Calis Beach and Fethiye Turkey Discussion Forum
Information and Services in Turkey Section => Health & Healthcare => Topic started by: bigbear on February 14, 2012, 05:36:37 AM
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My wife and I went last Thursday to the office in Mugla and completed a form for application with no problem. Many of or friends in this area have done the same. We were informed that we would pay 200 tl montly being the rate for UK expats and receive confirmation soon, We were informed that it is still law. Bigbear.
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havent we been around this barbecue before?
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"It is still law"? What is?
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We registered,went to pay today have no record of us,so would not take the payment utter farce............
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Like you I registered but,now what do you do? When I registered they didnt give me any paperwork or a ref number. So,what happens now where do you go to pay or get a reference number to pay by direct debit? As you say it sounds a right farce.I'm sure there are many who will want to join but, have no idea what to do next.
quote:
Originally posted by milliemars
We registered,went to pay today have no record of us,so would not take the payment utter farce............
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Dempava, I just asked this question on another forum. When we registered on 27th Jan the lady in the SGK office said they would write to us in Feb, not received anything yet.
The person who answered my query said they had been back to SGK to check if they had been accepted, were told yes, go to Ziraat Bank and pay. Apparently they don't give you anything paperwork wise or a ref number, you use your Kimlik number.
We plan to call into the SGK ourselves shortly and see if this is correct. As suggested chaos as usual. No info, no instructions, no organisation - just deadlines !!
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I intend to attempt payment at the Government bank tomorrow.
Watch this space! :)
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Hi Leeglo, I was Lady on other Forum and yes we did go back to SGK to check if we were now on system. We were on system (we registerd 23rd Jan) and today went to Ziraat bank and paid the two months of Jan and Feb. went back to SGK showed them our receipt and they confirmed we are now covered. Just need to quote husbands kimlik number when we need treatment at hospital etc. Our friend who registered on the 30th was told her application would take another few days to process so maybe yours will be on by early next week.
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Hi Evie
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We were on system (we registerd 23rd Jan) and today went to Ziraat bank and paid the two months of Jan and Feb.
Why pay 2 months if you only registered 23 Jan? surely you could not access the service without being registered so 23 days before registering should be taken off the price [?] or am I being a bit slow here :-\ C
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No I queried this at SGK but they said it was right - I think each area SGK seems to have its own rules
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If you register any time after 1st Jan you have to pay backdated payment from and including Jan 2012.
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Does not seem quite fair since, had you needed hospital treatment you would have ? been refused because you were not on the register OR would you have been reimbursed: :)
PS I know. I know this IS Turkey lol C
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is the cost for a single person still the same for a married couple?
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yes same price
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My meandering through three Government Banks,the Kaymakan's office and the SGK office this morning inclines me to confirm Evie's account of how payment should be made.
I was unable to pay but apparently those who registered prior to Jan 25th are now on the system and the rest of us should appear before the end of February.
This assumes that we have completed our registration forms correctly!
I am aware that some forum members have become stressed and frustrated by this issue.
I have decided to regard it as a positive way of spending my days in retirement as it provides a welcome break from endless days golfing at the Sarigerme links or sailing from Dalaman marina ;)
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I just want to say thanks Evie for all that useful information. BTW I wasn't questioning your post on the "other" forum, just that I didn't know then if you were in Fethiye or elsewhere. Thanks again, we'll go in on Monday and see if they have us on board, if so we'll have to raid the piggy bank and go pay our dues.
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This has probably been covered somewhere before but I cannot find it. Can you pay your SGK by direct debit, or do you have to hand over the cash at Zirrat Bank. If we opened a current account at Zirrat Bank where a direct debit could be taken from, then that would be a lot easier. Also does anyone know if the due date for payments are taken on just one day a month (say the lst of each month), or at any time in the month.
Thank you.
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Asked at Garanti Bank and HSBC and at SGK and all said no direct debit facility available yet but hopefully once system under way then direct debit system may be set up. Don't know about if you bank with Zirrat
LeeGlo let me know how you get on and whether you have to pay the full month of January as I did even though I didn't register until 23rd Jan.Seems to vary in different areas of Turkey.
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Evie, yes I noticed people in other areas saying they had only paid back to registration date. Another case of different places different interpretations - I do wish they'd all sing from the same sheet !! I'll post next week to let you know how we got on.
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I pay at Vakif Bank we do not hve an account there. When we joined we had to make payments back to the 1st of the month, even though we joined on the 10th of the month.
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We got our letter today. As we have only had an RP for 6 weeks we thought that if we received anything it would be an offer to join in 12 months but it seems we are being told we can join now.
Does that mean we have to join and join now?
Ian (confused - I feel a trip to Atak coming on) :)
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Fig has someone coming to our coffee morning this week to answer questions about the scheme, Hopefully he will be able to iron out most of these queries. Last week we had people from the Esnaf but they werent able to tell us much about the scheme itself, just how it works when using them
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As mentioned before, we only got our residency this year and were told to wait for one year before applying. But my question is :
Are we covered for our first year or not. ?
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I would say No as you have not paid any money into the SGK fund and are not registered on they're system yet.
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Well here's a quick update as promised to Evie. We went first to the SGK office on Monday morning to make sure we were actually on the system. Computer says yeah ... Lady says go to Ziraat Bank, give husbands kimlik number and pay.
So off to Ziraat Bank we go, stand in line for about 20 minutes, not too bad as some folks looked like they'd been there all morning. Anyway, we still couldn't pay, the chap on the counter said the SGK payment system was down. So we can look forward to another trip to Fethiye later in the week.
Wouldn't it have been much better for all concerned if they (SGK) had sorted out an account number to give to everyone so that they could pay into it by direct debit from their own bank ? Ah - but that would be logical LOL.
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We registered on the 24th January, went into Ziraat bank today to try and pay, only to find out we are not on the system yet.
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Does anyone know if you start paying and your circumstances change and you return to the UK permanently other than holidays can you just stop paying and revert to travel insurance without and issues or penalties or do you have to pay until your visa runs out ?
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Hi Ian
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Does anyone know if you start paying and your circumstances change and you return to the UK permanently other than holidays can you just stop paying and revert to travel insurance without and issues or penalties or do you have to pay until your visa runs out ?
We were told yesterday, 'if you stop paying for 3 months you will be removed from the system.[?] Nothing mentioned about rejoining the system or paying a fine, however ... if you are late paying (i.e. a few days )there will be a small fine!!!!! If you check on the forum there is to be a meeting today at FIG perhaps they can offer more info. Regards :) C
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Just found this. Should help with any decision making regarding registering:
Two weeks of uncertainty and conjecture is hopefully over as the British Embassy clarify the UHI rules with the Turkish Authorities.
The Embassy issued the following information on their website late yesterday:
<<START OF STATEMENT>>
"This is an update to our notice earlier today 25 January about the sudden changes to the Turkish health insurance system which have introduced compulsory state health insurance for foreigners when they have been in Turkey as registered residents for over a year. Foreigners in this category are required to join the system by the end of January or face a fine for non-payment.
The Ambassador and a consular team called on the Turkish authorities today. He set our concerns over the substance, cost, lack of clarity and short notice of the change that has been announced.
After further discussion, we have established with the Turkish authorities that the situation is now as follows:
- Following our representations, the new compulsory requirement to register for Turkish health insurance will NOT (NOT) apply to British residents in Turkey.
- But British residents who have already chosen to join the Turkish system will be allowed to continue in it.
- And other British residents will be allowed to join the Turkish scheme if they wish to do so.
- Under the rules in their current form, those who have been resident for over a year and delay joining the Turkish system beyond the deadline of 31 January 2012 can choose to join later; but they would have to make a backdated payment to cover the period from 31 January if they had been resident in Turkey for a year at that date, and pay a fine.
- We are in continuing contact with the Turkish authorities over all this, including about the fine given that the situation remains confused and that our resident community members have not had adequate time or information to make such an important decision.
- We will let you know as soon as we have more information."
<<END OF STATEMENT>>
The above is taken from the British FCO website verbatim as of 25.01.12 at 23.15 UTC
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Very interesting - as it was a month ago when it first appeared on CBF: {A Link to an old CBF topic was here - no longer available}45259&whichpage=31
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Hadn't read it before. If it is true, why is there all the panic?
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Where is there panic Colin? :D
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Cinders - many thanks - it really is the detail that is lacking - lots of generalizations made but not enough detailed information.
I thought we were registering with a view to be on the system and then to start paying (which we are happy to do so) after one year of residency. (Jan 2013).
I have already paid (quite large sums) to have comprehensive cover for a 4 month - 3 month and 3 month spells in Turkey this year.
But now I am not sure if I am expected to pay directly because I registered to avoid the fine - not to start.
Ah well - I am sure all will be revealed..................
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I visited Ziraat Bank again this morning. I am now on their system and duly paid for January and February.
I was informed that not all foreigners are yet on the system but they are catching up quickly :)
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quote:
Originally posted by jonuzumlu
I visited Ziraat Bank again this morning. I am now on their system and duly paid for January and February.
I was informed that not all foreigners are yet on the system but they are catching up quickly :)
Thanks for that info - hopefully we will be on when we try again on Monday. BTW we're still waiting for the registration confirmation letter we were supposed to receive in Feb. Not even had the first one telling us we HAD to join yet !!!
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I have yet to receive any written communication. I do however have a receipt for my payment :D ;)
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We have had no letters but dont really expect one as we already pay SSK at their top ceiling rate and also have private insurance so we wont be doing anything.
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Starman..what is SGK top ceiling rate? Is it more than the 212 lira per couple everyone believes they will be paying and if it is more what extra do you get? Also does anyone know the difference between SGK and Bag Kur which varies each month and is nearer 300 lira than 200 lira per month?
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Is there anywhere you can find out what this insurance covers,i.e. pre existing conditions etc?I have had back surgery in Antalya to stabilise my spine.All ok now thankgoodness but if I injured my back would I be covered for any treatment required?Also I find the payment required for couples or just one person is very unfair.Surely a single persons payment should be at least a 3rd less!!!!!
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i am confused as i am 75 years old i have pacemaker with heart prob also diabetic with prostat prob i cannot see how it will benefit me as they are existing probs so do not want to apply is it compulsory can anyone help
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Saw this link on another site;
Turkish Government Clarifies Universal Health Insurance Scheme Conditions for Foreigners
www.fethiyetimes.com
hope it helps C
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quote:
Originally posted by joemerc
i am confused as i am 75 years old i have pacemaker with heart prob also diabetic with prostat prob i cannot see how it will benefit me as they are existing probs so do not want to apply is it compulsory can anyone help
NO it is NOT compulsory. If you don't want to join you don't have to join.
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Ref SGK. We have received a letter confirming registration and whent to the goverment bank gave our Kimlik No and we were on their records and paid. We were given a receipt. I havw check with a private hospital in Marmaris and they check their computor and we are on it.Hope this information helps.
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thanks for reply so i do not have to join but do i still have to register
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quote:
Originally posted by joemerc
thanks for reply so i do not have to join but do i still have to register
Registering and joining are the same thing. If you register you must start to pay. You don't have to do anything if you don't want to be part of the scheme!
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i would urge anyone that has serious health problems to get treatment in uk if possible, after living in turkey for the last 4 years and now dealing with nhs hospitals again we forgot how good they are, they are far far advanced in medical treatment than turkey
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quote:
Originally posted by LeeGlo
quote:
Originally posted by joemerc
i am confused as i am 75 years old i have pacemaker with heart prob also diabetic with prostat prob i cannot see how it will benefit me as they are existing probs so do not want to apply is it compulsory can anyone help
NO it is NOT compulsory. If you don't want to join you don't have to join.
But as I understand from a reliable source that now that it is clear that it is not compulsory after all...
if you would not have joined the scheme if you had known this is this case and now wish to leave - you can't.
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Another case of different strokes etc.... In some area's people are being advised that if they have registered (when they thought it was compulsory) but do NOT wish to join they must take a letter to the SGK office to that effect. Other people say if you don't pay for a couple of months they kick you out of the scheme anyway so you don't need to do anything.
So for joemerc: If you haven't registered you don't need to do anything, if you have well .... the jury is still out on whether you need to tell the SGK office to cancel your registration.
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We registered even though we had our 1st residency for 6 weeks and we received a letter but it was not the same letter as our friends who have been here on a residency for 4 years. Their's had dates and an amount to pay whilst our basically seemed to be saying - we have your details on our system.
So I am still assuming they do not expect me to start paying until I have been here for 12 months - famous last words ........
Ian
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Thats right Ian. x
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If you have "isssues" over the SGK please add them to the topic below.
It is an opportunity to inform a report that being prepared for the British Government about the issues facing British nationals living in Turkey.
Thanks
{A Link to an old CBF topic was here - no longer available}45961
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quote:
Originally posted by tracey1398
i would urge anyone that has serious health problems to get treatment in uk if possible, after living in turkey for the last 4 years and now dealing with nhs hospitals again we forgot how good they are, they are far far advanced in medical treatment than turkey
Not always. When Eric had a heart mumour diagnosed he had the scans etc done here in Fethiye. They changed his medication (from the NHS rubbish the Heart consultant claimed)and when we later showed the new medication, which works better than his previous NHS medication, to the UK doc he said it was the best medication around but he was not allowed to issue it due to NHS high costs!
So therefore Eric would have been left on medication that did not work and take his chances. Not my idea of the best treatment available
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well everyones experience is their own and im glad it was better for your husband but mine has been left permantly disabled due to the operations and care he recieved
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Went to SGK today i registered then recieved a letter that said because my RP was not yet 1 year old i am not accepted into the scheme. but as it costs double for single people and my private ins is a lot cheaper i have decided not to join . nice lady in SGK office said that if i still wanted to join iwould have to fill out form again in April when my RP is one year old so i won't bother.
for me private ins is 1080tl per year, i was 55 when i joined it (second year of having it) in hospital treatment only unlimited. also lots of people want to know how do we cancel or get out of the scheme? she said keep in contact with your embassey thinks something will change in the near future. at the moment if you join you must pay she said.???
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Just a personal update on SGK. Paid at Zirrat Bank last Thursday (all 3 months unfortunately). Got raging toothache yesterday so went to the Devlet hospital in town (between Migros and Market
Traffic Lights.). Was in the Dentist Chair within 20 mins, had the Xray, given two injections, and had the tooth out. Total time from in to out was 45 mins. I never felt a thing and the place must have had about 10 Dentists all working there. It was clean, and had modern equipment. No charge as I had SGK.
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quote:
Originally posted by tracey1398
i would urge anyone that has serious health problems to get treatment in uk if possible, after living in turkey for the last 4 years and now dealing with nhs hospitals again we forgot how good they are, they are far far advanced in medical treatment than turkey
Sorry,but I have to disagree with you.I had 2 major surgerys to my spine last year at the Akdeniz Hastanesi in Antalya and couldnt fault the medical teams.I had a previous surgery in the Uk which was unsuccesful.These recent operations have recified years of pain and lack of mobility.The cleanliness of the hospital was much better than I have experienced in NHS hospitals with the cleaning staff coming twice a day to wipe down the rooms and clean the floors.Even climbing on chairs to clean surfaces above head height.You wouldnt get that in the UK.It was also about a quarter of the price I would have had to pay if I'd gone private in the Uk to save me being on a 6 month waiting list.
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Joined SGK 23rd Jan - on system 15th Feb and paid two months subscription at Ziraat bank (as previously mentioned). Went over to Esnaf hospital where checked I was on system and refunded me 460TL of the 540TL I paid for treatment in early Feb.
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Friend of mine joined SGK with many existing conditions - went to Esnaf - no problem all treated on SGK
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That's excellent news Evie. We finally managed to pay on 29th Feb for Jan & Feb same as you. Checked with the chemist in Fethiye yesterday and we are now on the system.
Just a small question, while we were in Ziraat bank we spoke to someone (expat) who advised us that we would need to keep taking our receipts to the SGK office to prove payment as the bank's system wasn't directly linked. Has anybody else been told this officially.
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If the systems were not linked you would be unable to pay at the bank.
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When I was in Ziraat bank the cashier did say that although they can see the amount owing for SGK on their system, they can not see a breakdown of what that amount consists of (I went in expecting to pay 2 months but it was showing a higher amount due which did equate to 3 months payment, however the cashier couldn't see these details on his system). So there is obviously some link between SGK & the bank's system but not a full one. Just keep hold of all payment receipts.
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Been in to Ziraat bank this morning to pay our March SSG payment, handed over 220tl the guy took it and then gave us back 71.10, saying only 148.90 owing. We paid 425tl last month for January and February. We ask why the reduction and of course he didn't know. Has this happened to anybody else?
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Well that's good news, maybe they have now re-calculated to the actual registration date, as they seem to have done in some other areas. Hope we get a rebate when we go to pay for March.
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quote:
Originally posted by Diverbaz 1
Been in to Ziraat bank this morning to pay our March SSG payment, handed over 220tl the guy took it and then gave us back 71.10, saying only 148.90 owing. We paid 425tl last month for January and February. We ask why the reduction and of course he didn't know. Has this happened to anybody else?
We paid 390 lira yesterday for Jan & Feb and next month he said 213 lira. Has anyone found if you can pay it through your own bank yet nightmare that Ziraat bank :D
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What happened to the March payment???
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Have been told to pay on the 15th April [?]
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quote:
Originally posted by tylerbabe
Have been told to pay on the 15th April [?]
This is what they quoted for the back payment ,