The State System
The healthcare system has three main sources of financing the healthcare system. The first being from the government budget funded by taxation revenue, the second being contributions from employed citizens, and finally the third source is from the out- of pocket payments by each individual who uses the health service.

Employers must register their employees with the health insurance fund known as the Social Insurance Organisation for Health. Income is then automatically deducted from each person‘s salary. Dependant family members are covered by the contributions paid by employed family members. The unemployed, old age pensioners and people on long-term sickness benefit or maternity leave do not have to pay healthcare contributions, as the government pay, however they only receive very basic healthcare cover.  Foreigners immigrating to Turkey without jobs must produce proof of private health insurance in order to obtain their residence permit. If you are self-employed, you must make your own contributions at the full rate; yet you can claim some of the contributions as a cost of running your business.

The state fund covers most medical services including treatment by specialists, hospitalisation, prescriptions, pregnancy and childbirth and rehabilitation.

Fees
Citizens who belong to vulnerable groups of society e.g. pregnant women, war veterans, diabetics and tuberculosis patients do not have to pay any charges. Appointments with a doctor and referrals to a consultant are free. Expats need to pay for the health services, until they have lived and worked continuously paying contributions for two years. 

Private Healthcare
Private clinics and hospitals with English and German speaking doctors exist large cities and the beach resorts. Private healthcare is affordable in comparison to Western expectations and many people now travel to Turkey to take advantage of this.