9 million people will be deprived of healthcare services due to GSS premium debt!

9 million people with General Health Insurance premium debt will be unable to benefit from healthcare services as of January 2025. So, how is GSS paid, what happens if it is not paid, and is there a possibility of an amnesty at the end of the year?

According to the report by Noyan Doğan from Hürriyet, although the exact number of people with Social Security Institution (SGK) general health insurance debt is not known, it is estimated that 9 million people have premium debt. According to data released by the SGK, today, 2 million people pay their own health insurance premiums, while the state covers the premiums for 6.1 million people.

WHAT IS GSS PREMIUM DEBT?

A mandatory premium payment requirement was introduced for General Health Insurance (GSS) with the amendment made on January 1, 2012. Those covered by General Health Insurance are divided into two categories: those who are employed and those who are not. Since employers pay the premiums for insured employees, no debt arises, but those who are not employed must pay their own premiums from outside, and therefore, insurance debt can arise every month.

HOW IS GSS PREMIUM DEBT PAID?

The GSS debt inquiry process is carried out online using a Turkish ID number. The debt can be paid via e-Devlet. If it carries over into 2025, the health premium debt will also increase along with the newly determined minimum wage.

WHAT WILL THOSE WHO CANNOT PAY THEIR DEBT DO?

Those who cannot pay their premiums undergo an income test. If the result of the income test shows that the per capita household income is below one-third of the gross minimum wage (this amount is 6,600 liras for today), all your debts are erased and the premiums are covered by the state.

WILL THERE BE AN AMNESTY FOR PREMIUM DEBT?

According to Doğan's report, in the final days of December each year, a Presidential decree is issued, allowing those with general health insurance premium debt to benefit from the healthcare services provided by the state until the end of the following year. For the last 7 years, this opportunity has been granted to premium debtors.

News Source: 12punto