Long-term care insurance in terms of comparative law and its applicability in Turkey

Long-term care insurance is an insurance branch, including the individuals with complete or partial loss of living an independent daily life due to age, disability or chronic disease. These individuals called the person in need of care are supported with cash benefits and service package consisting of various services such as individual care, nursing care and housework help. Today, long term care services in most countries are offered to the poorest segment of the population based on means test. This service is offered by healthcare workers in the hospitals to individuals who cannot benefit from social services. Hospitals and healthcare workers undertaking the care services causes significant financial pressure on the health insurance. Long-term care insurance is included in social security systems to create new resources for countries to finance care services. The care services in Turkey are offered by a limited number of institutions after means test. However, Turkey also experienced financial problems due to demographic and social changes. While the Ministry of Family and Social Service have projects to handle this topic, long-term care insurance does not yet have a legal basis. Within the scope of this study, it is accepted that long-term care insurance need has increased in Turkey and argued that this insurance should be established as an independent and premium-based insurance branch. Based on the experiences of the countries with long-term care insurance, a model recommendation is provided for the insurance scope, organization structure and benefits that will be provided from the insurance.