Calis Beach and Fethiye Turkey Discussion Forum
Information and Services in Turkey Section => Health & Healthcare => Topic started by: wallace on August 23, 2011, 23:50:31 PM
-
Make of this as you will,no consultation with foreign embassies
http://www.voicesnewspaper.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=4959
-
Don't see it as a problem. If your a resident, your not affected. If your on a tourist visa you should have holiday insurance anyway...
-
This is the interesting bit to me - not everyone can afford or get holiday insurance (pre-existing conditions for example). Plus it's obvious they now want to push through the residency issue and make sure those on 90 day visas see that it's worthwhile getting it.
It appears that those foreigners who live here or are here on a 90-day visa will be charged 100TL per visit to the state hospital doctor, but those that have a residence permit and permanent Turkish residence number will only be charged 15TL as per normal.
However, the question arises over those foreign residents who may shy away from such hikes in costs because they can't afford it, or do not have medical insurance because they are too old or have pre-existing conditions.
-
At least (for the moment!)the article does not mention making health insurance compulsory for residents. I still hope, as i'm sure many others do, they do not bring in last years talked about compulsory health insurance. Far better to leave it up to the individual to decide to take it out or pay as you go.
-
Am I missing something here - when I read the article it said the charges would apply to tourists and visa holders (that means the sudden increased holders of 1 to 5 yr visas as we plan to get in January).
It appears that those foreigners who live here or are here on a 90-day visa will be charged 100TL per visit to the state hospital doctor, but those that have a residence permit and permanent Turkish residence number will only be charged 15TL as per normal.
The only people exempt were nationals and permit holders which many have pointed out in the past a residents permit is not the same as a residents visa.
-
sadly we discovered this last week, when Mr Pookie had to take a trip to the Devlet. Almost £100 to check and dress a burn...then a further 60 lire each day to redress it. In the end we visited the chemist and bought cream, dressings, bandages etc all for under 6 lire ! Big thanks to Ambulance Driver Simon by the way xxxxx Animal Aid to the rescue again lol !!!
-
Pookie - do you know if you would have to pay this if you were paying the national insurance (SSK) or would it all have been free?
I am told the SSK is about 265/270 lira per household per month which although it would not be good for us it could be a very good option for those with exisiting medical conditions?
-
We have SGK /Bagkur cost 270tl per month and don't pay it . But I understand Bagkur/SGK is now not available for expats and you have to have SSK at a cost of approx 190tl per person.Long winded process to get existing illness recognised and on this insurance but once done all medication is free with a prescription from hospital or local village doctor.
-
The 190tl covers a husband, wife and children under 18. Or 190 lira for a single person. I am told that the application process was not too difficult and also unlike holiday insurance there is no age limit and also they do cover pre-exisiting illnesses - so for people living here full time and are elderly or have long term health issues such as diabetes this is a good deal.
-
AARRRGGGGHHHH even more confused now so:
is it (per couple) 250/270 tl per month or 190 tl per month
-
I can only say what we are charged and that is 270 tl a month joint insurance. It was 255tl but went up in June to 270tl. I understand from an English friend who has recently applied for Bagkur/SGK that it is no longer available for ex pats and you now have to have SSK insurance at 190tl approx per person, no age limit. Existing illnesses are recognised if you have it confirmed here by a hospital doctor and a report is submitted by him to Ankara for acceptance onto the scheme. After Ankara agree(it can take 3 weeks) the hospital will give you a copy of the report which you keep and submit with every prescription.The pharmacy will copy this report so they can get repayment from the government for the drugs supplied to you, which are mostly free or reduced rate.You cannot go into a pharmacy and ask for the medication and expect it for free. Like the Uk a doctor must give you the prescription. My husband is diabetic and has high blood pressure all his medication is free.Please be aware when we applied for medical insurance we had to have had residency for 1 year before we could apply. I don't know if this has changed.
-
I think that there are 2 systems Bagkur at approx 270tl per couple and then another which is SSK at 190tl for a family. I have no idea why or what the difference is but they are different.
-
Does the Bagkur go towards the state pension and the SSK is only for health?
-
Bagkur/SGK is not linked to a pension medical insurance only. SSK is medical insurance and pension.I understand Bagkur is no longer available. Will let you know when I find out.
-
Bagkur is for self-employed whereas SSK is for employees.
Until last year these insurances where completely separate but now they are both part of the SGK which deals with all insurance issues.
-
We went to the SGK office today to try and get on to what we believed was going to be the SSK system. When we spoke to Cagatay, very helpful, he advised us that he would be entering me onto the Bagkur system. This is a cost of approximately 275TL per month. My understanding is that this system is only open for foreigners at certain times of the year. Looks like we were lucky.
Anyway, we filled out all the documentation, then went to the Ziraat Odasi, beside the Letoon Hospital, got the form stamped and then went back to Cagatay who will now enter me on to the system. We have to go back in about a month, and at that time I will now be live on the system and we should be able to add on my husband.
The only slight blip on the horizon is that due to new regulations, because my husband is in receipt of a pension it seems that we have to get some sort of official document from the British Consul to say that he is not entitled to treatment in the UK on the NHS. We are off to the Consul office tomorrow so we will see what happens there.
-
There are two options in SGK now.
1. General Health Insurance
2. Bag-Kur
Bag-Kur system is giving chance to retire 15 years later and if you chose that one you have to let them know if there is no more retired pension from anywhere else...it means not any problem now before 15 years...and thats not only for expats, all the rules are also same for Turkish citizens...thats cover the couples (on husband's name) and now TL267,84 monthly payments.
General Health Insurance is better for single applications about the cost as TL159.-
Everyone can apply if has got residency more than a year and Turkish kimlik number, thats all.
-
Thanks for the info Neylan :-)