{"id":6468,"date":"2020-08-13T13:40:22","date_gmt":"2020-08-13T11:40:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.foyerglobalhealth.com\/?page_id=6043"},"modified":"2026-02-27T16:35:22","modified_gmt":"2026-02-27T15:35:22","slug":"international-health-insurance-for-expats-in-turkey","status":"publish","type":"destinationcpt","link":"https:\/\/globalhealth.insurance\/destination\/international-health-insurance-for-expats-in-turkey\/","title":{"rendered":"International Health Insurance for Expatriates in Turkey"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

At the crossroad between Europe and Asia, Turkey is full of assets to attract tourists and expatriates from around the World. In 2019, it was even among the top 10 best expatriation destinations according to HSBC’s Expat Explorer survey. A place deserved when we have followed the evolution of the quality of life of the country and we know the benevolence of the Turkish population.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This improvement is reflected in the ever-changing health services. Many state-of-the-art hospital complexes and city hospitals have emerged from the ground in recent years, with the aim of increasing patient capacity and competing with the best healthcare systems in the world<\/a>, such as  Switzerland.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A growing health sector <\/mark><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Ottoman Empire is conquering the best health technologies. Indeed, in recent years Turkey has distinguished itself from other countries by specializing in the fields of plastic surgery, dental and optical treatments, medical treatments of infertility or organ transplantation. As the costs of clinical services are much lower than other European or foreign countries, Turkey attracts foreign patients seeking health services at  derisory prices (sometimes 50% lower than in the United States,  United Kingdom<\/a>  or  Austria<\/a>  for example). These tourists mainly travel to Istanbul for hair transplants or laser refractive surgery, where public and private hospitals have established themselves massively. The Stambulists have adapted intelligently to this medical tourism by offering services translated into English, French, German or Russian.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A public health system that has yet to prove itself<\/mark><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

While the specialized care mentioned above has made good progress in the quality of services, public health still brings little satisfaction to patients, with limited access to primary care and very long delays  in some hospitals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The social security system in Turkey is called Sosyal Guvenlik Kurumu<\/em><\/a>  (SGK).<\/em><\/a> It provides access to universal, contribution-based health insurance that provides health coverage for the entire population.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eligibility<\/mark><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

As an expatriate or student, you must be covered by health insurance in Turkey, in order to obtain a residence or work permit. These conditions met, you will be able to benefit from public health insurance. It is your employer who is required to register you with social security.  Without a job, you will be eligible for SGK if you have been legally resident in Turkey for at least 12 months. You will need to apply for it yourself. If you are in a special situation and want to know if you can be covered by universal health insurance, we invite you to consult the SGK coverage conditions.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Coverage<\/mark><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The care that is funded and reimbursed by universal health insurance is the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n