A compulsory public health insurance system called the General Healthcare Insurance has been implemented in Turkey nationwide. The General Healthcare Insurance refers to the compulsory insurance system that ensures that everyone can benefit from healthcare services free of charge (or with symbolic minimum contributions) throughout the country, and can enjoy healthcare services that are financed by the Social Security Institution (SSI).
The Turkish General Healthcare Insurance is based on the principle of residence and is provided regardless of the economic status of citizens and whether they are in the working life or not. In addition, legal foreign residents are also covered under the system.
As of January 1, 2012, almost everyone in Turkey is compulsorily covered by the General Healthcare Insurance. The Turkish General Healthcare Insurance system has been in operation for 11 years as of January 2023.
Active workers, public officers, and people working on their own name and behalf, including foreigners, who are subject to disability, old-age and survivors insurance are automatically covered by the general healthcare insurance and their premiums are paid by their employers or by themselves for independent workers. Approximately 23 million people are covered this way in Turkey.
Retirees are also automatically included in the general healthcare insurance system and can benefit from healthcare services funded by the SSI without the need for additional premium payments. Approximately 13.5 million retirees are covered by the General Health Insurance this way nationwide.
The dependents of employees or retirees also benefit from health services financed by the General Health Insurance, without paying additional premiums. The spouse, single children, and, depending on the situation, the parents of the General Health Insured are considered dependents. Approximately 35 million people are covered by the General Health Insurance in this regard.
Those who are not covered within the system as being a worker, a pensioner, or as a dependent are obliged to undergo an income test and to pay a monthly general healthcare insurance premium. If they are found not to be able to pay the premiums as a result of the income test, their premiums are paid by the state to the SSI. Approximately 13 million people are covered by the system in this regard.
After one year of residence in Turkey, foreigners have the right to be covered by the General Health Insurance and to pay premiums. Foreign students, on the other hand, have the right to be covered by the General Health Insurance if they make a request within three months from the date of school registration and can benefit from publicly financed health services throughout their education life. Approximately 2 million foreigners are covered this way.
In summary, the General Healthcare Insurance has been implemented in Turkey nationwide since 2012. Employees, pensioners, dependents of employees and retirees, and foreigners are covered under the system, which ensures that everyone can benefit from public healthcare services.
