The “Social Insurance and General Health Insurance (GSS) Law and the Law Amending Certain Laws,” which was accepted by the Grand National Assembly of Turkey on January 9 and became law, has been published in the Official Gazette. With the new regulation, many changes have been made, including the participation fee and GSS premiums, and workers who started insurance before 2008 are also granted the good news of receiving an old-age pension.

According to the new law, the services provided to foreigners, acupuncture and phytotherapy offered by family physicians outside of working hours, and special-purpose reports, excluding those determined by the Ministry, will be provided free of charge. According to the new regulation, individuals applying for health services may have their data processed as required for the provision of health services.

Increase in Health Services Participation Fee

The participation fee for outpatient treatment, including doctor and dentist consultations, will be 20 Turkish lira. The Social Security Institution (SGK) will have the authority to reduce the participation fee by up to half for those referred by primary healthcare providers.

Employer Premium Support

The 5-point insurance premium discount for private sector employers for disability, old-age, and death insurance premiums paid to SGK will be reduced to 4 points. This provision will apply starting from the beginning of the month the law is published.

The 5-point discount on disability, old-age, and death insurance premiums for workplaces in the manufacturing sector will continue until December 31, 2026. The President will be authorized to extend this period until December 31, 2027.

For those whose insurance started before December 31, 2008, those with a disability rate of 40% to 49% will be entitled to an old-age pension with 18 years of insurance and 4,100 days of premium payments, while those with a disability rate of 50% to 59% will be entitled to an old-age pension with 16 years of insurance and 3,700 days of premium payments.

Family Doctor Reports Will Be Paid

With the law, family physicians will be allowed to treat patients outside working hours for a fee.

Some reports issued by family physicians will become subject to fees. For example, a certain fee will be charged for requests for a driver’s license report. The fees collected for reports will be transferred to the revolving fund.

Source: Official Gazette