S G K Health Insurance FIASCO - Urgent

[angieebabe]

Hi , I have a few questions that some of you may be able to clarify.

1 , Does the Marriage Cerificate have to be the Original or can a scanned copy be printed off and taken along to the Notaries for Translation.

2, Someone mentioned that you loose your residency if you are out of Turkey for more than 6 months, is this consecutive months or based over 12 months and date of Issue.

3, Also it is mentioned that you have to take your Marriage Cert, Passport and Residency Book along with you to Register at the SGK Office in Fethiye , You also say we need to take some form of Social Security Docs, what is this and is it required.

4, As we are not back in Calis until the later end of February , can someone clarify whether a fine will be imposed.

5, We took our 5 year Residency out last July , Do we still need to Register or wait until a year is up on the RP Issue Date.

6, We are correct in assuming that we are not covered by the NHS in the UK, and as I am registered non-residence with the HMRC I would'nt expect anything else anyway, but saying that we do have International Private Health Cover through BUPA, am I correct in assuming this is worthless in Turkey and not recognised, therfore we still need to register with the SGK.

7, Finally we have no issues with paying for this service even though we are both in good Health at this time. But you never know what is around the corner. ( Thank God you are not living in America there you really pay for this )But I do sympathise with others who live with-in certain budgets.

My appologies for all the Questions but hopefully some positive feedback is returned...

[kizkucuk]

1) Usually you have to take the original document to the notaries office.
2) I think this only applies if you are aiming for citizenship - you are only allowed 180 days outside Turkey in a continuous 5 year period.
3) The embassy in Ankara have a letter confiming that people who are outside the UK for more than 6 months a year are not entitled to NHS cover - they are hoping that the Turkish Governmwnt will accept this as proof or just that anyone with a 1 year residency permit is not entitled to NHS cover - it's yet to be clarified - there was talk of copies of this letter been available at the Consulate office in Fethiye but I dodn't know whether than is the case.
4) The fine is nearly 900 lira - how can they fine you?  They will have your passport showing that you were not in the country at the time of the deadline.  saying that this is Turkey - if they do try and fine you take it up with the British Embassy here.  
5) I'd go and register now - they can always send you away if they don't think you need ot before July - better safe than sorry.
6) They original said that comparable health cover would be acceptable but now seem to be saying it won't be - if you've got a good rate on your BUPA which you would find difficult to obtain again - I'd be tempted to keep it up until things have settled down and the Governement have clarified.

There is very little information on the FCO website at the moment - Turks are means tested and will pay a premium of between 35tl and the 213tl a month depending on their income.  British nationals are automatically been assessed at the higher level which assumes an income of 2 x Turkish minium wages - approx 1500 lira a month - some people are now talking about discrimination - all very confusing here by the time you come out later in February the situation may have changed.

[hamilton]

Does the scheme apply to retired RP's?
Do retired Turkish Nationals pay towards the scheme?
Why would Turkey take over the healthcare of retired RP's, when insurance companies place such a high premium on this group?
The UK NHS is struggling to care for the ageing population, why should Turkey volunteer to take this over for such a small cost.
What are retired RP's likely to gain as far as care by joining the scheme? I doubt if the care given to retired RP's that are in need would be anything like the standard of care in the UK.
But at least you will be able to keep your home?

[corbindallas]

So if I just get a 10 month RP every time I will not qualify for the Health Scheme, just the hassle of renewal every 10 months? Is it that simple, surely not!?

[Rindaloo]

I suspect the truth is, no one knows...

[scouser2]

We are in a quandary. My wife's residency has 3 1/2 years to run and mine has 3 years, However we have moved back to the U.K permanently, although I have to return in March to pick up our dog from quarantine. Do we still have to pay this insurance even though we are not going to be living there?

[Ray1951]

People should be asking questions of the UK Government because they have been in talks with the Turkish Government over several issues.  The UK Government have a DUTY OF CARE to their citizens and as such, should be looking after them at ALL times, even if they choose to live elsewhere.
Many expats have paid NI, Tax and other charges in the UK for many years and therefore should be entitled to advice on matters such as this.

[Highlander]

Ray - can you please clarify - are you saying the UK Government should be providing advice and/or health care for those living abroad

[shutterbug]

Ray, you must be joking! the UK provide the poorest quality of care for people over 60 imaginable. I had numb feet for 2 years before I came here and my GP refused to send me to a specialist or order tests to find out why. I got a hospital infection at Whipps Cross in 1993 because it was so dirty, and 6 years later developed an abcess from it. Again the gp refused to do anything but give me low doses of anti biotics. When he finally did, 18mos later, it had become a fistula and I have been on antibiotics for 10 years now because surgery would have made me incontinent. They are putting DNR orders on people without permission left and right. I knew I would not be insured when I came here and if I got something expensive I might die, but then if it was expensive I would probably die in the UK because they put your age in the computer, life expectancy and if the cost is too much....no treatment. I'd rather die here. With the current deficit, you really think they are going to spend any more money? Must be good stuff you're smokin'.

[Highlander]

"..the UK provide the poorest quality of care for people over 60 imaginable."


"...but then if it was expensive I would probably die in the UK because they put your age in the computer, life expectancy and if the cost is too much....no treatment."


I simply do not accept either of those statements to be true.