Equal Opportunities for people with disabilities

USA: Reality Check: Reform will eliminate insurance discrimination against the disabled | The White House

noreply@blogger.com (.) — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 17:59:00 +0000

http://www.whitehouse.gov/photos-and-video/video/reality-check-reform-will-eliminate-insurance-discrimination-against-disabled

United Nations song !

noreply@blogger.com (.) — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 16:16:00 +0000

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sqZ8UZ_Gqm8

US Senate goes for disability insurance

noreply@blogger.com (.) — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 22:05:00 +0000

U.S. senate is considering a new insurance program designed to help elderly and disabled stay in their homes. This insurance program is voluntary and would provide a cash assistance to participants if they become unable to perform at least two activities of daily life, such as dressing and bathing. And under this proposal workers will pay 5 years of premium through their employer for eligibility.

The Community Living Assistance Services and Supports (CLASS) championed by the late Senator Edward Kennedy, is a significant program that supporters say is long overdue and it will help disabled and elderly stay in their homes and out of institutional care therefore, saving billions of dollars in Medicaid health insurance program.

Obama: Time to debate health care over

noreply@blogger.com (.) — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 20:11:00 +0000

http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/03/08/health.care/index.html?hpt=T1

Teil 2: Versicherungsschutz fuer Behinderte - BGH

noreply@blogger.com (.) — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 20:53:00 +0000

http://www.mein-herz-schlaegt-links.de/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1189:zugang-fuer-behinderte-menschen-zum-privaten-markt-fuer-versicherungen&catid=1:aktuelle-nachrichten&Itemid=50

Teil 2: Versicherungsschutz fuer Behinderte - BGH

noreply@blogger.com (.) — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 20:52:00 +0000

http://www.mein-herz-schlaegt-links.de/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1189:zugang-fuer-behinderte-menschen-zum-privaten-markt-fuer-versicherungen&catid=1:aktuelle-nachrichten&Itemid=50

Zugang für behinderte Menschen zum privaten Markt für Versicherungen

noreply@blogger.com (.) — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 16:20:00 +0000

http://mein-herz-schlaegt-links.de/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1173:zugang-fuer-behinderte-menschen-zum-privaten-markt-fuer-versicherungen&catid=1:aktuelle-nachrichten&Itemid=50

Case of discrimination in the insurance industry

noreply@blogger.com (.) — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 19:24:00 +0000

A disabled person since his birth had a car accident, after which he had spasms at the neck. Doctors said that the spasms resulted from the disability and not from the accident. Doctors said these would not affect the capability to work ("only 10%").

In 2002, he started a job and applied for incapacity insurance. The applicant informed the insurance about his disability and the accident, but the insurance was refused "only" because of his disability, on the basis of risk diagnosis list, and not on the basis of statistics. This proves discrimination of disabled people

When he started working, the spasms got stronger and he became invalid after 1 year because of the spasms at the neck.

In 2003, he therefore applied – after demand of his health insurance - for social insurance pension in Germany. The social insurance sent him to an expert who (also) said that the spasms on the neck were caused by the disability and that he would be unable to work until the age of 65. The social insurance confirmed a pension.

In 2004, he went to a neurologist and this medical was the first who confirmed that the spasms at the neck were linked to the car accident –

(correct diagnosis: Torticollis spasmodicus caused by whiplash injury. A torticollis spasmodicus is known at insurances as a disease which causes many incapacities with degrees higher than 50%)

and not to the disability. He then received – many years after the accident – for the first time a treatment with Botox and spasms left within hours. Because of this treatment the person was able to work again, but he had the following disadvantages before:

a) haven't got the real compensation for the damage resulting out of his accident, as the medicals linked the spasms to his disability (he had before the accident) and undersigned therefore 2 (discriminatory) settlement agreement (lost because of that more than 500.000 Euro in work income and not paid compensation by his insurance for accidents)

b) can't get income protection insurance ("Berufsunfaehigkeitsversicherung") because of (all) insurance beaviour to refuse people with disabilities generally only on the ground of risk diagnosis list (lost because of that around 40.000 Euro; compensation for incapacity)

c) Did not receive for many years the right treatment, as the medicals thought, that the spasms were not linked to the accident, so that he ran because of that into incapacity, what also means that he was in physical and psychological pain for many years.

Today (only in Germany), according to §22 of the German General Act on Equal Treatment (Allgemeines Gleichbehandlungsgesetz)[1], the insurance company would have to carry the burden of proving that the spasms result from the disability and not from the accident. (turn of burden of proof; "Beweislastumkehr"):

"Wenn im Streitfall die eine Partei Indizien beweist, die eine Benachteiligung wegen eines in § 1 genannten Grundes vermuten lassen, trägt die andere Partei die Beweislast dafür, dass kein Verstoß gegen die Bestimmungen zum Schutz vor Benachteiligung vorgelegen hat."

And today (only in Germany), according to §20 II 2 AGG the insurance is obliged to insure any person with a disability and exemptions could be made only if

„Eine unterschiedliche Behandlung wegen des Geschlechts ist im Falle des § 19 Abs. 1 Nr. 2 bei den Prämien oder Leistungen nur zulässig, wenn dessen Berücksichtigung bei einer auf relevanten und genauen versicherungsmathematischen und statistischen Daten beruhenden Risikobewertung ein bestimmender Faktor ist. Kosten im Zusammenhang mit Schwangerschaft und Mutterschaft dürfen auf keinen Fall zu unterschiedlichen Prämien oder Leistungen führen. Eine unterschiedliche Behandlung wegen der Religion, einer Behinderung, des Alters oder der sexuellen Identität ist im Falle des § 19 Abs. 1 Nr. 2 nur zulässig, wenn diese auf anerkannten Prinzipien risikoadäquater Kalkulation beruht, insbesondere auf einer versicherungsmathematisch ermittelten Risikobewertung unter Heranziehung statistischer Erhebungen."

Publicly available statistics are published by the German statutory pension insurance scheme on average age at which people go in pension for list of disabilities (ICD 10).[2] On this basis, it would be possible for the insurance industry to calculate premiums also for people with disability and to include these (higher) premiums into the general premium ("Versichertengemeinschaft").

The person introduced in 2006 different petitions all 3 disadvantages a., b., c. he had on the ground of his disability after his (additional) accident into the European Parliament. All petitions remain open.

Versicherungsschutz fuer Alle und ohne einkommenunabhaengige Kopfpauschale!

noreply@blogger.com (.) — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 11:00:00 +0000

Versicherungsschutz fuer Alle und das ohne einkommenunabhaengige Kopfpauschale, die das Einkommen des Versicherten nicht individuell bewertet und deshalb zu Benachteiligungen von Beziehern geringer Einkommen fuehrt !

Unterzeichnen Sie die Petition hier: http://www.spd.de/petition/kopfpauschale/index.html

Versicherungsschutz fuer Behinderte: EU Kommission informiert

noreply@blogger.com (.) — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 09:25:00 +0000

Habe mit Spezialisten, die im Autrag der EU Kommission taetig sind erlaeutert wie der Versicherungsschutz behinderter Menschen funktionieren kann. Eckpunkte sind:

Aggregierung des Behindertenrisikos in die Gesamtpraemien (Petition von 2006)
gleiche Entschaedigungen bei bereits behinderten Unfallopfern durch die Einfuehrung der Beweislastumkehr (Petition von 2008)
Nichtigkeit von benachteiligenden oder diskriminierenden Vergleichen nach Unfaellen (Petition von 2008)

Umfangreiches Material wurde uebergeben. Sie fandens gut .... :-)

MEPs back human rights for disabled

noreply@blogger.com (.) — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 15:44:00 +0000

http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/public/story_page/047-69398-053-02-09-908-20100223STO69397-2010-22-02-2010/default_en.htm

USA: Senate passes mandated autism coverage

noreply@blogger.com (.) — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 13:53:00 +0000

http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9DTUOHG0.htm

Die Petition von derzeit mehr als 260.000 Unterschriften hat wohl nachgeholfen ! :-)

Die USA gehen weiter beim Versicherungsschutz fuer Alle ! Wann kommt Europa ?

noreply@blogger.com (.) — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 18:22:00 +0000

http://www.whitehouse.gov/health-care-meeting

Health Care “Reform” That Fails to Stop Autism Insurance Discrimination

noreply@blogger.com (.) — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 08:45:00 +0000

All disabilities need to be included (compare with article 25e of the UN Convention on the rights of disabled people) !

About this Petition:
Autism insurance reform can and should be included in the final health care reform bill that President Obama has stated he will sign by the end of October. This is the time to end autism insurance discrimination once and for all. Our children have a medical condition which deserves appropriate treatment, therapy and care. Congress needs to know that health care "reform" that fails to stop autism insurance discrimination is unacceptable.

The Desired Outcome of this Petition:
Autism insurance reform can and should be included in the final health care reform bill that President Obama has stated he will sign by the end of October.

please sign the petition here: http://apps.facebook.com/causes/petitions/226

EU accession to the UN Convention: Public Hearing

noreply@blogger.com (.) — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 13:49:00 +0000

Datum:	Montag, 22. Februar 2010
Zeit:	16:10 - 17:30
Ort:	European Parliament, PHS 4B001, Brussels

Draft Programme

16.15 Introductory remarks and presentation by Ms Heidi Hautala, chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Human Rights;

16.25 Representative of United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for
Human Rights;

16.35 Ms Belinda Pyke, Director, European Commission, DG Employment, Directorate G "Equality between Men and Women, Action against Discrimination, Civil Society"

16.45 Representative of the Council, COHOM working party;

16.55 Ms Erzsébet Szöllosi, Vice President, European Disability Forum

17.05 Discussion

17.20. Concluding remarks by the chairwoman

IMPORTANT NOTICE:
The personal attendance for EPs DROI-hearing on Monday, Feb 22nd at 16.15 is possible with a valid badge of the European Parliament.

There is NO possibility to put people on a guest list for attendance to this meeting in this short time // it seem to be necessary to aware about this fact.

BUT:
the hearing will be transmitted via Internet on the following websites:
http://europarltv.europa.eu/ParliamentLive.aspx
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/eplive/public/default_en.htm

Documents to the hearing:
HANDBOOK FOR PARLIAMENTARIANS From Exclusion
to Equality
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/document/activities/cont/201002/20100212ATT68937/20100212ATT68937EN.pdf

HANDBOOK FOR PARLIAMENTARIANS From Exclusion to Equality

noreply@blogger.com (.) — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 12:30:00 +0000

http://www.europarl.europa.eu/document/activities/cont/201002/20100212ATT68937/20100212ATT68937EN.pdf

EDF: Letter to the Heads of States and Governments

noreply@blogger.com (.) — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 11:18:00 +0000

Dear President,

Dear Heads of States and Governments,

The European Disability Forum is the representative voice of 65 million European citizens with disabilities. We are addressing you to ensure that the future framework for the European economic and social policy, EU 2020, contributes to the inclusion in the society of persons with disabilities - a group that has always faced discrimination and exclusion, and is now hit hard by the economic crisis.

All EU Member States have signed the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and 13 have already ratified it. Furthermore, the Council has agreed on the accession of the EU to this unique human rights Treaty. These commitments must now be translated into concrete policy actions.

In order to ensure the inclusion of persons with disabilities within the framework of economic growth, social inclusion and sustainability, clear and achievable targets need to be defined. Meeting these targets presupposes close coordination between EU-level policies and the efforts of Member States, and the meaningful involvement of representative organisations of civil society in both the adoption and implementation processes.

A condition for the creation of a successful EU 2020 Strategy is to ensure immediate involvement of persons with disabilities in the adoption process which will have an impact on our lives in accordance with the principle "Nothing about us without us".

We believe that this can only be achieved through the adoption of a European Disability Pact which can make the EU 2020 Strategy work for persons with disabilities. Such a Pact would include:

- 1 Mainstreaming of the needs of persons with disabilities within the EU policies and legislation

- 2 Defining clear achievable targets in the area of employment, social inclusion, and social protection for persons with disabilities

- 3 Monitoring and follow-up mechanisms

- 4 Ensuring coordination between EU Member States and EU institutions regarding disability policy

- 5 Involving representative organisations of persons with disabilities in all decision-making and implementation processes which concern them

We remain at your disposal for further discussions on the EU 2020 Strategy and on the role of persons with disabilities in the European social and economic developments.

Yours sincerely,

Yannis Vardakastanis

President of the European Disability Forum

European Council: Decision to stop the Segregation!

noreply@blogger.com (.) — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 06:28:00 +0000

This is signal for Inclusion of disabled children (people) into the society:

https://wcd.coe.int/ViewDoc.jsp?Ref=CM/Rec(2010)2&Language=lanEnglish&Ver=original&BackColorInternet=C3C3C3&BackColorIntranet=EDB021&BackColorLogged=F5D383

Obama vs Lobbyism

noreply@blogger.com (.) — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 22:57:00 +0000

http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2010/01/22/ill-never-stop-fighting

USA: Disability Insurance

noreply@blogger.com (.) — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 13:26:00 +0000

http://bit.ly/6c20AO

Ärztepräsident beklagt ungleiche Behandlung

noreply@blogger.com (.) — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 15:14:00 +0000

http://www.stern.de/politik/deutschland/gesundheitswesen-aerztepraesident-beklagt-ungleiche-behandlung-1536275.html#utm_source=standard&utm_medium=rss-feed&utm_campaign=alle
>
> Mit der von der FDP eingeschlagenen Privatisierung des
> Gesundheitswesens werden solche Effekte weiter zunehmen ist zu befür
> chten.
>

Politisches Takeover der Privatwirtschaft

noreply@blogger.com (.) — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 23:42:00 +0000

http://www.tagesschau.de/inland/gesundheitsministerium102.html

Insurance for People with disabilities reaches 1.000 Members

noreply@blogger.com (.) — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 17:12:00 +0000

...more and more people support the idea that people with disabilities need to be protected

as everybody else and on a equal basis with insurance coverage !

The group reaches currently its 1.002nd member.

The European Parliament announced earlier this months that my petitions I introduced

beginning of 2006 remain OPEN and the European Antidiscrimination Directive for the

civil society will contain this subject.

http://apps.facebook.com/causes/causes/246701/members

http://ec.europa.eu/employment_social/events/2007/eddp/katsioulis_en.pdf

http://wasilios.katsioulis.googlepages.com/20071202HintergrundpapierzumReferat.pdf

http://wasilios.katsioulis.googlepages.com/eddp_2007_conference_report_de.pdf

http://wasilios.katsioulis.googlepages.com/eddp_2007_conference_report_en.pdf

http://wasilios.katsioulis.googlepages.com/eddp_2007_conference_report_fr.pdf

http://wasilios.katsioulis.googlepages.com/20071017Prof.Dr.Teschke.pdf

My petition arguments are:

Insurance protection is a fundamental need of every one, As we are all subject to the same life risks: Accidents, illnesses other causes!
About 10% of the Member States’ population (almost 50 Million people) are affected by disability.
As the EU’s average age increases there will be more cases of disability. The rate of disability in a higher-aged-society is higher.
Disabled people have to cover their financial risk resulting from accident or deseas ALONE. Lets change this situation!
With enough data about disabilities the full coverage should be possible, it is only a question of WORK and GOOD WILL to collect these data!

Thank you @All !

noreply@blogger.com (.) — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 20:32:00 +0000

Thank you for supporting the inclusion of people with disabilities!!

I wish all of you an excellent start into the new year with lots of happiness and sucess and hope that our societies will continue sucessful the way of inclusion of people with disAbilities in 2010.

There are still a lot of obstacles, physical and nonphysical ones, we need to overcome to reach this goal, but with your common support it will be possible and therefore real!

The UN convention on the rights of people with disAbilities is an excellent manual for all of us, which barriers are between the current situation and the inclusion of all people with a disAbility!

Best wishes from Brussels
Wasilios Katsioulis

Petitionsverfahren laufen weiter

noreply@blogger.com (.) — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 01:17:00 +0000

Der EU Petitionsausschuss teilt auf Nachfrage mit, dass die im Jahre 2006 und 2008 eingereichten Petitionen

zum Versicherungsschutz behinderter Menschen sowie zur Verhinderung von Benachteiligungen bereits Behinderter nach

zusaetzlichen Unfaellen weiterlaufen.