In certain cases in our country, the state may charge citizens various fees under names such as participation fee or contribution fee. A material contribution fee (malzeme katılım payı) is one of these payments. It is important to know who must pay the material contribution fee.
The participation fee refers to the amount that a person who is a general health insurance beneficiary or the people they are responsible for must pay in order to use health services provided by the state. Not every medical supply requires a participation fee. The materials subject to a participation fee include the following:
- Assistive medical devices for vision, when external prostheses and orthoses are provided, are among the items subject to a participation fee.
- Oral prostheses required for dental treatment, provided as external prostheses and orthoses, are also subject to a participation fee.
- Other prostheses and orthoses that are not indicated as vital in the health report are likewise subject to a participation fee when provided as external prostheses and orthoses.
These are the types of materials for which a participation fee is collected. Accordingly, the participation fees set by the state must be paid.
Participation Fee Rates and Amounts
The rate of the participation fee applied to materials provided as external prostheses and orthoses is another important detail. For individuals receiving income from the institution or for those they are financially responsible for, the participation fee rate is 10%. For other persons, the participation fee rate is 20%.
The material participation fee amount cannot exceed 75% of the current minimum wage. If an upper limit exceeds 75%, each item is assessed independently when calculating the cap.
Situations Where Material Participation Fee Is Not Charged
Just as there are conditions and people who must pay the material participation fee, there are also circumstances in which the fee is not collected. Cases in which no material participation fee is charged include:
- No participation fee is charged for medical supplies provided due to a work accident or an occupational disease affecting an insured person.
- No participation fee is charged for medical supplies provided during military exercises and maneuvers.
- No participation fee is charged for medical supplies provided due to a disaster or state of war as set out in Law No. 5510.
- No participation fee is charged for medical consumables or for devices returned to the Institution.
The state does not collect contribution fees for the materials listed above. Therefore, individuals treated using these materials are not required to pay a contribution fee.
People Exempt from Paying Material Contribution Fee
There are also specific groups of people who are exempt from paying the material contribution fee. Those exempt include the following:
- Recipients of an honorary pension under the law related to the Independence Medal and their spouses are exempt from the material contribution fee.
- Individuals receiving monthly payments under the law on the Allocation of Veteran Service Pensions are exempt from the material contribution fee.
- Those receiving payments under the Law on Monetary Compensation and Pension Grants, and the persons they are responsible for, are exempt from the material contribution fee.
- Persons who receive protection, care, or rehabilitation services free of charge under the Social Services and Child Protection Agency law are exempt from the material contribution fee.
- Recipients of disability pensions due to war injuries are exempt from the material contribution fee.
- Persons receiving pensions under the Anti-Terror Law and the people they are responsible for are exempt from the material contribution fee.
- Disabled veterans are exempt from the material contribution fee.
- Students studying at the Police Academy, or at faculties and higher schools on behalf of the General Directorate of Security, or those who began studies at their own expense and continued on the General Directorate’s account, are exempt from the material contribution fee.
- Those studying at military academies, faculties, and higher schools on behalf of the Turkish Armed Forces are exempt from the material contribution fee.
- Certain supplies provided to people injured or disabled as a result of specific earthquakes that occurred in our country on particular dates are exempt from the material contribution fee.
- Individuals injured in incidents listed in Article 21 of Law No. 3713 are exempt from the material contribution fee for health services provided until their treatment is completed or their disability is confirmed.
The groups and situations described above are not required to pay material contribution fees, ensuring that those who fall under these categories receive the necessary medical supplies without this additional financial burden.