Regulation to bring relief to those with GSS debt: Whose debts will be erased?
General Health Insurance (GSS) debts are being erased. The debts of 400 thousand people, exceeding 250 million TL, will be erased through a legislative proposal to be introduced by the Ministry of Labor and Social Security. Additionally, 10-year debts will be deferred by a Presidential decree. So, whose debts will be erased and how will the deferral work? What is GSS? Is GSS mandatory? How are applications and payments made? How much is the GSS premium fee? Here are all the details...
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As 2025 approaches, debtors are wondering whether they will continue to benefit from General Health Insurance (GSS).
What will happen to those who cannot pay their GSS debts, which exceed 100 billion TL and will increase further with the 2025 minimum wage hike and accrued late interest?
WHAT IS GSS? IS GSS MANDATORY?
GSS refers to insurance that ensures individuals' health is protected first and foremost, and provides financing for expenses incurred if they encounter health risks. General Health Insurance covers all 85 million people in Turkey against potential illness risks, regardless of their economic power or wishes. GSS is mandatory, and it is not possible to waive these rights and obligations.
WHO DOES IT COVER?
The 33 groups considered insured under GSS are summarized as follows: 4/a employees working under an employer, 4/b Bağ-Kur members, 4/c employees in public administrations. Those with optional insurance. Citizens whose monthly income is less than one-third of the minimum wage, children under 18, those receiving the 65-year-old pension, those receiving honorary pensions, retired temporary village guards, athletes who have won world, Olympic, and European championships, individuals benefiting from unemployment benefits or short-term work allowances, foreign students studying in Turkey, those doing legal internships, women for whom protective measures have been ordered, those under 18 receiving disability or relative-of-disabled pensions, and privates and non-commissioned officers.
WHEN DOES GSS START?
The start of an individual's general health insurance coverage varies according to circumstances. The GSS process begins automatically when 4/a, 4/b, and 4/c employees start insured work, or when those without the ability to pay are included in the system.
FOR WHOM IS THE INCOME TEST CONDUCTED?
The income test is a procedure that determines whether citizens without any social security can pay premiums based on their income. For those who undergo the income test, the premiums of those with low income are covered by the state. Those determined to have a per capita income higher than one-third of the gross minimum wage based on the income test results are required to pay premiums.
HOW ARE APPLICATIONS AND PAYMENTS MADE?
Those who wish to have an income test conducted can apply in person to the Social Assistance and Solidarity Foundation (SYD) in the province/district where they reside or via e-Devlet. GSS premiums can be paid at bank counters, through internet banking, at bank ATMs, or at PTT branches. The registration and debt status of general health insurance holders can be viewed via the e-Devlet application, and premium debts can be paid by credit card.
HOW MUCH IS THE GSS PREMIUM FEE?
According to the income test results, the premiums of citizens whose monthly per capita household income is less than one-third of the gross minimum wage (6,667.5 TL) are paid by the state. Those with an income above one-third of the gross minimum wage can benefit from health services by paying a premium of 3 percent of the monthly gross minimum wage (600.08 TL).
Since general health insurance is only valid in university and state hospitals, it cannot be used in private hospitals and institutions.
WHAT IS THE TOTAL DEBT?
With the "health insurance for everyone" practice, citizens without any social security can benefit from health services as a family by paying a monthly GSS premium of only 600.08 TL. In this context, the state covered the GSS premiums of 6.1 million people who did not have the ability to pay. As of the end of 2024, the total payment is projected to be 103.9 billion lira.
The government has implemented either debt cancellation or deferral methods for retroactive GSS debts so that citizens without the ability to pay can benefit from health services. 2012 debts were wiped out with amnesty regulations issued in 2022, and 2013 debts in 2023. A "deferral" path was also taken for 10 years of retroactive debts via a Presidential decree.
GSS DEBTS OF 400 THOUSAND PEOPLE WILL BE WIPED OUT
An amnesty regulation for 2014 debts will be implemented in the legislative proposal related to the Ministry of Labor and Social Security, which will be submitted to the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TBMM) next week. According to the news in Sabah Newspaper, in this context, the debts of 400,000 citizens who do not have the ability to pay, exceeding 250 million TL, will be wiped out.
10-YEAR DEBT WILL BE DEFERRED
On the other hand, with a Presidential decree expected to be issued in December, the multi-billion TL debts of millions of citizens struggling to make a living, dating from 2015 to the present, will be deferred for another year. According to rumors, the decree that will resolve the debt knot is expected to be published within December.