As one of the social insurance branches applied in Turkey, maternity insurance in the social insurance system is designed to provide financial and medical support to working women during pregnancy, after childbirth and while breastfeeding.
The maternity insurance is being implemented as mixed with the health insurance and the work accident and occupational diseases insurance in the Turkish social insurance system. The system is being applied and governed by the Turkish Social Security Institution (SSI) which is an independent public body related to he Ministry of Labour and Social Security.
Pregnancy and maternity period of the insured woman or the insured man’s uninsured spouse, or of the woman who receives income or pension due to her own work, or the uninsured spouse of the man who receives income or pension, is considered as the state of “maternity” according to the Turkish Law. The last eight weeks before the birth (in case of multiple pregnancy ten weeks) and the following eight weeks after the birth are also considered within the state of maternity.
A range of benefits to insured women who are pregnant or have recently given birth are being provided within the scope of this insurance. These benefits include:
- Medical coverage for prenatal care and delivery,
- Cash benefits for loss of income as a result of temporary disability during pregnancy and after birth,
- Breastfeeding allowance for the new-borns.
Medical coverage for prenatal care and delivery includes coverage for all necessary medical expenses related to the pregnancy and delivery, such as doctor’s appointments, lab tests, and hospital stays. This helps to ensure that expectant mothers have access to the necessary medical care they need to have a healthy pregnancy and delivery. The rules for the financing of healthcare services are being regulated in the Health Transactions Communique of the SSI.
Cash benefits for the loss of income during pregnancy and after birth is provided to women who are unable to work (temporarily disability) due to their pregnancy or sickness after childbirth. The amount of the benefit is calculated based on the woman’s earnings before her leave. The cash benefit is intended to help women to have a healthy pregnancy and childbirth by providing financial support during the period that she is unable to work.
Breastfeeding allowance is another benefit provided from the maternity insurance. Breastfeeding allowance is given for newborns and is provided for each child on the basis of the rate valid on the date of birth to help cover the costs associated with the breastfeeding of the child. This benefit is intended to help families with the additional expenses that come with having a new baby. In order to be able to be paid breastfeeding allowance to the insured woman or to the insured man due to the birth of her uninsured spouse, at least 120 days of short-term insurance premiums must be reported to the SSI within the year before the birth. For those who work on their own behalf and on their own account, in addition to this, the premium and all kinds of debts related to the premium, including the general health insurance premium, must be paid. Breastfeeding allowance applied in the calendar year of 2023 is TRL 520.00 per child. It is being paid to the name of the mother and should be withdrawn within 5 years after the payment to the account.
In sum, the maternity insurance in the Turkish social insurance system is designed to provide financial and medical support to working women during pregnancy, after childbirth and while breastfeeding. The benefits of medical coverage for prenatal care and delivery, cash benefits for loss of income during pregnancy and after birth and breastfeeding allowance are provided within this social insurance branch. Among many other provisions of the Turkish labour and social security legislation, maternity insurance is one of the positive discriminatory regulations for women in the Turkish law.
