obtained following a medical examination to be conducted at a military hospital in the country.”
According to this provision, you must apply to the Turkish Embassy. The embassy will refer you to an appropriate hospital.
Q: Dear Sir,
My wife and I tried to register for UHI coverage at the Muğla SGK Office. Although the people were polite and tried to be helpful, they said we could only apply for registration if we could PROVE (in the form of a letter from the United Kingdom’s Health Service) that we are not covered for treatment in the U.K. The U.K. Health Service’s website clearly states that we are not covered if we have been out of the U.K. for 3 months or more. Please advise me. Thank you for your information. Best regards, David.
A: Dear David, the information given by the SGK Office is true. If your U.K. health insurance covers treatment in Turkey you cannot apply for Turkey’s Universal Health Insurance. Otherwise, you can apply. If you apply to the SGK Office again, you can explain that your U.K. health insurance is not valid for more than three months.
Q:Dear Mr. Orhan,
We read your article in the Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review on Sunday, and of course there are questions.
My husband and I have lived in Turkey for 15 years and are originally of German origin, but we are not insured in Germany. Whenever we wanted to get insured in Turkey with private insurance we happened to be too old – once when we were 60 and then 65. So we did not make it into the private insurance.
We both have residence permits and we live in Muğla. Can we apply for the public UHI? Looking forward to your answer, Rosemarie.
A: Dear Rosemarie, as for what you have told me, your conditions are appropriate to apply for Turkey’s Universal Health Insurance. You can apply at the Muğla SGK Office. Hurriyet Daily News/28.01.2011
Q: Hello Sadettin Bey,
I read your article on July 9, 2010, in the Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review and I have a question for you if you don't mind. I am a dual American/Turkish Citizen. My Turkish is very weak, hence the reason why I am writing to you in English. I have had major surgery on my shoulder and believe I am not fit for military service. How do I look into this further? How do I begin the process of determining whether or not I am fit for service? I tried contacting the Embassy but they were not very helpful at all. Any advice you can give me will be very helpful. I appreciate your time and effort. Sincerely, Ergun.
A: Dear Ergun, the regulation about your status is located in Law number 1111, Article 26, which says: “The medical examination of any person applying to Turkish embassies or consulates abroad claiming to be unfit for military service shall be made at an official hospital deemed appropriate by the embassy or consulate, and the medical reports obtained after the medical examinations shall be sent to the Ministry of Defense after being endorsed by the relevant embassy or consulate. The military procedures for such a person shall be decided by the Ministry of Defense as a result of an investigation to be carried out on the basis of such medical reports. If any objection is raised against such a decision, the procedures shall be carried out according to a medical report obtained following a medical examination to be conducted at a military hospital in the country.”
According to this provision, you must apply to the Turkish Embassy. The embassy will refer you to an appropriate hospital.
Q: Dear Sir,
My wife and I tried to register for UHI coverage at the Muğla SGK Office. Although the people were polite and tried to be helpful, they said we could only apply for registration if we could PROVE (in the form of a letter from the United Kingdom’s Health Service) that we are not covered for treatment in the U.K. The U.K. Health Service’s website clearly states that we are not covered if we have been out of the U.K. for 3 months or more. Please advise me. Thank you for your information. Best regards, David.
A: Dear David, the information given by the SGK Office is true. If your U.K. health insurance covers treatment in Turkey you cannot apply for Turkey’s Universal Health Insurance. Otherwise, you can apply. If you apply to the SGK Office again, you can explain that your U.K. health insurance is not valid for more than three months.
Q:Dear Mr. Orhan,
We read your article in the Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review on Sunday, and of course there are questions.
My husband and I have lived in Turkey for 15 years and are originally of German origin, but we are not insured in Germany. Whenever we wanted to get insured in Turkey with private insurance we happened to be too old – once when we were 60 and then 65. So we did not make it into the private insurance.
We both have residence permits and we live in Muğla. Can we apply for the public UHI? Looking forward to your answer, Rosemarie.
A: Dear Rosemarie, as for what you have told me, your conditions are appropriate to apply for Turkey’s Universal Health Insurance. You can apply at the Muğla SGK Office. Hurriyet Daily News/28.01.2011
