Health insurance for Ukrainians in Turkey: what you need to know before traveling or moving
After the start of a full-scale war, millions of Ukrainians were forced to leave their homes and go abroad. Some of them chose Turkey as a safe and relatively affordable country for temporary or long-term residence. However, regardless of the purpose of entry – tourism, study, work or evacuation – it is important to know that health insurance is not only mandatory, but also a vital element of a trip to Turkey.
Is it necessary to take out insurance before traveling to Turkey?
The Law of Ukraine “On Tourism” regulates the issue of travel both to Turkey and to other countries of the world, only with the availability of an insurance policy. This policy is a guarantee of your safety and peaceful stay outside of Ukraine. It is an effective tool that protects you and your family in case of unforeseen situations, and also serves as a guarantee of your financial security during your trip, regardless of the country you are visiting.
Every Ukrainian traveling abroad needs an insurance policy: tourist, student, employee, pensioner. That is why 95% of tours to Turkey automatically include insurance. After all, thanks to the insurance policy, you can fully enjoy your vacation without worrying about emergency and force majeure situations, which, unfortunately, often happen to tourists.
What insurance to take out for visiting Turkey
Evaluating what insurance risks you may face in Turkey, you need to choose the appropriate travel insurance that will suit you. The list of risks can include injuries, burns of various degrees, deterioration of well-being due to heat, exacerbation of chronic diseases, contracting local diseases such as Coxsackie virus, and many others.
When taking out the insurance, you should specify all the conditions and study all the insurance risks specified in the contract. In particular, you need to find out from the insurer where to call (which assistance company) if an insured event occurs, and what should be done first in such situations.
When signing the contract, pay attention to the following points:
- Policy area.
- The maximum amount of coverage under the contract.
- Availability and size of the franchise.
- Separate coverage for COVID-19.
Why do you need health insurance?
If your journey starts with saving on an insurance policy – is it right? After all, during a trip to another country, it is difficult to find a hospital that would fit the parameters and would be available out of turn in an emergency for foreign citizens. Then either private clinics, which are very expensive, or a pre-issued insurance policy, which will save 100% of money during insurance cases abroad, come to the rescue.
Health insurance can cover the cost of:
– medical assistance. This article includes a doctor’s examination, tests and all necessary medical procedures, including the costs of calling an ambulance;
– assistance in force majeure situations. This refers to the payment of compensation in case of injuries after active recreation (this is indicated in advance in the contract): diving, surfing, mountain walks, etc.;
– assistance to pregnant women. Medical insurance will cover costs both in case of premature birth and urgent gynecological care (if it is specified in the contract);
– assistance in the event of natural disasters and force majeure circumstances that may harm health. Sometimes the deterioration of health can be caused by floods, hurricanes or other natural disasters.
Is insurance required for permanent residence or employment in Turkey?
For all foreigners aged 18-65 living in Turkey with a temporary residence permit, in the case of employment in Turkey with an open work visa, or on the basis of citizenship, it is mandatory to have an SGK health insurance policy (sigórta bedeli). At the same time, foreigners have the right to issue this policy both through the state and through private insurers.
This public health insurance in Turkey has quite good conditions, but it is only available after living in the country for one year or during employment, as well as for students who have completed 3 months of study in Turkey.
There are two types of SGK state insurance in Turkey:
- For individuals – SSK.
- For business owners in Turkey – Bağkur.
The SGK insurance policy covers 100% of all medical services provided in municipal clinics in Turkey, and in a number of private Turkish clinics, this insurance policy guarantees a discount of 40 to 70%. The policy also covers up to 80% of the purchase of medications prescribed by a doctor.
SGK insurance is essential for foreigners aged 65 and over, although it is not mandatory for this category. But given the fact that private insurers often refuse to take out a policy for the elderly, this insurance is the best option to take care of your health in Turkey.
All family members (husband/wife, children under 18, dependent parents) are covered by this policy.
How to choose the right insurance
Insurance should not cost even half the cost of the ticket, while assistance in the event of an insured event should be decent and timely. All this is possible and has been working for a long time, if you take out an insurance policy with a reliable insurance company.
First of all, you need to carefully choose the items that will be included in the contract and find out all the details of calculating the policy price and the cost of compensation. To reduce the cost, some points can be waived if the tourist is sure that this will not happen to him. For example, a tourist knows that he will not jump with a parachute and will not go to the mountains.
Note! Standard insurance policies for a trip to Turkey and most countries in the world cover the costs of first aid, repatriation in case of death, and transportation to a medical facility. If you plan to engage in extreme sports or active recreation, then you need to buy another insurance, which costs a little more.
