You can pay your GSS (General Health Insurance) premium debts online immediately. Payments can be made either as a lump sum or in installments. Payments are processed through SGK (Social Security Institution). GSS debts are collected online, and because most banks have agreements with SGK, you can also pay GSS debts through banks.
Banks that accept GSS premium payments:
- Akbank
- Aktifbank
- Albaraka Türk Participation Bank
- Alternatif Bank
- Anadolu Bank
- Burgan Bank
- Citibank
- Denizbank
- QNB Finansbank
- ING Bank
- Garanti BBVA
- Halkbank
- İş Bankası
- Yapı Kredi Bank
- Vakıfbank
- Ziraat Bank
- Şekerbank
- Odeabank
- Türkiye Ekonomi Bankası
- HSBC
How to Check Your General Health Insurance (GSS) Debt?
Those who want to check their GSS debt can do so via the e-Government (e-Devlet) system.
Steps to follow:
- Go to the e-Government website at https://www.turkiye.gov.tr.
- Click the login button on the homepage.
- Complete identity verification. You can verify using an e-Devlet password, mobile signature, electronic signature, Turkish ID card, or internet banking. The e-Devlet password can be obtained from PTT branches for a fee.
- From the e-services list, find the Social Security Institution (Sosyal Güvenlik Kurumu).
- Under the SGK services, choose “General Health Insurance Registration and Premium Debt Inquiry.” If you have a GSS debt it will appear on this page; if not, a message indicating no debt will be shown.
What to Do If a GSS Debt Appears?
Paying the GSS debt is not the only option. Other choices include:
- You can file an objection with the SGK office that issued the debt notice. If you live in another city, you can go to the local SGK office. Objections without valid reasons are not usually accepted.
- You can apply for an income test. If you have not previously taken an income test, you can do so; if the per-person monthly income in your household is less than one-third of the gross monthly minimum wage, the premium debts can be canceled and you will not be required to pay them.
- You can pay the GSS debt either in full or in installments. Installment plans typically carry an annual interest rate (for example, around 22% in previous practices). Individuals without social security who pay their GSS debt should be aware that new debts may arise in future periods and should monitor their status accordingly.
How to Pay GSS Premium with a Card?
To check and pay GSS premium debts with a card, log into the e-SGK portal. Both credit and debit cards can be used for GSS payments.
Steps to make a card payment:
- Go to the e-SGK website at https://e.sgk.gov.tr.
- Select the “Citizen” portal option.
- From the SGK services, click the “Pay Premium by Card” button.
- The payment page indicates that payments can be made via credit or debit card. Click the payment interface image on the screen.
- An identity verification screen using e-Devlet will open.
- After verifying your identity, the debt inquiry page appears. Choose the query type and enter your registration number, then click the debt inquiry button.
- Select the debt shown in the results and complete payment by entering your credit or debit card information.
Pay GSS Premium Online
Documents Required for a GSS Application
To apply for GSS you must prepare the required documents. The typical documents requested for a GSS application include:
- GSS application form. This form can often be obtained from the Social Services Unit at the district governor’s office.
- Proof of residence (ikametgah). This can be acquired from the local muhtar’s office or via e-Government.
- Photocopy of an identity document.
- After filling in the required sections of the forms, take them to the tax office for signature where requested.
- The local muhtar must complete and sign the sections that require the muhtar’s confirmation.
- Once all documents are signed where necessary, return them to the district governor’s office to complete the application.
What Should Unemployed Citizens Do About GSS Premium Debts?
One common question is whether unemployed citizens have GSS debts. GSS covers all citizens over 18 regardless of employment status. Therefore, unemployed people must still pay premiums to benefit from healthcare services, and the premium amount is determined by an income test.
The income test is conducted through local Social Assistance and Solidarity Foundations. It assesses the applicant’s income as well as the household’s situation. When evaluating income, representatives consider household members such as spouse, children, parents living at home, and children under 25 living away for education. If unemployed individuals do not take the income test, they are automatically registered under GSS at the highest premium level and must pay that amount. Unemployed citizens can also use the GSS debt inquiry process to check for outstanding debts and, when available, apply for restructuring or relief under certain conditions.