Essential Healthcare Information for Expats Living in Turkey

A complete guide to getting and affording healthcare when you’re living in Turkey or have a Turkish property that you regularly visit

One of the number one concerns for expatriates going to live abroad in a country like Turkey, where there is no reciprocal agreement with the British NHS and where there is a large discrepancy between the quality of infrastructure and services in different locations, is healthcare – both the availability of it and the quality of care.

However, the good news is that for expats in Turkey, there is actually very little to worry about!  In this guide to the essential healthcare information for expats living in Turkey we will explain everything from how the healthcare system works to who should get insurance in place and from whom.

For those with a property in Turkey who just travel to and from it every year for a holiday or two, there is probably no need to get any form of private medical insurance in place in Turkey – rather it should be sufficient to get a decent holiday insurance policy.  For those who travel relatively frequently an annual policy can be more cost effective, and just ensure that Turkey is on the list of countries covered by the policy for medical expenses.

The good news for those living in Turkey – whether for all or just extended periods each year - is that healthcare is not exorbitantly expensive.  The vast majority of highly dense population centres in Turkey have private hospitals as well as private clinics and a whole range of chemists that can dispense many medicines over the counter without the need for a prescription.  In other words, getting medical attention is not difficult. 

The basic words you will need to help you find assistance are as follows: - the word for chemist is ‘eczane,’ the word for hospital is ‘hastane,’ the word for doctor is ‘doktor’ or ‘hekim’ and the word for dentist is ‘dis tabibi’ or ‘dis hekimi.’

Istanbul, Izmir, Kusadasi, Bodrum, Marmaris, Mugla, Fethiye, Antalya and Alanya all have fantastic private hospitals where you will find at least some English speaking staff who can assist you.  In Turkey many of the doctors and physicians have received extensive training and experience in the likes of the US and even the UK or Germany, meaning that not only are they of course well trained, but they are experienced and also experienced at working with people of all nationalities. 

Because Turkey’s medical system is therefore international, and because the quality of the facilities available are so high-grade and yet affordable as day-to-day living costs in Turkey as well as wages for everyone from the hospital porter to the top physician are far lower than in the UK for example, Turkey is gaining a reputation as an affordable overseas destination for quality cosmetic surgery.  Other medical services that people travel to Turkey for include fertility treatment and cosmetic dentistry, and this should just go to show that for an expat living full time in Turkey, not only is the level and quality of care available first world, but that it is not so highly priced as to be impossible to afford.

You can take a risk and pay as you go for healthcare in Turkey, but the majority of those living full time in Turkey take out an insurance policy.  There are various levels of cover, but the most basic will cover for a limited number of doctor’s appointments and hospital treatment.  Other levels of cover can include covering the cost of prescription medicines and even services such as physiotherapy, outpatient care and home assistance for the elderly or infirm.  Naturally, the more comprehensive your policy, the more it will cost.  British and international insurers will all offer quotes for cover in Turkey, but you might just be better off taking out insurance with a local Turkish insurer.  Just ensure there is no period that you will have to wait before you can be covered, that any pre-existing conditions are taken into consideration and that the insurance company is substantial, backed by a large financial institution, is reputable, has been in business for a long time and isn’t likely to disappear on you if you have to make a large claim!

Finally, once you leave the UK and have lived abroad permanently for 3 or more months, you have no entitlement to free NHS care.  Some people get around this by retaining an address in the UK…but really, think about whether you should be benefiting from living abroad and benefitting from the British NHS – which is already stretched financially - at the same time.  Also, if you’re living abroad shouldn’t you be supporting the economy and the people of that nation?