Print

The social security system in Turkey comprises three main organisations:

1. SSK: SSK is a social security organization for private sector and blue-collar public sector workers. SSK members are insured for work injuries and professional job diseases, medical care, illness, disability, and maternity. When the insured person has paid all due contributions for a specified period and have reached a specified age, they're entitled for Old Age Pension. If the insured person dies, the widow, children, or parents are paid funeral expenses and can claim his/her pension payments.
2. Emekli Sandigi: This is a Government Employees Retirement Fund for retired civil servants. Government employees only co-pay 10% of the medical expenses, the rest is paid by the government. The Fund offers health insurance, retirement pension, retirement bonus and a death grant that is payable to the spouse, children or parents.
3. Bag-Kur: This insurance covers the self-employed not covered by the SSK. This includes craftsmen, artisans and small businessmen, technical and professional people who are registered with a chamber or professional association, shareholders of companies other than co-operatives and joint stock companies, and those self-employed in agriculture.
4. Green Card System: This provides free care to poor people who cannot afford any of the above provisions.
5. Private Insurances: Private health insurances are well-developed in Turkey. Many people invest in a private insurance along with the state insurance to avail of better quality of services. A foreign national who is covered under the compulsory social security system of his or her home country is not required to pay social security premiums, provided proof of foreign coverage is filed with the local social security office. If the employee is not subject to foreign social security, full contributions would generally be imposed.

Source:

• http://www.allaboutturkey.com/health.htm