Presentation at ECL-European Cancer Leagues

1. Disability Benefits
in Drastic
Austerity Times
Kathi Apostolidis
Breast Cancer & Patient Rights Advocate
Volunteer Sector Consultant & Health Commentator
November 13,2012

2. FACT SHEET
• GREECE: 9.903.268 inhabitants
• Life expectancy: 79,78yrs
• Percentage of deaths: 9,3%
• Percentage of births: 9,8%
• Basic Education: 96% of population
• Insured: 9.500.000
• Unemployment: 25,4% & 52% in youths

3. The Healthcare Tsunami

4. Greek Constitution
Art. 3
“The State takes care of the citizens health and
takes special measures for the protection of
youth, old age, disability and of the health care of
those without financial means”
Art. 21 para. 6
“Disabled persons have the right to measures
assuring their autonomy, professional inclusion
and their participation in the social, economic
and political life of the country”

5. Greek Constitution
Art. 4
“Greek are equal when facing the law and Greek
men and women have equal rights and
obligations”
Art. 21, para. 2
“..those suffering from incurable bodily or
mental disease have right to special care by
the state

6. Definition of disability
in Greek legislation
 «the persons who due to pathological , psychic or
social reasons present retardations, disabilities or
imbalances in their general psychosomatic condition
or in its funtions and at a level that renders difficult
or impedes seriously the attendance of the general
and professional education, the possibility of
inclusion in the production procedure and their
mutual acceptance by the society”
‘art. 32 Law 1566/1985

7. The new legal disability framework
•Law 3863/2010 - New Social Insurance System
and pertinent regulations in work relations
•Consolidated Table of Definition of Disability
Percentage for the Evaluation of the Disability
Degree (KEVA) ΦΕΚ Β’ 1506/4-5-2012
•Ministerial Decision
P2α/GPecon35099/2/4/2012) Establishment of
the National Registry of Recipients of social and
welfare benefits

8. Law 3863/2010
Basic provisions:
1. Establishment of the Health Care Comittees
2. Sets the disability pension levels
3. Establishment of the Center of Disability
Certification
4. Consolidated Table of Definition of Disability
Percentage for the Evaluation of Disability

9. Consolidated Table of Disability Percentage
• Only two deadly cancer entitled to 100%
disability: pancreas and liver
• Few serious met. Cancers entitled to 80-
100% e.g. melanoma, prostate
• Disability entitlement for short periods
up to two years, re-evaluation after that
period

10. Consolidated Table of Disability Percentage
• Lung Cancers
• Non operable under ChTh/RT 80% for 2yrs
• Operable 80% 2yrs from date of operation
• Operable in remission-no mets 67% (3more yrs after
the first two)
• Operable total lungectomy disability starts with 80%
for 3years , then 67% for another 2years and 50%
during his lifetime
• Operated with signs of remission or mets 80%

11. Breast Cancer
POST-OPERATION:
• Without mets 67% for 3months if no adjuvant
therapy used
• In case of adjuvant therapy extension up to
1year, then re-evaluation till end of therapy.
• Yearly Re-eavalution up to five years
• With mets or remission after operation 67-
80%
• Without mets nor lymphoedema nor AE from
chemotherapy or other morbidity 30-50%

12. Existing Disability Benefits
• Healthcare Benefits
• Disability Pension
• Ergotherapy, Logotherapy, Physiotherapy, etc. benefits
• Housing benefit for autonomous living
• Low housing loans
• Employment preference benefits
• Admission to the University
• Free or low cost transportation fare
• Social tourism (one week vacation full pension)
• Tax exemption of 2.800€ from annual taxable income for the
period of validity of the disability certification
• Free admittance to state owned theaters, museums, etc.

13. What is the reality today??
Not covered by social insurance
• Special cachexia formulas for terminal
patients
• All medicines & preparations against AEs &
commorbidities caused by basic therapy
• Fees for a private nurse
• Patient transportation
• Limitations on disability pension & financial
benefits

14. Thank you for your attention
Kathi Apostolidis
Breast Cancer & Patient Rights Advocate
Volunteer Sector Consultant & Health Commentator
@kgapo, #opnhealth
thwww.facebook.com/kathiapostolidis
www.facebook.com/#opnhealth
http://www.linkedin.com/in/kathiapostolidis
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