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The Turkish government requires all foreign residents to have a health insurance policy which meets minimum coverage requirements. When you apply for your residence permit online for the first time, and when you extend it, the online system will ask you for your health insurance information, including the effective dates of the policy and the policy number. You will also need to take the policy, or other documentation according you your situation, to your appointment (for first-time applications) or mail it in (for extensions). Bilateral Health Care Agreements Between Countries Some countries have a bilateral agreement with Turkey for providing health care. If you are a citizen of a country that is a part of a bilateral agreement, then you will be covered in Turkey. However, you will need to go to the local office of the Sosyal Güvenlik Kurumu (social security administration, or "SGK") to get a letter stating that you are covered under that agreement. Types of Insurance You Can Use SGK Insurance Turkey has a national health insurance plan, administered by the Sosyal Güvenlik Kurumu, or social security administration. Often called "SGK insurance," it is comprehensive, and allows you to simply present your SGK card at any Turkish state hospital for immediate 100% coverage. Some private hospitals also accept SGK insurance, but since treatment at private hospitals is more expensive than at state hospitals, there may be additional charges which have to be paid separately. You must be a legal resident of Turkey for at least one year before you are eligible for SGK insurance. Insurance from your Home Country You can use insurance coverage from your home country if it meets Turkey's minimum standards for health insurance coverage. Private Insurance From a Company in Turkey Most of the major insurance companies in Turkey, including Ankara Sigorta and Groupama, provide health insurance policies specifically designed for foreigners applying for residence permits. They provide two copies, one in English, and one in Turkish. Tell the insurance agent you need it for your ikamet Tezkeresi (residence permit), and they'll provide you with the policy you need. Two-year Residence Permit Health Insurance Policies Since the duration of short-term residence permits was extended to a maximum of two years, and since health insurance coverage is required during the entire validity period of the residence permit being applied for, Ankara Sigorta has created a two-year residence permit health insurance package. It consists of two one-year health insurance policies, both purchased at the same time. When the first policy expires, the second policy automatically activates. Purchasing Health Insurance in Advance At Ankara Sigorta (and probably other companies) you can also buy health insurance policies up to 60 days in advance--that is--a policy that activates up to 60 days after it is purchased. This can help you time the validity period of your health insurance policy with the validity period of the residence permit you are applying for. Important! Make sure the policy is active on the date of your residence permit appointment, or your application will be rejected. Tip! Get two copies of your health insurance policy. One for the Göç İdaresi Genel Müdürlüğü (Directorate General of Migration Management, or DGMM), and one for you. Health Insurance Costs Insurance policy costs vary from one person to another according to age, gender, and existing health issues, and if the insured is a smoker or not. What Is and Isn't Covered These health insurance policies have a one-year waiting period for coverage of certain conditions. There are also certain conditions they never cover. If You Are Over 65 Years Old If you are over 65 years old, there is no requirement to prove you have health insurance, unless you are applying for a long-term residence permit. Need to buy the required health insurance coverage for your residence permit? You can buy it online, or just get a free quote, by using our Expat Health Insurance Inquiry Form. Turkey's Foreigner Communications Center The DGMM has a number you can call to speak to an immigration specialist. Call 157 from any telephone within Turkey. The call will be free. From outside of Turkey, call +90 312 157 1122. Long-distance charges will apply. See Also An Introduction to Residence Permits: All about the residence permit and how to get one, with links to the various types, eligibility criteria, and required documents. Health Insurance for Residence Permits Forum: Still unclear on what's involved? Feel free to post your questions or comments in our forum. The Four Basic Steps of Applying for or Extending Your Residence Permit External Links Turkey Residence Permit Law (PDF): The Law on Foreigners and International Protection, Dated April, 2014. In English, this is the Turkish law which governs residence permits.

If your home country has a bilateral agreement for healthcare coverage in Turkey, you don't have to buy health insurance in Turkey. You just have to get a Medical Insurance Entitlement Certificate from your home country, take that to the Sosyal Güvenlik Kurumu (Social Security Administration, or SGK) office, and get a letter from them to take to your residence permit application appointment. If you are extending a residence permit, you need to mail the SGK letter with your extension package. Here is what you need to do. 1. Get the Required Documents from Your Country If your country is listed on the left side of the table below, you will need to get the documents listed on the right side. Countries Which Have Reciprocal Health Insurance Coverage and Documents Required If You Are From One of These Countries You Will Need To Get These Documents Albania AL/TR 4, TR/AL 5 Austria A/TR 3, A/TR 4 Belgium BT.8, BT 16 Bosnia-Herzegovina BH/TR 4, BH/TR 6, BH/TR 7 Czech Republic CZ/TR 111 France SE 208-01 FT, SE 208-02 FT SE 208-30 FT, SE 208-06 A FT, SE 208-28 FT,SE 208-09 FT Germany T/A 11, T/A 9, T/A 20 Luxembourg TR/L 3, TR/L 5 Macedonia MC/TR 4, TR/MC 6 Romania R/TR 3, R/TR5, R/TR 6 The Netherlands N/TUR 106, N/TUR 111, N/TUR 121 Turkish Republic of North Cyprus K.K.T.C/T.C. 3, K.K.T.C/T.C. 6 2. Get a Healthcare Entitlement Letter from the SGK Take the appropriate documents to an SGK office. They will give you a letter which verifies that you are covered in Turkey under a bilateral agreement. 3. Include the Letter with Your Residence Permit Application Present the letter from the SGK as proof that you are covered for healthcare services in Turkey. Need to buy the required health insurance coverage for your residence permit? You can buy it online, or just get a free quote, by using our Expat Health Insurance Inquiry Form. Foreigner Communications Center The DGMM has a number you can call to speak to an immigration specialist. Call 157 from any telephone within Turkey. The call will be free. From outside of Turkey, call +90 312 157 1122. Long-distance charges will apply. See Also Expat Health Insurance Forum: If you have questions or comments about health insurance, you can post them here. External Links Sosyal Güvenlik Kurumu (SGK): The official website for Turkey's social security Institution (with English, French, German and Arabic language options). Social Security Agreements: The SGK page which explains how reciprocal social security and healthcare coverage works between Turkey and other countries which have a reciprocal agreement for health care coverage. Turkey Residence Permit Law (PDF): The Law on Foreigners and International Protection, Dated April, 2014. In English, this is the Turkish law which governs residence permits.

To apply for any type of residence permit in Turkey, you must have health insurance coverage meeting certain minimum standards for the type of treatment provided, and the percentage of the cost which will be paid according to your health insurance policy. If you have been a legal resident of Turkey for one year or more, you can apply for the Turkish government's comprehensive health insurance plan, provided by the Sosyal Güvenlik Kurumu (SGK), called "SGK insurance." SGK already meets all minimum standards, as do private Turkish policies issued specifically for foreigners who are applying for residence permits (such as those offered by Ankara Sigorta and Groupama). Health Insurance from Your Home Country If you want to use a health insurance policy from your home country, the policy must state that it is valid worldwide, preferably specifying Turkey. Your health insurance company must also have a branch office in Turkey. If in doubt about whether or not your insurance policy will be accepted, get a new copy of your policy, or a signed letter from your insurance company which says the following: In English: "This policy covers the minimum coverage stipulated in the circular no. 9, dated 06/06/2014, on private health insurance required to be taken out for residence permit applications." In Turkish: "İşbu Poliçe 6/6/2014 Tarih ve 9 Sayılı İkamet İzni Taleplerinde Yaptırılacak Özel Sağlık Sigortalarına İlişkin Genelge'de Belirlenen Asgarİ Teminat Yapısını Kasamaktadır." The minimum standards your insurance policy must meet are as follows: Turkey's Health Insurance Minimum Requirements Treatment Type Insurance Company Share Insured Share Insurance Company Share Limit Coverage Type Outpatient Treatment 60% 40% 2,000 TL Any Healthcare Facility Prescriptions 60% 40% 2,000 TL Any Healthcare Facility Medical Equipment 60% 40% 2,000 TL Any Healthcare Facility Inpatient Treatment (All Illnesses) 100% 0% 2,000 TL Any Healthcare Facility The pages of the policy which show this information, as well as your identifying information, start and end dates, and other information as described above, must be translated by an official Turkish translator and notarized by a noter (notary). Duration of the Insurance Policy All insurance policies must cover you until the expiration date of the residence permit you are applying for. If the insurance policy expires before that, the expiration date of the residence permit you receive will be the same date your insurance policy expires. Two-year Residence Permits If you are applying for a two-year residence permit, you will need to buy health insurance for two years, in advance. As of this writing, only Ankara Sigorta provides this coverage. They offer two one-year health insurance policies that can be bought together. When the first policy expires, the second one activates. Other insurance companies will likely begin offering similar two-policy plans. If You Are Over 65 Years Old If you are over 65 years old, there is no requirement to prove you have health insurance, unless you are applying for a long-term residence permit. Need to buy the required health insurance coverage for your residence permit? You can buy it online, or just get a free quote, by using our Expat Health Insurance Inquiry Form. See Also Health Insurance for Residence Permits Forum External Links Turkey Residence Permit Law (PDF): The Law on Foreigners and International Protection, Dated April, 2014. In English, this is the Turkish law which governs residence permits.

To apply for a residence permit, you must have health insurance which meets minimum coverage requirements, and which is valid in Turkey. You must include a copy of your policy in the package you submit with your residence permit application. Why Turkish Private Health Insurance Might Be Your Best Option Private health insurance from a foreign country will only accepted if the provider has an office in Turkey SGK insurance can only be applied for after you have legally resided in Turkey for more than one year, and it is for life--you cannot cancel it unless you are leaving Turkey permanently. Here is an example of what a private Turkish health insurance policy covers. It takes less than an hour to have a Turkish private health insurance policy drawn up and signed. Turkish Companies Which Provide Expat Health Insurance Ankara Sigorta and Groupama both have insurance policies specifically for foreign residents, which meet all of the minimum standards required for your residence permit. They have offices in all major cities and many smaller towns throughout Turkey. You can simply walk in to one of these offices and ask for a policy. If you find that they don't speak English, just say "İkamet Tezkeresi" (ee-kah-met tehz-keh-reh-see), which means "residence permit." They will understand what you need. Synchronizing Turkish Health Insurance With Your Residence Permit Duration You must have health insurance coverage while in Turkey. During your visa's duration, you can use travel insurance. But when you apply for your residence permit, you must have a health insurance policy (with a policy number) as soon as you apply. And it must cover you for the duration of the residence permit you are are applying for. Ankara Sigorta's expat health insurance policies, you can apply for a health insurance coverage up to 60 days in advance. Important! If you are applying for a residence permit for the first time, make sure your health insurance policy is active on the day of your residence permit appointment. If you are on a visa with travel insurance, make sure the appointment date you select is after the start date of your private Turkish health insurance policy. If you are extending your residence permit, make sure there are no gaps in coverage. Private Turkish Health Insurance Polices for Residence Permits with Durations of More than One Year Ankara Sigorta also offers a two-year plan for health insurance. This involves two separate health insurance polices, each for one year in duration. On the day after the first policy expires, the second one becomes active, covering you for two years. If You Are Over 65 Years Old If you are over 65 years old, there is no requirement to prove you have health insurance, unless you are applying for a long-term residence permit. Application Information When you are getting your policy, the insurance agent will need to know the following to calculate the premium you will pay: Gender Age, or yaş (yahsh) Height or boy Weight in Kilos, or kilo If you are a smoker or non-smoker, or sigara içmeyi (see-gah-ruh eech-meh-ee). Tip! Get two copies of your health insurance policy. One for the DGMM, and one for you. The companies which offer expat health insurance in Turkey also provide a copy of the policy in the English language. Extending Your Residence Permit You should get a new health insurance policy and extend your residence permit at least a week before your health insurance policy expires, so you can be sure your health insurance coverage will have no gaps. You can get a policy with a start date of up to 60 days in the future. Health Insurance Prices Prices vary according to the above factors. Insurance companies use these factors to calculate the probability that you will need health care during the term of the policy, and set their prices accordingly. While the prices are not negotiable, you can always shop around to see if another company has a lower price for the same level of coverage. Changing from One Insurance Company to Another While you are free to open a new health insurance policy with a new company, and let your old policy lapse, you will have to go through the second company's one-year waiting period again, during which many medical procedures will be excluded. Need to buy the required health insurance coverage for your residence permit? You can buy it online, or just get a free quote, by using our Expat Health Insurance Inquiry Form. See Also Turkey Expat Health Insurance Forum: Dedicated to health insurance in Turkey, where you can ask questions or post comments. External Links Turkey Residence Permit Law (PDF): The Law on Foreigners and International Protection, Dated April, 2014. In English, this is the Turkish law which governs residence permits.

Turkey has a national health insurance plan, managed by the Sosyal Güvenlik Kurumu, (Social Security Administration, or SGK). Once you have legally resided in Turkey for at least one year, you can enroll. After you pay the first premium, you are covered. You will get an SGK health insurance ID card which you can present at any state hospital and be treated, without charge. Some private hospitals also accept SGK insurance, but since treatment at private hospitals is more expensive than at state hospitals, there may be additional charges you will need to pay in cash, or have them covered by supplemental insurance that you can get from one of the Turkish insurance companies. SGK Insurance Premiums The premium for SGK insurance is currently 426.60 TL per month (2017). This price is for legally-married couples and their children (if they are under age 18) and for single persons (the price is the same for both--there is no discount for a single person). Note: If a person receives income from a government pension, that person will not be eligible to be a covered as a dependent under their spouse's SGK policy. First-time Application for SGK Insurance Because enrollment in the SGK plan requires you to be a resident of Turkey, and becoming a resident of Turkey requires health insurance coverage, you will have to go back and forth between the SGK office and the foreigners' bureau. Here's what you need to do: Go to the SGK office, and verify exactly what you need to do according to your situation. Rules can change or vary according to province. Get a physical examination. You can go to a private or state hospital for this (state hospitals are cheaper. You can pay by cash or credit card at either type of hospital. Go to the SGK office and submit an initial application for SGK insurance. You will need your residence permit, passport, and proof of address (such as a property deed or rental contract, or a stamped and signed address registration document from the Nüfus [Citizenship and Population Directorate]). The SGK will provisionally enroll you and give you a document called a Provizyon Sorgulama Cevap (Provisional Inquiry Reply) which shows you have been provisionally registered in the SGK system. Then, pay the premium for the first month of coverage. Go to the DGMM with your copy of the Provisional Inquiry Reply. Submit it with your residence permit application package. You will get a confirmation of application from the foreigners' bureau showing that you have applied for your residence permit. Go back to the SGK office with the confirmation document you received from the DGMM, and complete the SGK application process. You will then have medical insurance coverage in Turkey, and a completed and submitted application for your Turkey residence permit. Note: After you receive your residence permit, return to the SGK office, show them your residence permit card, and make sure that you are registered with the SGK as a resident of Turkey. Extending Your SGK Insurance Once you reach a date 60 days before the expiration of your residence permit, it is a good idea to apply to extend your SGK coverage as soon as possible, to make sure you have no gaps in your insurance coverage. If You Are Over 65 Years Old If you are over 65 years old, you do not need to have health insurance to get a residence permit, unless you are applying for a long-term residence permit. Need to buy the required health insurance coverage for your residence permit? You can buy it online, or just get a free quote, by using our Expat Health Insurance Inquiry Form. See Also Health Insurance Forum: A forum dedicated to the health insurance requirement to live in Turkey. Please post any questions or comments you have there. External Links Turkey Residence Permit Law (PDF): The Law on Foreigners and International Protection, Dated April, 2014. In English, this is the Turkish law which governs residence permits. Republic of Turkey, Social Security Institution: In English. Covers just about anything you need to know about SGK Universal Health Insurance.

We've had a few questions in our residence permit health insurance forum about what exactly is covered by a Turkish private health insurance policy. So I took this information directly from my own health insurance policy, from Groupama, and I present it here to give you an idea of what is covered. The first year is limited in coverage, to screen out those who might come in with pre-existing conditions requiring immediate care. But after the first year, you will get full coverage. Make sure you get one of your insurance company's cards with your policy number. With that, the hospital or other healthcare provider can call your insurance company to verify your coverage. The insurance companies have various contracts with healthcare providers throughout Turkey. They offer discount rates to them, on a secret price list. And these contracted healthcare providers will accept your insurance immediately and not bill you (or will only bill you for any portions of your bill which are not covered. If your insurance company doesn't have a contract with the healthcare provider you visit, your healthcare provider will probably tell you that you have to pay cash in advance and get a refund from the insurance company. But that doesn't mean they can't still bill your insurance company if you don't have the cash, whether they have a contract or not. Anyway, here is what is covered by a typical health insurance policy provided by a private Turkish company. Statement of Health Coverage Coverage Scope Contracted Non-contracted Limit of Coverage Contribution Limit of Coverage Contribution Inpatient Treatment Annual Unlimited None 20,000 TL 20% Hospital Room-Meal Daily Charge for Standard Single Room None Charge for Standard Single Room 20% Intensive Care Daily Charge for Intensive Care Unit None Charge for Intensive Care Unit 20% Outpatient Diagnosis Treatment Annual 2,000 TL 40% 2,000 TL 40% Auxiliary Medical Supplies Annual 1,000 TL 40% 1,000 TL 40% *"Contribution" is the percentage the patient must pay. *"Contracted" referrers to healthcare providers with whom the insurance company has a contract. *"Non-contracted" refers to healthcare providers with whom the insurance company does not have a contract. * International emergency assistance and medical consultancy * Outpatient treatment coverage is limited at 2,000 TL in aggregate annually at contracted and non-contracted healthcare institutions. Waiting Periods According to Groupama's policy, for the first year, many things are not covered. The following was taken directly from the "Waiting Periods" clause of a policy purchased May 13th 2016: 4- Waiting Periods 4.1. Diagnose, outpatient treatment, minor intervention, surgery and inpatient treatment expenses related to the below mentioned diseases and complications are not covered for 12 months following the first effective date of the policy provided by Groupama Sigorta: Hearth diseases, cancer, chronic diseases (diabetes, hypertension, COPD, MS, Thyroid Gland Diseases / Goiter, hepatitis, gastroesophageal reflux, peptic ulcer etc.) benign tumor - mass- polyp- lypoma nevusverruca - cyst. Provided that, after evaluating the declaration/documents of the insured/ the policyholder, the insurer may extend the waiting period for the above mentioned diseases or apply waiting period for other diseases on condition that it is written on the appendices. 4.2. All kind of physiotherapy and rehabilitation expenses as well as algology treatments are not covered for 12 months following the first effective date of the policy. Exclusions According to the same policy, the following things are never covered: 5 - Exclusions: In addition to the Health Insurance General Conditions article 2 of the, any disease and/or injury resulting from an accident during the term of the insurance will be excluded due to the cases mentioned below: 5.1. Expenses regarding diseases and disabilities which exist before the effective date of the policy, examination and treatment following the first diagnose of congenital and/or structural diseases and disabilities, diagnoses and treatments of hereditary diseases and disabilities as well as the expenses for any related disorder, 5.2. Expenses related with medical examination, laboratory/X-ray, etc. tests , treatments for medical analysis or medical prevention purposes in absence of disease tests, check-ups, medicine and vaccines for early diagnose of diseases, 5.3. Any procedures carried out in the absence of any diagnostic / treatment program required by a physician and expenses resulting from these procedures, 5.4. All expenses related with treatments considered experimental by the US FDA (Food and Drug Administration), any experimental treatments that are not scientifically proven, chiropractic, PRP, transplantation and use of root cells apart from cancer treatments, 5.5. All expenses related with motor and mental development disorder, growth and development disorder, 5.6. Apart from cases resulting from an accident occurred during the term of the policy, all kind of plastic surgeries, diagnose and treatments for esthetic purposes, gynecomasty, sex reassignment surgeries, breast reduction surgery, laser epilation, laser ad phototherapy procedures related with any skin disease (except for puva therapy), telangiectasia, therapies for dermal haemangioma, varicose treatments, 5.7. Expenses related to gall bladder and biliary track diseases, urinary system stone, 5.8. Expenses related to septum deviation, narrowness of nasal meatus, concha hypertrophy, tonsillitis, adenoid, sinusitis, auto-sclerosis and otitis media complications, 5.9. Expenses of diagnoses and treatments of hallux valgus, disc diseases (discopathy), carpal tunnel syndrome, ulnar tunnel syndrome, shoulder and knee surgery (meniscus, cartilage, synovia and ligament lesions, etc., coxarthrosis, hygroma, 5.10. Expenses of coronary artery calcium scan by Electron Tomography (EBT), Volume Computer Tomography (VCT) and similar equipment, coronary artery angiographies by multi-detector computer tomography, and virtual bronchoscopy and virtual colonoscopy performed for scanning purposes, : 5.11. Expenses of diagnoses and treatments of spermatocele varicosele, hydrocele, umbilical cyst and epididymis cyst, prostate diseases, hernia, hemorrhoid / anal fistula, anal fissure / anal abscess, perianal abscess, Bartholin’s abscess/cyst/ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease and pilonidal sinus, 5.12. Expenses of diagnoses and treatments of sleep disorders sleep apnea and snoring, and auxiliary equipment, 5.13. Immunotherapy and allergy tests (dermal tests,determination of quantitative antigen in serum and other analyses), 5.14. All expenses related with pregnancy and childbirth and incubation care, 5.15. Expenses related to diagnose and treatment of organ transplantation and organ failure, expenses related to organ donation and donor, 5.16. Breast diseases, breast prosthesis and nipple reconstruction after cancer surgery, 5.17. Expenses related to all kind of medical treatment, laser and surgical procedures carried out for strabismus and refractive errors, expenses related to diagnoses, analyses and treatments of amblyopia, expenses related to diagnose and treatment of cataract, glaucoma and retinal diseases, 5.18. Expenses related to diagnoses and treatments of all diseases related with AIDS, ARCS and HIV, genital herpes, genital and anal papillomatous lesions (warts, condyloma acuminatum, etc.), genital and anal contagiosum, human papilloma virus (HPV) and expenses incurred for diagnosis and treatment of venereal diseases, 5.19. Expenses of abortion, expenses of sterilization (tube ligation, vasectomy, etc.), implant contraceptives, all birth control methods (spiral application, oral contraceptives, etc.), analyses of oral abortion, impotency (erectile dysfunctions), sexual dysfunction, infertility and/or fertilization (in vitro fertilization, microinjection, etc.), HSG and hysterosonography, etc., analyses, controls and treatments carried out before pregnancy, expenses related to diagnoses and treatments of ovary cyst, myoma, stress incontinence, cystorectoceie, adhesiotysis, endometriosis, endometrioma, 5.20. Circumcision and related complications, 5.21. Expenses incurred for physical therapy and rehabilitation over 20 sessions within one year of insurance received as part of an outpatient and/or inpatient treatment, 5.22. Expenses of psychiatric and psychological disorders/treatments, treatment of psychosomatic diseases and expenses related to psychologists, pedagogues, social service experts, etc, 5.23. Expenses of diagnoses and treatments of geriatric diseases (dementia, Alzheimer's disease, etc.) and psycho-geriatric diseases, 5.24. Expenses of diagnoses and treatments of a disease or an accident resulting from the effect of alcohol and narcotic substances under which the insured is, diagnoses and treatments of any disease and complications developed as a result of use of alcohol or narcotic substances, expenses of cigarette, alcohol and substance addiction treatment, 5.25. Expenses of alternative medicine methods (acupuncture, hypnosis, aromatherapy, neural therapy, etc.), obesity, diagnose of metabolic syndrome, metabolic surgery, obesity surgery, diabetes surgery, methods of weight gain and expenses related with foot care centers, expenses of PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma), services used at SPA cure centers, massage expenses, dietary specialists, mud baths, weight loss centers, fitness centers and similar places, expenses related to anti-aging procedures, expenses of all kind of diagnoses and treatments of nutrition and diet, all expenses in beauty clinics, expenses of voice and speech therapy. 5.26. Expenses of all kind of examination, diagnose and treatment for hair loss, treatment of perspiration, iontophoresis and BTX procedures, treatments with orlistat and its derivatives (xenical caps, etc.), treatments with sibutramine and its derivatives (reductil caps). 5.27. Expenses of unlicensed drugs, vitamins and food supplementary products approved by Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock, imported with the import license given by the Ministry of Health, expenses of fruit salts and medical sodas, supplements and herbs for weight loss, bran and plant fibres, artificial sweeteners, nicotine replacement products to quit smoking, contact lens care products, all kind of tooth paste, mouth and dental care products, all kind of medicinal teas, any products shaped like drug, containing components like herb and herbal elements and herbal extract distillate, unregistered by the Ministry of Health, all kind of soap, anti-dandruff and anti-hair loss products, hair or dandruff shampoo, skin cream, skin soap, cosmetic products, thermophore, thermometer, etc. 5.28. Expenses of all kind of intervention, diagnose and treatment on teeth, gum and jaw carried out by dentists. 5.29. Costs of eyeglasses, contact lenses and solutions, wheeled chair, hearing aid, ICD, crutches, orthopaedic boots-soles-slippers-shoes. 5.30. Costs of diapers, baby food, feeding bottle, pacifier, baby care creams, etc. 5.31. Expenses related to disability and injury occurred during the performance of all kind of professional and/or dangerous and extreme sports (mountain climbing, parachuting, air sports, underwater sports, rally, motocross, use of atv-utv, etc.) and related sports competitions and speed and strength races, and all kind of accident due to unlicensed driving.. 5.32. Expenses related to disability resulting from participation in strikes, workers movement involving lockouts, civil commotions, fights, etc. as well as expenses related to the required diagnosis and treatment. 5.33. Expenses of private nursing services at the hospital during outpatient or inpatient treatment 5.34. Costs of healthcare service received from physicians who are not specialist of the disease of the insured. 5.35. Expenses for use of robot, etc. in robotic surgical operations. 5.36. Daily hospital expenses exceeding the limit and the scope of coverage defined in the policy for treatments which should be inpatient treatment according to medical point of view. 5.37. Daily work disability compensation for the period in which the insured cannot work due to its medical condition resulting from a disease. 5.38. Expenses of daily home care which are out of scope of Nurse Care at Home Coverage. 5.39. Expenses related to pes planus and scoliosis, kyphosis and lordosis which are not a consequence of an accident occurred after the effective date of the policy. 5.40. All expenses excluded from guarantees, limits and contributions specified on the policy and any uncovered special situations specified in the additional clauses of the policy. The above is only an example taken from the policy of one insurance company. Consult your personal health insurance policy to see what it covers or doesn't cover. And contact your health insurance provider if you have any questions. If You Are Over 65 Years Old If you are over 65 years old, there is no requirement to prove you have health insurance, unless you are applying for a long-term residence permit. Turkey's Foreigner Communications Center The Göç İdaresi Genel Müdürlüğü (Directorate General of Migration Management, or DGMM) has a number you can call to speak to an immigration specialist. Call 157 from any telephone within Turkey. The call will be free. From outside of Turkey, call +90 312 157 1122. Long-distance charges will apply. Need to buy the required health insurance coverage for your residence permit? You can buy it online, or just get a free quote, by using our Expat Health Insurance Inquiry Form. See Also Minimum Health Insurance Coverage for Your Residence Permit Health Insurance for Residence Permits Forum: We have an entire forum dedicated to the health insurance requirement. If you have comments or questions, please post them there. External Links Turkey Residence Permit Law (PDF): The Law on Foreigners and International Protection, Dated April, 2014. In English, this is the Turkish law which governs residence permits.