Calis Beach and Fethiye Turkey Discussion Forum
Information and Services in Turkey Section => Health & Healthcare => Topic started by: Sleuth on February 25, 2004, 17:03:19 PM
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Posted - 25 Feb 2004 : 16:29:05
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Excuse me for bringing up a serious question on here,but we were just wondering ?.We have a place in Hisaronu which we only use as a holiday home with only 4 / 5 visits a year. As a future option, we are considering maybe in the future, living permanently out there.As most of the Brits are of a retirement age those that are living over there ,what happens regarding `healthcare` ?? ( Doctors and Hospitals etc,, )for us Brits ?? A subject that needs addressing I think you`ll agree.
Anyway if anyone can offer any information on the above I would appreciate it thanks.
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I see no one has managed to come up with any into - I too would be interested in any info anyone has and also on optican's prices.
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For minor ailments use the chemists they have very good knowlege of most things,if bits are broken or falling off go to the hospital.If you have resident permit Esnaf Hospital will give you discount card.Not had to use them yet but if I ever have the misfortune I will keep you posted.Have heard they are very good.
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Sleuth..in response to your query..we have friends who live in Ovacik. As I remember thay said that they pay around £250 per year each for health insurance. I understand that this covers all their major health needs.Includes hospital treatment, etc. The only exception is doctors visit and doctor emergency call out which if I remember would have increased the premium to £400. I understand that a consultation with adoctor is about £12 + prescription costs. We are going out in April and I will check these figures with them.
Roly
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THERE IS PRIVATE HEALTH INSURANCE IN FETHIYE BUT NOT OVER THE AGE OF 65 YEARS. AXA INSURANCE NEXT TO KAMIL KOC AND LIGHT TOURS OPPOSITE OF COURT BUILDING CAN GIVE YOU ALL INFORMATION, ASK FOR MIHAILA, SHE SPEAKS VERY GOOD ENGLISH AND IS VERY HELPFUL. AS A BRITISH NURSE I HAVE WORKED FOR 5 YEARS IN THE PRIVATE HEALTH SERVICE IN FETHIYE FOR 5 YEARS AND THE CARE IS EXCELLENT, I SUGGEST IF YOU WANT TO TAKE OUT PRIVATE HEALTH INSURANCE I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT YOU TAKE OUT PRIVATE INPATIENT INSURANCE AS OUTPATIENT TREATMENT IS NOT EXPENSIVE.IF YOU NEED ANY HELP CALL IN MARIA'S ENGLISH RESTAURANT AND ASK FOR JANET AND I CAN ARRANGE AN APPOINTMENT FOR YOU TO DISCUSS IT WITH MIHAILA.
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Can anyone tell me if it is possible to get dentistry done whilst on holiday in Turkey. My better half is so disgusted with the state of dentists here that he said he would happily pay for treatment there than feel that he is being ripped off here. He has just been dropped from our dentists practice after being with them for nearly 20 years.They didn't even have the courtesy to tell him, he found out when he tried to make an appointment!
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Yes, it is possible. We know someone who even got new dentures made during a 2-week holiday. There is an English-speaking dentist somewhere on the main harbour road in Fethiye - sorry, can't be more specific, but maybe someone else will know exactly where.
Anne and Terry
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There is an english speaking dentist called Volkan Ozdag in the little road that leads from the back of Kamil Koc office and light tours going towards the indoor market opposite the dry cleaners. He is excellent, I can recommend him
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My friend had an accident when she was over in Calis in May, she slipped on stairs and injured her knee. The next day she went to the new hospital as her knee was swollen. She took along with her a good friend of ours and had x.rays taken, results given and perscriptions for bandage etc. all in under 2 hours. She said the service she received was excellent, the hospital was spotless, which is othing like over here, and it cost her just under £20.00
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I think private health insurance is a must if you are thinking about living in turkey. I have first hand knowledge of an unfortunate person who was extremely ill who ended up with a bill for 8,000 pounds. Please think again.!!!
No problem if it is simole outpatient treatment, this is cheap compared to UK but if you were unfortunate to be really poorly here and end up in hospital it can become expensive, and unfortunately we all think it is never going to happen to us !!!
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Obviously, its personal choice as to whether you take out health insurance or not. I understand from expat. friends that the pay as you go option is the preferred option as most treatment is very reasonably priced. However, should you be unlucky enough to develop a serious illness e.g. cancer/heart problems etc, ongoing treatment could be expensive and limited, and you may even wish to return to Britain for treatment, this is where health insurance would be essential.
Me and my husband are moving to Ovacik in a few weeks and are currently getting quotes.
The three main companies in Britain that povide international health cover are Bupa, Norwich Union and Axa PPP.
Luckily, Pete (hubby). is an independant financial advisor so he has the contacts.
I think the best price for us ( to cover a 36 and 42 year old was about £800 per year ). This gives upto £750000 cover each per year and also covers for repatriation should your treatment warrant it.
Pete has all the info if anyone wants to know more.
Hope this helps.
Jo
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Hi, just to let you know that I developed a serious eye infection whilst out in Calis over the last three months. Late one Friday night I went to a pharmacy near the new hospital and they sold me drops and ointment. By the Monday I could hardly see. Our friend Mehmet at the 3MMMs restaurant insisted that I went to his eye doctor located over Sultan Patisserie in Fethiye. She threw the medicine in the bin, said that it was serious, lesions on the cornea and cysts around the eyeball. She charged 50,000,000 for the initial consultation and I then went back 8 times for check ups, at first on a daily basis, all within the same price. I did have to pay for drops, ointment and anti-biotics(approx 70m) but all of the costs was way below the excess on my insurance policy. It was far better than any treatment I have received in UK (I had actually had a contact lens check up at Specsavers only 10 days before and they noticed nothing). The eye doctor who also carries out eye operations at the new hospital even brought in her husband (yet another eye doctor) to interpret for us. I certainly think that the Turkish doctors are great, the service is excellent and that a contingency fund for medical emergencies is the best way to deal with situations that may arise ( or hopefully not arise).
Chrissie :)
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Chrissie - glad you got sorted out in what sounds like an efficient and professional manner.
However, I don't think having a contingency fund is really the way to go if you plan to be a full time, or even part time, resident in Turkey. We tend to go between Istanbul/Fethiye and so far have stayed within the terms of our annual travel insurance as it is pretty flexible with time out of the UK. I think the main concern is if you end up hospitalised with something relatively serious that either requires a high level of care or expensive treatment without the deep pockets of an insurance company to bankroll it. You might argue that if thats the case you go straight home to the UK, but what if you are medically unable to do that. What do you do when the money runs out?
We've never had the need to go anywhere other than local pharmacy but friends of our who have, all say that the medical service in Turkey can be excellent at times but can also be really poor as well. The one thing they all agree on is that a good health insurance policy is a must.
I'll be interested to hear what Pete & Jo have come up with as it's a subject I've been looking into myself recently.
JohnF
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One thing I think a lot of expats don't realise is, as we understand it, once you have declared yourselves as non resident in the U.K. you loose your rights to NHS treatment after a period of 3 months. ( I may have this wrong but I've been told this by several expats ). Therefore you can't assume that you can just return to the U.K. and get treatment if you fall seriously ill.
I hate to be morbid, but it is an important concern.
Jo