Proposed solution for tradespeople unable to access healthcare due to insurance premium debt

Confederation of Turkish Tradesmen and Craftsmen (TESK) President Bendevi Palandöken drew attention to the problems faced by tradespeople and their families who cannot benefit from healthcare services due to insurance premium debt. Palandöken emphasized that tradespeople with insurance premium debts of more than two months cannot be examined in hospitals and cannot receive medication.

Palandöken stated that due to premium debt, not only the tradesperson but also the family members they are responsible for are deprived of healthcare services. He expressed that tradespeople who cannot pay their debts are forced to pay back the cost of services they did not use with interest.

PREMIUM DEBT VICTIMIZES TRADESPEOPLE

The TESK President said that tradespeople struggling with rising costs have difficulty paying their insurance premiums. He stated that tradespeople who do not have the purchasing power for private hospitals and expensive medicines are also excluded from the insurance system, which creates a major grievance in the field of health. Palandöken said, “Our tradespeople and their families must be ensured to receive uninterrupted healthcare services. For this, our tradespeople should be provided with zero-interest or low-interest loan opportunities through a new restructuring law.”

Reminding that President and AKP Chairman Recep Tayyip Erdoğan had extended the restructuring period in the past, Palandöken requested that this process be extended for another year.

He also stated that tradespeople who have completed 7,200 premium days should be able to benefit from healthcare services. Palandöken said, “If our tradespeople cannot benefit from healthcare, they and their families will suffer a great grievance. Therefore, providing restructuring and payment facilities is an urgent need.”

INTEREST-FREE LOAN AND NEW RESTRUCTURING

TESK President Palandöken emphasized the importance of tradespeople who have problems accessing the healthcare system due to overdue premium debt being able to pay their debts with zero-interest or low-interest loans.

He stated that with the implementation of a new restructuring law, tradespeople could pay their debts and gain uninterrupted access to healthcare services.

“Tradespeople who cannot pay their premium debt do not have the power to go to a private hospital or buy medicine anyway. The state needs to take new steps so that our tradespeople are not deprived of healthcare services,” said Palandöken, calling for the regulation to be implemented as soon as possible.