25.12.2025 09:50
With the regulation accepted within the scope of the 11th Judicial Package and published in the Official Gazette, the collection of unpaid General Health Insurance premium debts, along with late fees and penalties, for periods prior to January 1, 2016, has been waived. It was stated that approximately 1.5 million people would benefit from this regulation, and a total of 3 billion 258 million Turkish liras in debt would be erased.
The bill known to the public as the 11th Judicial Package, which amends the Turkish Penal Code and certain other laws, was enacted after being approved by the Parliament and published in the Official Gazette. With this law, an important regulation has been implemented that reduces the debt burden of hundreds of thousands of people to the public.
CRITICAL DATE JANUARY 1, 2016
With the 29th article of the regulation, a temporary article was added to the Social Insurance and General Health Insurance Law. Accordingly, all claims related to unpaid General Health Insurance (GSS) premiums and associated late fees and interest for periods prior to January 1, 2016, have been waived.
PUBLIC DEBT BURDEN WILL LIGHTEN
The justification for the article states that the aim is to alleviate the debt burden of insured individuals who cannot pay their premium debts and to facilitate their access to health services. It was expressed that the goal is to provide payment ease for individuals who could not benefit from restructuring regulations or who, even if they did, could not pay their debts.
1.5 MILLION PEOPLE'S DEBTS WAIVED
It is estimated that approximately 1.5 million people will benefit from the regulation. It is anticipated that a total of 3 billion 258 million lira in premium, late fees, and penalties will be waived. It is noted that the application particularly covers individuals who have not undergone income testing, cannot pay their premiums due to low income, and have been unable to settle their debts despite various restructuring options.
WHAT IS GENERAL HEALTH INSURANCE?
General Health Insurance is implemented as a system that covers individuals residing in Turkey with an income above a certain level, voluntary insured individuals, and certain groups in student-child status. Additionally, according to various laws, those receiving monthly payments, protected children, foreign nationals without health insurance in another country, and citizens receiving unemployment or short-term work benefits are also included in the GSS scope.
According to current data, the number of individuals with GSS debt is reported to be approximately 8 million. More than 2 million of these individuals pay their debts themselves, while it is recorded that the premiums of the remaining individuals are covered by the state.
PREMIUM INCREASED
On the other hand, the GSS premium amount was also increased recently. On November 21, the premium, which was 3% of the gross minimum wage, was raised to 6%. With this increase, the premium amount rose from 780 TL to 1560 TL. Following the increase in the minimum wage, it was reported that the premium amount has risen to 1981 TL as of January 1.