A new regulation is being prepared to erase the premium debts incurred before January 1, 2017, for those who are responsible for paying their own General Health Insurance (GSS) premiums. If the draft law, which is expected to be submitted to the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM), is enacted, the premium debts for the periods in question, as well as ancillary receivables such as late payment penalties and late interest, will be completely abolished.
The regulation concerns those who are not employed and cannot receive health services as a dependent of a spouse or parent. These individuals are required to pay their own GSS premiums. If the per capita income within a household is less than one-third of the minimum wage, no premium is charged; the premiums for those in this group are covered by the state.
According to the report by Ahmet Kıvanç from Habertürk, a universal health insurance system covering everyone has been in effect in Turkey since January 1, 2012. The insurance premiums of workers, civil servants, tradespeople, or those with optional insurance also include a GSS share. Individuals who fall outside these categories and do not have health coverage through someone else are considered liable to pay premiums under the mandatory GSS.
2016 GSS PREMIUM DEBTS WILL ALSO BE ERASED
With regulations enacted in recent years, old GSS premium debts that have reached a certain period are being gradually erased. Previously, debts from 2012-2015 were removed from the scope. With the new regulation, it is envisaged that GSS premium debts for the year 2016 will also be erased. However, no refunds will be made to those who have already paid a portion of this debt in the past.
For those who pay their own GSS premiums, the premium amount is applied as 6 percent of the gross minimum wage. The monthly GSS premium for 2026 is 1,981.80 TL. This rate was at the 3 percent level until last year; it was increased to 6 percent starting from December.
WHICH HOSPITALS CAN THOSE WITH GSS PREMIUM DEBT USE?
The erasure of premium debts does not only mean the removal of the debt record; it also has consequences in terms of accessing health services. Individuals who do not have premium debts to the SGK can receive services from private hospitals and private university hospitals contracted with the SGK, in addition to Ministry of Health hospitals and state university hospitals.
For those with premium debt, the scope is more limited. Under the current practice, these individuals can only use hospitals affiliated with the Ministry of Health and state university hospitals. With the Presidential Decree published on January 7, 2026, the right of those with premium debt to access health services had been extended until December 31, 2026.
THOSE WHOSE DEBTS ARE ERASED WILL BE ABLE TO USE PRIVATE HOSPITALS
With the erasure of debts from 2016 as of January 1, 2027, individuals whose debts for this period are removed and who do not have GSS or BAĞ-KUR premium debts for subsequent years will be able to receive services from private hospitals through the SGK. However, even if the 2016 debt is erased, those who continue to have premium debts for 2017 and later will not be able to benefit from the same opportunity regarding private hospitals.
MORE THAN 2 MILLION PEOPLE PAY THEIR OWN PREMIUMS
According to SGK data, there are currently 9 million 503 thousand 348 people under the GSS scope. 2 million 51 thousand 75 of this group consist of those who are required to pay their own premiums. The premiums of approximately 7.4 million people are covered by the state due to income criteria.
IS THERE AN ERASURE REGULATION FOR DEBTS FROM 2017 AND LATER?
There is no direct erasure envisaged within the scope of the current regulation for debts from 2017 and subsequent years. However, since similar debts have been erased in previous years as they reached the ten-year mark, it is expected that regulations in the same direction will come to the agenda for debts from later periods as well.
News Source: 12punto
