You are required to have health insurance that is valid in Türkiye and covers the complete duration of your specific academic program or research. Health insurance is not only for your own safety, but it is a legal obligation for your stay in Türkiye. Those students who fail to do so will be deregistered from their programs.

If you are a graduate or post-graduate student, you may check the Acceptance Letter you received upon enrolment and/or consult your program advisor to know if you are insured by KU. Regarding the health insurance policy, you may be in touch with  the Human Resources Office (HR) by emailing catespare@ku.edu.tr.

 

Accepted Health Insurance Options

 

A. International Health Insurance – only for exchange students

Prior to your arrival, you may obtain health insurance from an insurance company from anywhere that has an office in İstanbul/Türkiye, and offers service/coverage for you in Türkiye. 

 

B. Student Social Security Activation (SGK – Public General Health Insurance) – only for degree-seeking international students

All international students who receive their residence permit cards can activate a Student Social Security (SGK – Public General Health Insurance) within 3 months of registration at KU. Instead of a private one, students are highly recommended by the migration authorities to proceed with SGK. 

SGK stands for ‘Social Security Institution’, ‘Sosyal Güvenlik Kurumu’ in Turkish.

There is a student-fare monthly fee for SGK. The payment can only be made annually at one installment via banks, ATMs, and mobile apps. 

When to apply: After collecting the residence permit card, no later than 3 months (90 days) from the date of registration at KU.

Benefits: With active SGK insurance, you can benefit from the public hospitals as Turkish citizens, and receive a certain amount of discount in private hospitals. It allows you to buy your medicine by paying 20% of the total amount prescribed by the doctor. In case you wish to visit a private hospital, you should know that the cost that you are going to pay varies due to their pricing policies. Some of them work under complete agreements with SGK insurance and some require extra costs which are not covered by SGK insurance. You may check the agreements of the private hospitals you wish to visit with the SGK before booking an appointment.

How to apply?

1.Collect the required documents

• Student Residence Permit Card
• Passport
• A photocopy of the passport ID page
• A Student Enrollment Verification that indicates your foreign ID number

2. Visit the Sarıyer SGK Office 

The staff will give more instructions on how to proceed (how much you should pay, where and how you can make the payment, etc.). 

For more details, you can call SGK’s hotline: 170. They have an English option too. It is better to dial 170 and learn the process in advance. 

You may also email SGK at bilgi@istanbulsgk.gov.tr.

 

C. Home Country Social Security – based on eligibility

There are certain countries that have an agreement with Türkiye regarding general health insurance where you can access public health care services in Türkiye equivalent to health care services in your home country.

Please check this page to see if your country is eligible for Social Security Activation and how to activate it.

 

D. Private Student Health Insurance in Türkiye

You can obtain private health insurance upon your arrival in Türkiye. You must have a tax ID number for this transaction.

To be on the safe side, please make sure your policy includes pandemic coverage as well.

You can visit the Yapı Kredi Bank Branch on the Rumelifeneri Campus (Student Center, Lower 1st floor) and purchase Allianz Health Insurance. For detailed information regarding fees and coverage, you may consult them directly. 

Alternatively, you may also look for and find other companies by yourself. In that case, please specify that you are going to apply for a residence permit with your insurance. Your insurance must be issued accordingly. 

It is very important that your private insurance policy has the following statement:  

“İşbu poliçe 06/06/2014 tarih ve 9 sayılı ikamet izni taleplerinde yaptırılacak özel sağlık sigortalarına ilişkin genelgede belirlenen asgari teminat yapısını kapsamaktadır.” 

In English: “This policy covers the minimum coverage arrangements specified in the circular on private health insurances to be used in residence permit requests dated 06/06/2014 and numbered 9.”

Disclaimer: We do not provide assistance or assume any responsibility with health insurance. You must contact the agencies, follow through with all transactions, and make sure you understand your policy coverage very well.

Health Centers on both campuses operate 24/7.

Students can reach the Health Centers as mentioned below:

• For Rumelifeneri (Main) Campus: By dialing university extension “1273” or “0212-338 1273” from mobile phones and external landlines.
• For West Campus: By dialing university extension  “7000” or “0212-338 7000” from mobile phones and external landlines.

Health Centers have ambulances for transferring patients to other hospitals when needed.

The centers are equipped with 24-hour care and English-speaking doctors.

• Emergency: +90 212 338 1100
• Ambulance/ Call Center: +90 212 338 1273

 

We encourage you to read the KU Health and Safety Manual.

Department/Person	e-Mail	Phone
24/7 KU Emergency Hot Line	N/A	0212 338 1122
24/7 Medical Emergency & Ambulance	N/A	0212 338 1100
Main Campus Health Center for appointments	alperkeskin@ku.edu.tr	0212 338 1273
Occupational Safety Specialist/ Şeyma ÖZDEMİR	seymaozdemir@ku.edu.tr	0212 338 3720-3011
Occupational Physician/ Dr. İbrahim Alper KESKİN	alperkeskin@ku.edu.tr	0212 338 1420
West Campus Health Center for appointments	N/A	0212 338 7000
Official Emergency Operator in Türkiye from any phone directly	N/A	112
Main Entrance Security	N/A	0212 338 3535
Lost and Found Office	N/A	0212 338 36 39
Housing Office Mrs. Sevcan Ucal	ssimsek@ku.edu.tr housing@ku.edu.tr	0212 338 1105
Human Resources Ms. Çağla Ateşpare (For insurance-related questions)	catespare@ku.edu.tr	0212 338 1047
Human Resources -For faculty members-	hr-academic@ku.edu.tr	0212 338 1333

CLOSEST HEALTH UNITS TO KU
Group	Name	Google Maps Link	Phone Number/ Appointment
Hospitals/ Hastaneler	Acıbadem Zekeriyaköy Medical Center/ Private	Address	(0212) 201 56 56
	Ismail Akgun State Hospital	Address	Appointment via mhrs.gov.tr or dialing 182 (0212) 242 06 65
	Sarıyer Beyaz İnci Oral and Dental Health Center/ Private	Address	(0212) 218 65 55
	Tarabya Medical Center/ Private	Address	(0212) 299 33 20
	Hamidiye Etfal Sarıyer State Hospital	Address	Appointment via mhrs.gov.tr or dialing 182 (0212) 338 63 00
	Istinye State Hospital	Address	Appointment via mhrs.gov.tr or dialing 182 (0212) 323 44 44
	Acibadem Maslak Hospital/ Private	Address	(0212) 304 44 44
Family Health Centers (State)/  Aile Sağlığı Merkezleri	5 Nolu Aile Sağlığı Merkezi	Address	(0212) 202 85 95
	İsmail Hakkı Mete (Uskumruköy) Aile Sağlığı Merkezi	Address	0212 202 51 26
	İfakat Saçmacı Aile Sağlığı Merkezi	Address	(0212) 218 51 12
	Sariyer Aile Sagligi Merkezi	Address	(0212) 242 04 56
Pharmacies/ Eczaneler	Panoroma Life Eczanesi	Address	(0212) 931 18 56
	Eczane Irmak	Address	(0212) 271 87 10
	Eczane Nisan	Address	(0212) 202 77 75
	Eczane Nar	Address	(0212) 202 69 95
	Eczane Gizem	Address	(0212) 218 22 23
	Dedeoglu Pharmacy	Address	(0212) 271 22 78
	Pharmacy Canbakan	Address	(0212) 242 51 40

 

IMPORTANT NOTES
1. It is obligatory to book an appointment for state hospitals (If it is not an emergency). You can book an appointment via mhrs.gov.tr (which has an English option) or by dialing 182 (Only Turkish).
2. Please try to book earlier appointments and try to be there 10 to 15 minutes earlier.
3. For the pharmacy on duty (Night-pharmacy) list, please check out the following link:	//www.istanbuleczaciodasi.org.tr/nobetci-eczane/
4. There are also very user-friendly mobile apps that show the nearest pharmacies and pharmacies on duty:	Istanbul Eczaneleri by Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Istanbul Pharmacy on Duty Nöbetçi Eczane

Address: Koç Üniversitesi Hastanesi, Davutpaşa Cd. No:4, 34010 Zeytinburnu/İstanbul

If you want to visit the KU Hospital for an examination or a treatment, there are several points that you need to know.

• Even if you do not have private or state health insurance, you can still visit the KU Hospital. The hospital offers a 25% discount (subject to change) to KU members over the total amount. Please contact the hospital before your visit to learn the current discount rate. 
• If you are a KU Medicine or Nursing student, there is no fee. Therefore, your KU Hospital visits are free of charge.
• If you have General Health Insurance (SGK), you benefit from the KU Hospital with a discounted amount.
• If your private health insurance company has an office in Türkiye and has an agreement with KU Hospital (Such as Allianz), you benefit from discounted fares as well.
• If your private health insurance does not have any agreement with KU Hospital, you pay the cost of your examination or treatment and then ask your insurance company for reimbursement. 

You will need a health report to:

• Convert your driver’s license or apply for a new one
• Get married
• Apply for a dorm room
• Apply for employment 

You may click here to learn how to obtain a health report.