Kalkan Turkish Local News brings you the very latest news on the implementation of the new UHI/SGK health insurance scheme.

This is probably one of the fastest moving stories we have covered on KTLN.

As so much has happened over recent days, we begin with a brief recap, before bringing you today's developments.

In August 2010 KTLN told you how Turkish Law 5510 on health insurance (et al), was due to start 1st October 2010, and foreign residents needed to register on the scheme.  Then in September 2010 we reported that the 1st October deadline was to be postponed until December 2012.

Fast forward to January 2012, when it was unexpectedly announced at the start of the month, that the new health care scheme was being introduced on 1st January 2012, and that people had to register their details within one month - i.e. by 31st January.  This applies to all residents of Turkey - Turkish citizens and foreigners.

Advice from the British Embassy
In view of the lack of implementation details, foreign residents looked to their Embassies for guidance. 

They can only pass on what they are told by Turkish officials, and unfortunately, they too were faced with a gap in information.

So many questions arose, but the key question was, how do you know for sure if you are deemed to be one of those people who must register for SGK?

The British Embassy, first of all told us that all non-Turkish residents, who had completed one year of residence in Turkey, must apply to join the scheme, by 31st January.

Then the British Embassy revised it's advice, to say that British citizens who had obtained residency permission (ikamet), would receive a letter, and they were told they would then have one month from the receipt of this letter, to register on SGK.

Subsequently, on 25th January, the British Embassy published another update saying that, following their representations, it was now not compulsory for British residents to join the SGK scheme, but they could join if they wanted to.

So what has changed since then?
Firstly, it has been widely reported in Turkey, (and confirmed at Kaş SGK office), that the government has pushed back the 31st January deadline to the 29th February.  These changes affect many people - not just foreigners, and the SGK offices simply can't cope.

The apparent concession negotiated by the British Ambassador, has prompted other countries to ask how it was done, and they appear to be interested in following suit. 

A formal occasion already scheduled for tonight, (not connected to this SGK matter), is taking place in Istanbul, where senior Turkish officials will be meeting with Foreign Ambassadors, and no doubt in between passing round the Ferrero Rocher choccies, the subject of SGK will crop up.

Update: Irish Embassy in Turkey says it's not complulsory.  To be sure.

The SGK letter has landed
Meanwhile, remember the letter that was to come out to foreigners?  Well, it has landed in Kalkan.  We reckon there are about 100 letters from the SGK, addressed to foreigners. Some addressees are here in Kalkan and others are currently abroad. 

If you are a resident in Kalkan, and you are actually in Kalkan right now, you may like to go down to see if there is a letter for you. 

We understand that where the PTT can't locate an addressee, letters will only be kept for 2 weeks, before being returned to sender.

We give below a translation of what the letter says. Please note it is not literally word for word, but it gives you the main messages.

Letter from SGK - January 2012
On 01.10.2008, according to  General Insurance & General Health Insurance Law No. 5510, for the first time in our country we started to implement a general health insurance scheme.

As we started implementing this general health insurance, according to Article 12 of this law, we gave people time for the process of transition.

On 01.01.2012 this process of transition expired, and from that day all citizens have to be covered under the Law No. 5510.

Included are foreign people who reside in Turkey permanently, where they do not have general health cover in their country, and where they have resided in Turkey for more than one year - they have to be registered, according to Article 60/1-d of this law.

We note that you are residing in Turkey for more than 1 year, according to the records of the Turkish Ministry of Internal Affairs Police Department. If you are not covered with health insurance in your country, you need to apply to the SGK (Social Health Insurance Department) within one month of 01.01.2012.

If you apply within one month of this date, you will be registered within the general health insurance according to Article 60/1-d of this law, and if you pay your premium  (minimum fee x 2 x 12%*), you can benefit from the health insurance. Your premium will change as the minimum fee changes, from time to time.

If you do not apply within one month from 01.01.2012, you will pay an administrative fine,  according to Articles 61/5 and Article 102/a of this law.

If you have a chronic health problem before you apply for this health insurance, you cannot benefit from general health insurance for your chronic health problem, according to Article 64 /1 of this law.

[*Editor: We can clarify the calculation of the amount to be paid.  The current minimum fee payable (asagri ücret) is 886TL.  So for foreigners, the calculation for the current amount due is 886TL x 2 x 12% = 212.64 TL per month]

Note the final paragraph on pre-existing chronic illnesses.

KTLN would like to thank certified translator, Kader Güneş, for the above translation.

Below: The letter, in Turkish.

Our advice?
We believe that this letter, saying you must register for SGK, (if you fall within the qualifying definition), was dispatched prior to the latest announcement from the British Embassy, telling British people they don't need to apply.  So what should you do?

Truthfully, your guess is as good as ours right now.  What will happen next?  We have already had delays, concessions, and apparent U turns, so by next week who knows where we will be.

Imposition or opportunity?
One final point. There is widespread coverage of this subject on the internet, and the tone appears to be predominantly negative, with some anger at such an imposition. 

Very few people appear to be seeing this as an opportunity to get health insurance, to protect them from the risk of massive hospital bills in the event of a serious illness or an accident.  Just a thought.

Keep reading KTLN for updates, and if you hear any reliable news, feel free to contact us, so we can share it with our readership.
 

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