During an engaging session at the Industry Gathering event, organized by the Health and Insurance Managers Association (SASDER), a significant discussion took place around the theme of ‘A Holistic Approach to Healthy Aging.’ The event, based in Istanbul and moderated by SASDER Secretary General Elvan Atalay, featured notable insights from Şenol Şentürk, Deputy Secretary General of the Turkish Insurance Association (TSB). He spoke on the panel titled ‘Healthy Aging and Securing Old Age: The Economics of Aging.’
In his talk, Şentürk underscored the multifaceted role the insurance and pension sectors could play in preparing individuals for their later years. He stressed the need for a model where elder care insurance operates in synergy with the public systems. ‘We envision a structure that mirrors how insurance and pension sectors currently complement public pension and health systems,’ he stated confidently.
Considerations on Demographic Shifts: Şentürk emphasized that population aging is a pressing concern not solely for developed nations but for regions like Turkey as well. Forecasts indicate that the demographic over 65 in Turkey will surge to approximately 23% by 2050, translating to over 22 million seniors among an estimated population of 95 million. Such trends underline the urgency of designing policies that support active aging and necessary care systems for the elderly.
According to Şentürk, the insurance and retirement sectors offer pivotal support in two key areas. Firstly, they provide avenues for savings from an early stage through products like the BES (Private Pension System) and life insurance, which enjoy substantial government incentives and have demonstrated exceptional value over two decades. Secondly, they deliver critical services post-retirement, emphasizing retirement income plans and annual income insurance. While lifetime pension offerings are still developing, these existing products significantly aid active aging financing.
Ultimately, Şentürk advocated for long-term care insurance primarily steered by public initiatives. ‘A foundational public system is essential and should be complemented by the private sector to address additional needs,’ he proposed, aiming for a cohesive approach to elderly care solutions.
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