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Foreigners who intend to live in Turkey must issue the appropriate permits. People who intend to stay in the country longer than the visa or visa-free period allows must obtain a residence permit (ikamet) . One of the conditions for obtaining an ikamet is the existence of mandatory health insurance. In our material, we cover the characteristics of health insurance for foreigners in Turkey. Who should take out health insurance in Türkiye? All foreigners aged between 18 and 65 who intend to apply for ikamet must have health insurance to obtain a residence permit. For minors and people over 65 years of age, taking out health insurance is voluntary, except in the case of a family residence permit, in which all people, without exception, are required to take out health insurance. Furthermore, in accordance with Article 60 of the Law on General Sickness Insurance and Social Protection of 31 May 2006, foreigners with a residence permit who have resided in Turkey for more than one year are required to subscribe a mandatory state social security policy (Sosyal Güvenlik Kurumu, SGK). What does health insurance cover for foreigners in Turkey? Under the insurance policy, foreigners benefit from guarantees such as coverage for outpatient and inpatient treatments. Inpatient treatment (annual limit up to 50,000 TL) - surgery, intensive care, disease diagnosis, care during inpatient treatment, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, dialysis. Outpatient treatment (annual limit up to 5,000 TL) - medical consultation, medical examination, tests, physiotherapy, rehabilitation, medication. Insurance companies also include some free medical services in supplementary health insurance to provide their customers with better medical care and increase the policy level.
This could be dental care, nutritionist consultation, psychological support, etc. The health insurance policies of SKG and Turkish private insurance companies do not cover the costs of treating chronic illnesses of foreigners that arose before obtaining a residence permit in Turkey. Read more about obtaining Turkish citizenship through investment here. During what period is insurance issued? As a rule, insurance companies special data issue a policy for 1 year. After one year, foreigners can renew their insurance if they continue to live in Turkey. Insurance with a private insurance company in Türkiye To obtain a residence permit, it is enough to have an insurance policy issued by a Turkish company. As a general rule, this type of insurance covers 40-60% of the costs of outpatient treatments and 40-100% of inpatient treatments, but only in clinics that have concluded a contract with the insurance company that issued the policy. Insurance from local companies almost never covers the costs of dental treatment.
The main purpose of insurance is to pay the cost of emergency medical care. The cost of a policy of this type is generally between 1800 and 3000 TL for twelve months, with the amount of coverage varying depending on the insurance company. When applying for health insurance, a foreign citizen can ask for a list of local clinics with which the insurance company issuing the policy cooperates. SGK Insurance SGK (Sosyal Güvenlik Kurumu) is the only health insurance that covers all necessary services without exception. In public clinics, the coverage level is 100%; In private hospitals, the holder of an SGK insurance policy can count on an average coverage of 40 to 80% of the costs of services. The SGK policy also covers up to 80% of the cost of medicines. One of the advantages of state health insurance is the possibility for close family members (minor children, parents or spouses) of the insured person to use an insurance policy. The cost of SGK insurance is around 850 TL for 30 days. What documents are needed to conclude a health insurance contract? To issue a policy, it is necessary to provide a scanned copy of the foreign passport or other document on the basis of which the foreign citizen entered the territory of Turkey. You must also provide a residential address in Türkiye.
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