One of the most important factors of consideration for any expat is whether their health insurance is adequate to cover any unexpected accidents, medical procedures, short or long-term illnesses.
No matter whether you feel fit and active at your time of moving overseas, there is no guarantee as to how long it will be before you need hospital treatment or a specialist consultation.
Although many feel that the cost of private health insurance (SGK) is unfair, in so much as a single person or married couple pay the same price, it’s an absolute no-brainer when you look at the possible benefits.
SGK has now become linked to residency, and one cannot be obtained without the other, but this is actually a great comfort to many, content in the assurance that should an accident or illness occur they can be treated with as much urgency and care as a local resident.
Age is not a factor either, although at an initial consultation your local doctor will most likely ask whether you have any long-term underlying illnesses or hereditary factors that should be taken into consideration.
Having heard from friends in my hometown how Brits are now having to cope with doctor consultations via telephone, waiting times of up to three weeks for appointments and long delays for routine surgery, it may be time that the British Government looked at how the NHS is run and compares its failings to the positivity of countries like Turkiye.
It’s all very well weighing up the two and reminding ourselves that medical care in Britain is free to those who have paid National Insurance Contributions during their working lives, but if you can’t get treated where is the benefit?
Sadly, I have heard of many instances of expat friends requiring heart surgery, orthopaedic aid and chemotherapy, but in almost all cases they have received great care and quick resolutions.
Many Turkish doctors have studied and graduated overseas, enhancing their English-speaking skills alongside their medical knowledge, but translators are available to help in the cases where staff only speak their native language.
In my own experience, I have nothing but praise for the timely manner in which consultations here can be arranged, and the professionalism of doctors. Last year I booked a routine eye examination after experiencing headaches and blurry vision and met with a specialist ophthalmologist in Soke.
After extensive tests it was found I have glaucoma. However, due to prompt diagnosis and adequate health insurance cover, I am now able to control the symptoms with eye drops and regular check-ups with the same consultant to ensure the condition is monitored for signs of deterioration. It actually frightens me to wonder how long it might have taken to get a hospital appointment back in the U.K.
Of course, there are drawbacks in seeking medical advice overseas, such as information being lost in translation and occasionally having to pay upfront while insurance approval is sought but, in my opinion, you can never put too high a price on your health.
Of course, there are different levels of care, from state hospitals to private clinics, with a multitude of specialists in between. The best advice for your own specific needs can be found with your local general practitioner. Appointments in clinic can be made in advance by using your e-Devlet, or if you are willing to wait, pop into the surgery, type your kimlik number into the system and take your turn.
It is also worth mentioning that a much wider range of medication is available over-the-counter here, enabling you to treat stomach upsets, flu, joint pain and much more by seeking the advice of a pharmacist.