S G K Health Insurance FIASCO - Urgent

[Big Dave]

Private healthcare which is ,paid for by the employer is seen by the inland revenue as unearned income so they will tax you at your current rate on how much your employer is paying for your premium. Opting out of SERPS or the State Second Pension, as it is known now, does not reduce your contribution as far as I am aware but that portion of your contribution is paid to the Private Pension provider thus improving your benefit when you retire. Taking this route will affect how much you would receive from the State Second pension on retirement. For most of us there is an age when when it is no longer beneficial to stay opted out but you should consult an independent Financial Advisor, (IFA) to ensure you are making the correct decision.

I think the UK system is complicated and most of us will find it very difficult to fully understand it. The system in Turkey whilst littered with burocracy seems to be a simpler system to use. The question now is Will the Turkish SGK people find a fair way to impose the rules on those of you that do not or need to join it. It is quite unfair to fine people who through no fault of their own cannot meet the current deadline of 31st January. I wonder if this will be shelved yet again whilst they sort it out properly.

[marytheresa]

Any Brit living outside the uk for more than three months and returns home may still have a right to the nhs and the benfit system if they are able to prove habitual residency. Where habitual residency is concerned you can come back and make a claim say after you have been back for three months as this then gives you habitual residency in the uk.A simple thing such as a libary card or a members card at your local pool,gym etc I A refusal on habitual residency is very hard to do and of course can be appealed.

I was involved in a case about six months ago where an elderly Indian man and his wife went back to India for eight years due to poor health reasons and the doctor had advised he needed a warmer climate.he was receiving his state pension all the years he was away. Once back in the uk his benefits were cut to half and he had to prove habitual residency which he did through us at the citizens advice.

[Dutchie]

I spoke with Birsen Hanim - the Director of SGK Fethiye - this morning and she was really friendly and helpful.
This is what she said about the subject:

Q: Who need to register at the SGK office?
A: All foreigners with a residence permit who have stayed longer than one year.

Q: If somebody has a one year residence permit and is at the moment for example in its four month?
A: No, they don't need to register since they haven't stayed longer than one year yet.

Q: If somebody has a six month residence permit but had a one year residence permit before that?
A: They won't need to register since we don't look at previous residence permits.

Q: Do you take in consideration the amount of time that people are actually staying in Turkey?
A (after having called the head office): No, we won't be checking passports to see how long they are actually staying. Anybody with a residence permit that has stayed longer than one year, needs to register.
 
Q: What happens if people don't register:
A: If they don't register before January 31st, they will be fined (note: I didn't have pen and paper with me and can't recall the exact figure but it was around 800 TL).

Q: What happens to foreigners who are currently not in Turkey and won't be able to come before January 31st?
A: Nothing has been said about that officially but I assume that there won't be any problems as long as they register after their return to Turkey and when they show the stamps in their passport.

Q: What if foreigners can proof that they have a health insurance in their home country?
A: They need to show an official translation of their social security status and it has to show that they will be covered in Turkey.

Q: How about foreigners with a private Turkish health insurance?
A: They still need to register and have a SGK insurance.

Q: What will the SGK insurance cover?
A: It will have the same coverage as it has for Turkish people but pre existing illnesses won't be covered.

Q: What is needed for registration?
A: Passport, residence permit and an official translation of marriage certificate for married couples. We also need an official translation of the Social Securiy status in their home country but since it is not realistic to expect that in such a short period of time, this can be brought later.

During the conversation, Birsen Hanim more or less contradicted herself.
I didn't point this out (since first of all it would be rude but secondly since I didn't want to point out the loopholes).

She said that foreigners with a one year residency permit need to register after they have stayed one year. But if the year isn't over yet, they don't need to register.
To me this sounds that nobody with a one year residency permit needs to register since you will always be within that one year (and they don't look at previous years).
It becomes a different story for people with residency permits longer than one year.
If you have an e.g. 3 year residency permit and more than one year has passed, you need to register.

I think this was more or less the whole conversation we had. If I think of anything else, I'll add it here.

[Diverbaz 1]

It looks very much like people are looking for loopholes to avoid having to pay for health cover, I wonder what loopholes they will try and find when they get ill and want the cover??

[marytheresa]

Here,Here well said

[col]

It's not so much the case that many people are looking for loopholes to avoid this insurance. Many ex pats here are young and in good health and may not have even needed a pharmacy in the time they have been here. We are all aware of the cost for hospital treatment IF it's needed, and I think many people here would rather chance and pay what may be the very occasional cost for this, rather than having to pay over a £1000 each year.
It seems to be that the best way round avoiding this insurance is simply to have a years residency, return to the uk for a holiday, as many do, and on their return, get a 3 month tourist visa. Once that is just about up, apply for a years residency and do the same each year.
That way, nobody can be accused of trying to avoid the insurance and people are keeping within the law (until the Turkish gov't try and change that!)

[janmack]

Thanks for the info Dutchie.

[marytheresa]

I hear what you are saying but on the other side of the coin if you have decided to move to another country on a long term basis it seems only fair that you pay for the services that the country affords you.If you have to have a document from the uk stating that you have access to the nhs here then it will be ok, this document will also stop people who are living out there on benefits and draining an already  troubled system I do not see how they will be able to get it while on benefits saying that they are living in Turkey!!and I have a sneaky feeling the uk and Turkey will be discussing this as it is a way to catch benefit theives living abroad!

[tinkerman]

http://www.landoflights.net/local-news/uncertainty-for-foreign-residents-as-turkish-health-insurance-deadline-looms-6058.html#.TxlmfuNNCkA.facebook

[dinger]

We went this morning and had our marriage certificate translated and notarised, completed the SGK application form, paid all the notary fees etc and headed off to the SGK office in Fethiye to register.  We were told we had all the correct documentation but unfortuately as our residency permit is due for renewal on the 1st March 2012, they would not register us, stating that you must have at least one full year left on your residency. We were told to come back in March after we have renewed our residency.

When asked about the 'fine' for not registering before the end of this month, we were told we would not be fined.