The social security system in Turkey comprises three main organisations:
- SSK: SSK is a social security
organization for private sector and blue-collar public sector workers. SSK
members are insured for work injuries and professional job diseases, medical
care, illness, disability, and maternity. When the insured person has paid all
due contributions for a specified period and have reached a specified age,
they're entitled for Old Age Pension. If the insured person dies, the widow,
children, or parents are paid funeral expenses and can claim his/her pension
payments.
- Emekli Sandigi:
This is a Government Employees Retirement Fund for retired civil servants.
Government employees only co-pay 10% of the medical expenses, the rest is paid
by the government. The Fund offers health insurance, retirement pension,
retirement bonus and a death grant that is payable to the spouse, children or
parents.
- Bag-Kur: This insurance covers the
self-employed not covered by the SSK. This includes craftsmen, artisans and
small businessmen, technical and professional people who are registered with a
chamber or professional association, shareholders of companies other than
co-operatives and joint stock companies, and those self-employed in agriculture.
- Green Card System: This provides
free care to poor people who cannot afford any of the above provisions.
- Private Insurances: Private health
insurances are well-developed in Turkey. Many people invest in a private
insurance along with the state insurance to avail of better quality of
services. A foreign national who is covered under the compulsory social
security system of his or her home country is not required to pay social
security premiums, provided proof of foreign coverage is filed with the local
social security office. If the employee is not subject to foreign social
security, full contributions would generally be imposed.
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