Familiarity With Medical Expenses In Türkiye

Medical Expenses In Türkiye

If you are looking for Turkish residency or citizenship, you should also be familiar with medical expenses in Türkiye. Medical expenses are expenses that you have to pay at least once a year. However, he does not declare his illness. Therefore, it is wise to familiarize yourself with the Turkish healthcare system.

Unlike a lot of countries, there are no private clinics in Türkiye. It can be said that 80% of general practitioners visit patients in hospitals. Having a private clinic is more common among dentists.

Turkey has a good health system that is very close to European standards. Medical costs in Türkiye are lower than the world standard. In the following, we will explain the types of health insurance and doctor’s fees.

Medical Expenses In Türkiye

It is good to know that Turkey has the 10th cheapest and highest quality medical services in the world. More than 1000 medical centers are active in Istanbul alone. The cost of public hospitals is less than half of the cost of private hospitals. Government hospitals only accept SGK insurance. Of course, this insurance is only for citizens.

Also, private insurances are acceptable only in private hospitals and pharmacies of the contracting parties. Appointments to visit government medical centers are made through the website mhrs.gov.tr. Of course, in case of an emergency (such as an accident), you can also enter the emergency department of the hospital. A limited number of government hospitals also provide their services at the patient’s home.

Almost like every country, if you don’t have insurance, you have to pay a lot for treatment. Even with insurance, you have to pay 10-40% of the treatment costs. Some insurances cover all medical expenses, drug expenses and doctor’s expenses. These types of insurance definitely require a higher annual payment.

Familiarity with medical expenses in Türkiye

Medical Services In Türkiye

Essential Emergency Services

If there is an accident, you can get free treatment with a police report. If you do not have a police report, you will have to pay for the treatment yourself. Tourists can only use private medical centers for non-emergency treatments. The emergency number (112) provides basic medical examinations on site in all cities of Turkey.

Health Insurance Costs In Türkiye

All citizens and people who intend to stay in Turkey for more than 1 year must have health insurance. Istanbul also recommends the use of insurance for short stays. Foreign residents in Türkiye can insure themselves.

The cost of health insurance in Turkey depends on factors such as the type of insurance and the amount you pay annually. According to Turkish law, all people under 17 years old and over 65 years old are not required to pay insurance. The cost of health insurance for people aged 18 to 23 years is about 400 liras and for people between 23 to 65 years old it is about 3000 liras per year. If your treatment process requires several sessions, you have to pay between ten and forty percent of the cost yourself. If you do not have a specific and severe illness, you can benefit from the free services available in pharmacies.

What Does Health Insurance Cover In Türkiye?

If you have health insurance in Turkey, it covers the following:

  • Hospitalization costs
  • Outpatient treatments
  • Hospital services such as operating room, anesthesia, laboratory, radiology, etc.
  • Organ transplant costs
  • Chemotherapy, radiation therapy and dialysis
  • Dental and nose surgery treatments resulting from accidents or injuries
  • All microbiology and pathology tests
  • Radiology and imaging
  • M.R.I
  • Hospitalization costs in special care units
  • Drug costs
  • Visiting a doctor and performing all necessary tests to diagnose and prevent diseases

What Are Not Covered By Health Insurance?

The following are not covered by health insurance in Türkiye:

  • Natural disasters (such as floods, earthquakes, landslides)
  • War injuries
  • Riot injuries
  • Injuries caused by terrorist acts
  • Injuries caused by nuclear radiation
  • Professional sports injuries such as skiing
  • Vaccinations
  • Diseases related to alcohol and drug use
  • Rehabilitation measures
  • The topic of artificial organs
  • Buy glasses, walking stick
  • Covid-19
  • Also, injuries caused by the use of items that are not known as public transportation and expenses related to diseases that the traveler had before coming to Turkey are not covered by the insurance.

The Cost Of A Doctor’s Visit In Türkiye

If you have valid residency or insurance, your expenses will be significantly reduced. For example, if you have a permanent residence in Turkey, you do not need to pay for a visit to a general practitioner. The cost of visiting a specialist doctor depends on the place of visit (private or public hospital) and the type of insurance. The approximate cost of visiting a specialist doctor in Turkey is between 70 and 200 Turkish Liras.

Medical Expenses And Tests In Türkiye

High Cost Of Medicine

The drugs in Türkiye have European standards. Some health insurances cover certain drugs. But if you live in Turkey without insurance, the cost of medicine can be heavy.

Examination In Türkiye

Examination in Türkiye have interesting stages. Even the simplest illnesses may require laboratory testing. However, you don’t have to wait until the next day to get the results. The doctor can show you the results on the monitor the same day. It is interesting to know that antibiotics are rarely prescribed.

It is important to know that medical expenses and tests in Turkey can be different from what you are used to. While the drugs are of high quality, they can be expensive if you don’t have insurance. It is important to take care of your health and get the necessary tests, even if they may seem abnormal. Remember, your doctor is there to help you and answer any questions you may have.

Familiarity with medical expenses in Türkiye

Types Of Insurance In Türkiye

Government Insurance For Private Companies In Türkiye

This insurance is specifically for people who have registered a company in Turkey. Investors can also benefit from this insurance. If a person works in a Turkish company, he is covered by this insurance.

Private Insurance For Private Companies

This is one of the most common and necessary health insurance for foreigners in Turkey. It doesn’t matter if you have a short or long stay. This insurance is also popular among foreigners. Use this insurance if you have obtained Turkish residence by means other than investment.

Introduction To SGK Insurance

Healthcare services in Türkiye have wide sectors. All these services are provided by Social Security Institute of Turkey or SGK for short. In other words, all types of Turkish government insurance are known as SGK insurance. This insurance covers both medical services and provides facilities for retirement.

SGK insurances are generally divided into three types:

Social Security Insurance (SSK)

This insurance is usually provided by employers for employees and workers. Also, foreigners can benefit from government insurance if they have a legal job and a work permit in Turkey. This insurance also provides pension services.

Self-Employment Insurances

This insurance is specifically for self-employed people, those who own their own business or have registered a company in their name in Turkey. Foreigners can also use this insurance. This insurance also provides pension services and facilities.

General Health Insurance (GSS)

Compared to the previous two types, this insurance has less services and is very affordable from an economic point of view. Unemployed people can also use this insurance policy. Of course, it should be noted that this insurance only allows you to use government medical facilities and does not provide pension services.

Private Health Insurance Companies In Türkiye

What Are Private Health Insurance Companies?

Private health insurance companies in Turkey cover medical needs in case of accidents and emergencies. With private health insurance, you can choose your own doctor or specialist for treatment. To find the best price for private health insurance companies in Turkey based on the type of insurance you need, you can visit Sigortam.net.

List Of Private Health Insurance Companies In Türkiye

  • Acıbadem Sağlık and Hayat Sigorta
  • Aksigorta
  • Allianz Sigorta
  • Anadolu Sigorta
  • Ergo Sigorta
  • Groupama Sigorta
  • Güneş Sigorta
  • Mapfre Genel Sigorta
  • Axa Sigorta

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