Press Release
True and False
About the Public Health System – and more
This pamphlet answering some basic questions about
insurance issues should have been done by the Ministries of Health and Labor
and Social Security. Instead it was done
by a small, newly formed group of volunteers at the Metropolitan Community
Clinic at Helleniko formed to look into “the rights of unemployed and uninsured
patients”. These few volunteers gave
their time to create this informative list that should have existed and been
placed in every public building long ago. We would hope that the state could
devote some time and effort to assist their fellow citizens impoverished during
this economic crisis with simple and inexpensive services, such as this
FALSE: If you are
unemployed, you are automatically uninsured as well.
TRUE: There is
some protection for the young and those over age 55. Between the ages of 18 – 29 young people who
have a card that shows that they have been unemployed can have an IKA (Public
Insurance) health booklet which is renewed every six months up to the age of
29. The long-term unemployed (12 months
or more), who are above 55 years old and who have 3,000 “stamps” (equivalent to
insured days worked) from whatever source can be given a health booklet from
IKA to be renewed yearly.
However, for the unemployed aged 29 to 55, it is a different story. On becoming unemployed, an individual must register with the Manpower Employment Organization (OAED), during which he has some unemployment benefits and insurance. If they are unemployed continuously for one year and registered with OAED, they can then apply for insurance for an additional two years from the insurance carrier with whom they have the most work days. Verification from the insurance carrier is required, regarding the number of days worked. A decision from the Greek Ministry of Labor this year will give an additional annual extension to the above form of insurance for those who have already acquired the right to the additional two years. So, someone unemployed from the ages of 29-55 has one year while under OAED, and can then apply for two and perhaps three additional years..
However, for the unemployed aged 29 to 55, it is a different story. On becoming unemployed, an individual must register with the Manpower Employment Organization (OAED), during which he has some unemployment benefits and insurance. If they are unemployed continuously for one year and registered with OAED, they can then apply for insurance for an additional two years from the insurance carrier with whom they have the most work days. Verification from the insurance carrier is required, regarding the number of days worked. A decision from the Greek Ministry of Labor this year will give an additional annual extension to the above form of insurance for those who have already acquired the right to the additional two years. So, someone unemployed from the ages of 29-55 has one year while under OAED, and can then apply for two and perhaps three additional years..
FALSE: All Greek citizens
over 67 have a pension for the elderly
TRUE: Greek
citizens over the age of 67 can apply for a pension from OGA (the Agricultural Insurance Organization) providing
they have no other pension, have lived in Greece for the last 20 years and have
an extremely small individual annual income not exceeding 4,320€ or a family
income not exceeding 8,640€. It is not a
requirement that the applicant was ever employed in the agriculture sector
FALSE: A certificate
of financial incapacity (destitution) is issued by the social services of the
municipalities to whoever asks for it.
TRUE: Such a document is issued by the social services of the
municipalities only at the request of a public service for someone in a
destitute condition. The document is
issued after investigation into the status of the individual, including checking
the tax return.
FALSE: The health
booklet of someone who is uninsured is different from the booklet of someone
receiving welfare.
TRUE: The two types of health book are exactly the same.
FALSE: A booklet for
the uninsured can be obtained by all uninsured citizens.
TRUE: The booklet for the uninsured can be obtained by Greek
citizens (or those of Greek origin) who reside legally and permanently in
Greece, are uninsured and are in financial need. Foreigners with a residence permit issued for
humanitarian reasons (health) recognized political refugees and those who have applied
for refugee status which is currently under review by the Ministry of Public
Order can also apply. There are also a
variety of special categories, such as a) children staying in care units or
institutions b) those fleeing civil war
and political upheaval and their dependents c) monks and laymen of the Holy Monastery
of Sinai and Greek clerics from the various patriarchates d) uninsured single
mothers and their children, e) children placed in foster homes f) people
admitted to specific state supported rehab centres either as resident patients
or outpatients.
The annual family
income must be under 6,000 € (with 30% more for a spouse and 20% more for every
minor dependent) provided that such income does not come from a source that
provides insurance. This designated
income can be increased by 50% for those having a disability of 67% and
above. It is issued by the municipality
and is valid for one year. In exceptional
cases, such as emergency hospital admissions, the booklet may be issued after
the fact.
FALSE: The
certificate of social protection is the same as an unemployment booklet.
TRUE: No, they are not the same. The certificate of social protection is
issued only if there is a proven health problem and for very specific
categories, such as diaspora Greeks in the process of becoming citizens or
foreigners with residence permits given for humanitarian reasons, EU member
state residents or foreign born spouses of Greek citizens as well as their
children.
FALSE: An unemployed student is uninsured
TRUE: Eligible undergraduate and graduate students of public
education institutions are entitled to medical and hospital care under the
public health system. This applies to
nationals, and foreigners. They have
access to the public health system for a period equal to the minimum time for
completing their degree plus half. Graduate
students of public universities have access to the system during their time of
attendance, increased by half.
FALSE: No supporting
documents are required to obtain an unemployment card.
TRUE: In order to receive an unemployment card from the
Manpower Employment Organization (OAED), one has to present the following 1)
The last official receipt of taxable income, or failing that a copy of the last
income tax return. 2) A bill from a utility or fixed telephone and
a copy of a lease agreement which has been submitted to the relevant tax
office. 3) An official ID (Identity card, passport etc).
4) An official document showing the AMKA number (social security number). 5)
Residence permit or work permit for unemployed nationals of other countries.
FALSE: Those insured
by OGA (Agricultural Insurance Organization) are not required to make insurance
contributions.
TRUE: OGA provides medical and hospital care for those directly
and indirectly insured. Those insured
pay into OGA relative to the years insured and the insurance category to which
they belong.
FALSE: The Health
Voucher can be obtained by all citizens and they can have cost free access to
the public health system.
TRUE: By making an application to a Citizen Service Center one
can receive a “health voucher” providing they meet the following
conditions: 1) They were once insured,
either directly or indirectly, by an institution of EOPYY (National
Organization of Health Providers) 2) Their annual individual income does not exceed
12,000 € or 25,000€ for the family. 3)
They have either Greek citizenship, citizenship from another member state of
the European Union or they are a national from any other country and has a
legal resident status.
The Health Voucher
provides free access to the health system for medical examinations, visits to
doctors or primary care clinics which are contracted to EOPPY or primary care
units of the public health system (clinics or hospitals), and for diagnostic
tests from diagnostic centers - again
contracted to EOPPY or primary care units of the public health system (clinics
or hospitals).
The Health Voucher is
valid for eight months for a total of three visits. Pregnant women, in addition to the above, can
be referred by a physician for a basic package of pre-natal tests each
trimester throughout the pregnancy. As
above, these exams are for diagnostic centers contracted to EOPPY or primary
care units of the public health system (clinics or hospitals). Diagnostic examinations and evaluation for
pregnant women will track throughout the pregnancy. If a woman obtains the voucher in her first
month of pregnancy, the voucher lasts nine months and the woman is entitled to
7 visits. If services start in the 3rd
month, 6 months and 5 visits, and 3 months and 3 visits after the 6th
month.
FALSE: All the uninsured can self-insure – that
is, purchase extra insurance units.
TRUE: Those insured under IKA (Greek Social Security system)
before 1993 may apply for additional insurance provided they a) don’t work b)
have completed 500 work days within the 5 years preceding the discontinuation
of IKA insurance. The application must
be submitted within 12 months of the last day insured. For those with 3,000 days or more of insurance,
an application can be made at any time.
For those insured
after 1 Jan 1993, they must have completed at least 1,500 insurance days, of
which 300 are in the last 5 years before submission of the application. The application must be submitted within 12
months of the last day insured.
Contributions are based
on the average of the last years salary before the discontinuation of
compulsory insurance . For those insured
by OAEE (for free-lancers and self employed) in order to self insure, they have
to have stopped their activities with OAEE.
FALSE: All immigrants have a “pink card”.
TRUE: The “pink card”, is officially called a “Certificate of
Asylum Request”. When an immigrant
requests asylum with the proper authorities, he will be given a certificate of
asylum request, which will have his/her photo and allow the asylum seeker to
stay in Greece. With this card, he has
free medical and hospital services through the public health system.
FALSE: If you don’t have an income, you do
not need to file a tax return.
TRUE: Each citizen is required to file a tax return. Furthermore, it must be filed electronically
– through the internet, even if there is no income.
METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY CLINIC AT HELLINIKO
Working Hours
(MONDAY - FRIDAY 10:00 - 20:00) and (SATURDAY 10:00 - 14:00)
CONTACT PHONE NUMBER: +30 210 9631950
ADDRESS: Inside the old American Military Base, 200m away from the Traffic Police of the Municipality of Helleniko, next to the Cultural Center of Helleniko
Post code TK16777, Elliniko, Attiki, Greece
Blog http://mkie-foreign.blogspot.gr/ Email mkiellinikou@gmail.com
Working Hours
(MONDAY - FRIDAY 10:00 - 20:00) and (SATURDAY 10:00 - 14:00)
CONTACT PHONE NUMBER: +30 210 9631950
ADDRESS: Inside the old American Military Base, 200m away from the Traffic Police of the Municipality of Helleniko, next to the Cultural Center of Helleniko
Post code TK16777, Elliniko, Attiki, Greece
Blog http://mkie-foreign.blogspot.gr/ Email mkiellinikou@gmail.com
