2-year premium exemption for university graduates! When does GSS begin?

Those who do not work in any job are obliged to pay their General Health Insurance (GSS) premiums themselves. This rule also applies to unemployed young people.

However, the premiums of those who lack the ability to pay may be covered by the state. For this, an income test must be carried out.

According to Habertürk's report, under the legislation, those who do not work in an insured job or who are not covered as dependents by their spouse, mother or father fall under compulsory GSS coverage. These people pay a monthly GSS premium of 780.17 TL for 2025. Those who lack the ability to pay undergo an income test.

If the per capita income in the household is below 8,668.50 TL, the amount set for 2025, the premium is paid by the state. If it is above this amount, the person must pay the premium themselves.

WHEN DOES CHILDREN’S GSS OBLIGATION BEGIN?

Children can receive health services through the SGK until the age of 18, regardless of whether their parents work or whether they have premium debts. This age limit is 20 for graduates of high school and equivalent schools, and 25 for higher education graduates.

With the regulation introduced in 2016, children’s obligation to pay GSS premiums begins 2 years after the date of graduation. In this way, young people can receive health services for 2 years after graduating from school without paying GSS premiums. However, this right cannot exceed the age limit determined according to education status.

For example, if a young person who graduates from university in June 2025 is 22 years old, they can benefit from health services without paying premiums for 2 years, that is, until the age of 24. However, if the same young person is 24 at the time of graduation, they can receive services until the age of 25, after which they cannot benefit from this right.

SPECIAL CASE FOR DAUGHTERS

With the Social Insurance and General Health Insurance Law No. 5510 entering into force on October 1, 2008, daughters who were considered dependents through their parents on that date continue to benefit from health services free of charge as long as they are not working and are unmarried. Daughters in this situation can also receive health services without paying GSS premiums if they marry and divorce or if they lose their spouses.

However, those who did not have this right on October 1, 2008 are subject to the same rules as sons. In other words, daughters born after this date or who do not have an insured parent are also included in GSS coverage according to their age and graduation status.

INCOME TEST REQUIREMENT AND DEADLINE

Young people who cannot find an insured job within 2 years after graduation or who reach the age limit must pay GSS premiums in order to benefit from health services. If the premium is not paid, they appear in the system as debtors when they go to the hospital and cannot receive health services. Or treatment costs are paid out of pocket.

An application for an income test must be made within one month from the date the premium obligation begins. This test is carried out at the social assistance and solidarity foundation in the person’s place of residence. In the income test, if the per capita income is lower than one-third of the minimum wage, the premium is covered by the state without any premium debt arising.

However, if the application is delayed and inability to pay is determined later, the premium debts that arise during this period must be paid by the person themselves.