GSS application procedures must be completed with the Social Security Institution (SGK). General Health Insurance (GSS) is the insurance branch opened for people who do not work within the scope of SGK and do not make regular SGK premium payments. Also called mandatory health insurance, General Health Insurance ensures that all individuals, whether working or not, can access health services without charge.
People whose employment is temporarily inactive and whose health insurance premiums have been stopped are required to register for General Health Insurance. Widely used by those who have recently finished their education, GSS is a health right provided to people who are financially disadvantaged, uninsured, or not eligible for coverage through a family member. Premium amounts and payment conditions for General Health Insurance vary depending on each person’s circumstances.
What Is General Health Insurance For and What Are Its Features?
The right to General Health Insurance is provided by the Social Security Institution to all citizens. Turkish citizens who do not have regular employment or insurance under the Social Security Institution can access health services under GSS. GSS premiums may be paid directly by the individual or covered by the state, depending on personal circumstances. Individuals eligible for General Health Insurance must be determined not to have a regular monthly income or not to be employed in an insured job. GSS registered for men over 25 and for women who do not have SGK records in their family covers all dependents of the insured person. After GSS registration is opened, beneficiaries will not be required to pay additional fees for health services or to pay co-payments when buying medicines.
Who Can Benefit from General Health Insurance and What Are the Conditions?
GSS application requirements and the basic criteria applicants must meet are listed below:
- The right to use General Health Insurance is granted only to Turkish citizens.
- To be considered insured under General Health Insurance, individuals must reside within the borders of Turkey.
Where to Apply for General Health Insurance?
GSS application procedures must be carried out either in person at the Social Security Institution or via online systems. GSS applications can be made online through the e-government portal and the official SGK website. After initiating the application online, applicants must submit any required documents to the local SGK office.
Documents received by the Social Security Institution are entered into the system and the GSS application is officially recorded. If the GSS application is made in person at an SGK office, all required documents must be submitted and a income test must be applied for. The income test for General Health Insurance is conducted and monitored by SGK. When applicants come to the institution in person, staff will carry out the income test.
What Documents Are Required for a General Health Insurance Application?
GSS application documents and additional materials often requested for GSS are listed below:
- General Health Insurance application form
- Current poverty certificate obtained from the neighborhood headman (muhtarlık)
- Original ID card and a photocopy of the applicant’s identity
- Photocopies of identity cards for family members who will benefit from GSS
- Current income test conducted by the Social Security Institution
- Residence registration document of the applicant
- Documents declaring monthly income
- SGK premium records showing the most recent premium payments
- Property documents declaring assets
- Current disability identity card for those with a disability report
- Documents for persons receiving a pension for age 65 and over
- Documents relating to war-disabled persons and their first-degree relatives
In addition to the documents listed above, the Social Security Institution may request further paperwork for a GSS application.
How to Apply for General Health Insurance via E-Government?
Steps for an e-government GSS application are outlined below:
- Use the official e-government portal address to perform the General Health Insurance application.
- After opening the e-government site, log in to start the GSS application process.
- Authentication on the e-government login screen is done using the Turkish ID number or e-signature.
- When logging in with an e-government password, both the current password and the Turkish ID number are requested.
- Once logged in, click the “E-Services” section on the main page.
- From the e-services page, select the “Social Security Institution” section, then click the “General Health Insurance” option.
- After completing the application form for General Health Insurance, the income test process will be initiated.
Click to Apply for GSS via E-Government
What Are the Features of the Income Test Conducted for GSS Applications?
Details of the GSS income test and the specific characteristics of the income test applied during GSS applications are explained below:
- The income test applied by the Social Security Institution determines whether an individual’s financial situation is sufficient.
- Whether individuals included in the income test are over 25 years of age is taken into account.
- In the GSS income test, people are classified into two categories: G0 and G1. The category determines whether they must pay GSS premiums.
- Men over 25 must be registered for GSS if they have no SGK coverage, regardless of marital status. The income test must be applied before the GSS registration process is completed.
- To reach the final income test result, the gross minimum wage is divided by the number of household members the person is responsible for.
- If the monthly share per household member is less than one third of the minimum wage, the person is considered to have passed the income test and is classified as G0.
- Individuals classified as G0 are not required to pay GSS premiums; their premiums are covered by the state.
- Those in the G0 category can use all health services free of charge after the income test.
- If the monthly per-person income is found to be greater than one third of the minimum wage after the income test, the person will be responsible for GSS premium debts.
- Individuals in the G1 category must pay a GSS premium equal to 3% of the monthly minimum wage.
Premium obligations vary according to the outcome of the income test performed before the GSS application.
What Are the Details for Checking a General Health Insurance Application?
GSS application inquiry can be performed through the e-government portal and the official SGK website. The channels and steps for GSS inquiries are outlined below:
- Application inquiries are made via the e-government portal address.
- To query a GSS application, open the e-government site and click the “Log In” option on the main page.
- After verifying the requested Turkish ID number and e-government password on the login screen, click “Login.”
- Type “General Health Insurance” into the search box on the main page to open the query screen that shows whether the GSS application has been approved.
Click to Check GSS Application
The e-government inquiry screen provides information about whether an applicant is eligible to be covered by General Health Insurance. It also explains in detail whether the GSS premiums will be paid by the individual or by the state.
How to Learn About GSS Premium Debts and Details of GSS Premium Inquiries?
Steps for GSS premium debt inquiries are listed below:
- Premium debt payments apply only to individuals classified as G1 in the income test.
- Individuals in the G1 category should check their GSS premium debts using the e-government system.
- To query GSS premium debt on e-government, click the login area on the main page.
- After confirming the Turkish ID number and e-government password, complete the login process.
- Enter “GSS Premium Debt” into the search box on the main page after logging in.
- The e-government system will display detailed information for individuals covered by GSS who have premium debts.
- Those with GSS premium debt can view all outstanding amounts and payment details on the displayed screen.
After checking GSS premium debts via e-government, payments can also be made from the same page. Using a credit card or bank card, payment instructions can be issued and processed. GSS premium debt payments are also accepted physically at PTT branches and at Social Security Institution offices.
How Are GSS Premium Amounts Determined and Who Is Exempt from Paying?
Categories of people who are not charged GSS premiums and those exempt from additional GSS payments are listed below:
- Under the relevant legislation, persons entitled to honor pensions are not charged additional GSS premiums.
- Retirees receiving monthly pensions under 4A, 4B or 4C categories are not required to pay additional GSS premiums.
- Persons entitled to regular monthly payments under the relevant laws are not charged additional GSS premiums.
- War-disabled pension recipients and their first-degree relatives are exempt from GSS premium collection.
- Individuals receiving monthly payments under relevant counter-terrorism legislation are not charged extra for GSS.
- Persons with disability reports showing a disability rate above 40% are not required to pay GSS premiums.
- Those with a poverty certificate and who receive poverty benefits are not asked to pay GSS premiums until their employment situation improves.
- Individuals receiving an age 65+ pension are not required to pay GSS premiums.
- Individuals under 18 do not have to pay GSS premiums and can benefit from all GSS services free of charge.
In addition to the categories above, dependents of people without SGK coverage who meet these criteria are also exempt from paying additional General Health Insurance premiums.
Who Is Covered by General Health Insurance?
The groups eligible to benefit from General Health Insurance include:
- People who do not have social security coverage
- Those who do not make contributions to the Social Insurance Institution or Civil Servants’ Insurance
- Foreign nationals residing within the borders of Turkey
- People who receive monthly payments or income from the Social Security Institution
- Intern trainee lawyers
- People receiving unemployment benefits
GSS is designed so that everyone living in the country can access health services; in principle, coverage is intended for all.
Where Is the Income Test Conducted?
When Must the Income Test Be Renewed?
Situations requiring renewal of the income test include:
- If the number of household members changes, an updated income test may be requested.
- State-supported premium beneficiaries and those paying a premium equal to one third of the minimum wage are visited annually by institution officials to check whether the income test must be renewed.
- If there is a change in financial circumstances, the income test must be redone.
How to Appeal an Income Test Result?
Individuals who believe there is an error in their income test result can file an appeal. GSS decisions are delivered to the person by notification. An appeal must be filed within 15 days from the notification date. This deadline is final.
If an appeal is not submitted within this period, the right to appeal is lost. Those who need to appeal should submit a written petition to the Social Solidarity and Assistance Foundation. A committee within the Foundation convenes to review and evaluate the appeal.