Emergency health care is free of charge
This week, I will answer a follow-up question about universal health insurance and provide details about the new online tracking system for work-permit applications.
This week, I have received a follow-up question about universal health insurance from Mr. and Mrs. Molloy. They write:
“Dear Orhan, We are living in the small village of Kadılalesi, in Muğla, and were very interested in your April 11 article [about universal health insurance]. Where would be our nearest place to register? Would we be covered right away, or would we have to wait 12 months like in the U.K.? Would this cover treatment at our (very good) local clinic, in Turgutreis? Would this cover ambulances service, as we live 5 kilometers from Turgutreis? I would like to say we not only enjoy this column but also the whole newspaper. Best regards, Mr. and Mrs. Colin Molloy”
Dear Mr. and Mrs. Molloy, Thank you for your interest in my article and for your kind comments. I wish you a happy life in Kadılalesi. To register for universal health insurance, or UHI, you can apply to the Muğla Social Security Directorate (Muğla Sosyal Güvenlik İl Müdürlüğü, Orhaniye Mah. Haluk Özsoy Cad. No.29 Muğla 48000). According to Law No. 5510, people holding a residence permit in Turkey who are not insured in a foreign country are considered within the framework of UHI provisions. If your health problems are covered by the U.K. health-insurance system, you can not apply for UHI. If they are not, you can. You must also reside in Turkey for at least one year to have the right to apply for UHI.
However, in the event of emergency health problems, both insured and uninsured people can apply directly to hospitals in Turkey. All hospitals, both private and public, have to serve patients in such cases. Do not pay any fee for emergency medical services, including ambulance services. Insurance is not required for ambulance or other emergency services.
[HH] Tracking work-permit process online
For foreigners, the work-permit procedure is one of the most problematic issues in Turkey. Before now, after applying for a work permit, you had to wait impatiently to find out the result of the application. However, the Ministry of Labor and Social Security has provided an important streamlining of the work-permit system that allows applicants to follow the progress of their application online. The new system operates like this:
– Your e-mail address must be correct and indicate the applicant. Incorrect, incomplete and aberrant e-mail addresses will not be accepted by the system.
– After your documents arrive at the ministry’s Document Registry, your e-mail address will be registered to the system, which will send you an automatic message including your document number and a password to use in order to enter the system.
– You can enter the system with your document number and password.
The following transactions can be performed within the new online system:
– You can view your original application document.
– You can have interactive communication with ministry personnel about your document.
– You will be able to see all stages of the processing of your document in detail.
– You will receive an automatic e-mail when the processing of your document is finished.
Specific changes in regulations like this one are helping make the work-permit process easier for foreign workers. I would like to thank the Ministry of Labor and Social Security for this improvement and express my hope that it continues minimizing the bureaucratic process.
Hurriyet Daily News/30.04.2010
This week, I have received a follow-up question about universal health insurance from Mr. and Mrs. Molloy. They write:
“Dear Orhan, We are living in the small village of Kadılalesi, in Muğla, and were very interested in your April 11 article [about universal health insurance]. Where would be our nearest place to register? Would we be covered right away, or would we have to wait 12 months like in the U.K.? Would this cover treatment at our (very good) local clinic, in Turgutreis? Would this cover ambulances service, as we live 5 kilometers from Turgutreis? I would like to say we not only enjoy this column but also the whole newspaper. Best regards, Mr. and Mrs. Colin Molloy”
Dear Mr. and Mrs. Molloy, Thank you for your interest in my article and for your kind comments. I wish you a happy life in Kadılalesi. To register for universal health insurance, or UHI, you can apply to the Muğla Social Security Directorate (Muğla Sosyal Güvenlik İl Müdürlüğü, Orhaniye Mah. Haluk Özsoy Cad. No.29 Muğla 48000). According to Law No. 5510, people holding a residence permit in Turkey who are not insured in a foreign country are considered within the framework of UHI provisions. If your health problems are covered by the U.K. health-insurance system, you can not apply for UHI. If they are not, you can. You must also reside in Turkey for at least one year to have the right to apply for UHI.
However, in the event of emergency health problems, both insured and uninsured people can apply directly to hospitals in Turkey. All hospitals, both private and public, have to serve patients in such cases. Do not pay any fee for emergency medical services, including ambulance services. Insurance is not required for ambulance or other emergency services.
[HH] Tracking work-permit process online
For foreigners, the work-permit procedure is one of the most problematic issues in Turkey. Before now, after applying for a work permit, you had to wait impatiently to find out the result of the application. However, the Ministry of Labor and Social Security has provided an important streamlining of the work-permit system that allows applicants to follow the progress of their application online. The new system operates like this:
– Your e-mail address must be correct and indicate the applicant. Incorrect, incomplete and aberrant e-mail addresses will not be accepted by the system.
– After your documents arrive at the ministry’s Document Registry, your e-mail address will be registered to the system, which will send you an automatic message including your document number and a password to use in order to enter the system.
– You can enter the system with your document number and password.
The following transactions can be performed within the new online system:
– You can view your original application document.
– You can have interactive communication with ministry personnel about your document.
– You will be able to see all stages of the processing of your document in detail.
– You will receive an automatic e-mail when the processing of your document is finished.
Specific changes in regulations like this one are helping make the work-permit process easier for foreign workers. I would like to thank the Ministry of Labor and Social Security for this improvement and express my hope that it continues minimizing the bureaucratic process.
Hurriyet Daily News/30.04.2010
