20.10.2025 09:40
In the Regulation on Private Health Insurance, some changes have been made regarding private health insurance and policyholders. With the changes that will come into effect on January 1, 2026, arrangements have been made in favor of the policyholder, such as a lifetime renewal guarantee, waiting periods, the right to change companies, and the clear indication of discount rates in the policies.
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Some situations regarding private health insurance have been clarified for those who will take out insurance. According to the decision published in the Official Gazette, changes have been made to the Private Health Insurance Regulation. With the changes made, regulations have been established regarding the lifetime renewal guarantee, the principles regarding waiting periods, the right to change companies without loss of rights, the protection of the lifetime renewal guarantee when transitioning from group insurance to individual health insurance, and the clear indication of discount rates in the policy.
CHANGES IN WAITING PERIODS
The insurance company may set waiting periods for insurance contracts in accordance with the requirements of insurance and good faith rules. The specified waiting periods and the illnesses or special situations for which waiting periods are anticipated will be clearly stated in the contract. A waiting period may only be applied during the first insurance period for each coverage offered in the policy. Waiting periods will not be applied in subsequent periods for renewed policies within the same plan. After the completion of the waiting period, when switching to a new company, waiting periods will not be applied except for special situations determined by the Institution. In cases where a switch to a new company is made before the waiting period is completed, the time spent in the previous company will be deducted from the waiting period to be applied by the new company. In insurance policies that foresee waiting periods, the procedures and principles regarding waiting periods will be determined by the Institution.
LIFETIME RENEWAL GUARANTEE
The insurance company will be required to offer contracts that include a lifetime renewal guarantee commitment to individuals who have not yet reached the age of 60 and wish to take out private health insurance and complementary and supportive health insurance. Contracts that include a lifetime renewal guarantee commitment or do not include a lifetime renewal guarantee commitment may be concluded at the policyholder's preference. The conditions of the lifetime renewal guarantee, which has a minimum content specified in the regulation, can only be changed in favor of the insured.
Different commitments from the lifetime renewal guarantee mentioned in this regulation regarding contract renewals by the company cannot be given under the name of renewal guarantee or in a way that creates the impression of a lifetime renewal guarantee. If the company offers various advantages tied to renewal in contracts that do not include a lifetime renewal guarantee commitment, information will be provided about the difference from the lifetime renewal guarantee, and it will be clearly stated in the policy that it does not include a lifetime renewal guarantee.
In the first contract that includes a lifetime renewal guarantee commitment offered by the company, information and evaluation conditions regarding the lifetime renewal guarantee will be clearly stated and cannot be changed to the detriment of the insured later. The company will provide a lifetime renewal guarantee to those who meet the evaluation conditions specified in the contract.
To obtain a lifetime renewal guarantee, the contract must include:
a) Continuous coverage under the same plan for 3 years, excluding periods of up to 1 month between policy renewal periods,
b) No more stringent evaluation conditions can be established than the condition that the total compensation paid for illnesses and disorders arising during the period specified in (a) is below 80% of the total premiums received during that period.
The company will take into account the health status during the previous insurance period and developments in that status to determine the coverage and premium of the first contract that will include a lifetime renewal guarantee. The company may apply a disease surcharge, limit, or insured participation share for the insured's existing or risky diseases and disorders, within the rules it will determine under special conditions, or may exclude them from coverage. However, the company cannot refuse to provide a lifetime renewal guarantee to the insured who meets the conditions it offers under the fourth paragraph.
After the insured has obtained a lifetime renewal guarantee, the company:
a) Cannot narrow the coverage, reduce the coverage limit, or increase the insured participation share due to illnesses and disorders that arise; it cannot make changes to the technical principles and special conditions to the detriment of the insured.
b) Cannot apply a disease surcharge due to illnesses and disorders that arise.
c) Cannot apply additional premiums based on the ratio of paid compensations to the contract premium.
The regulations will come into effect on January 1, 2026.
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