OBJECTIVES: As a chronic condition rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is related with significant life time health care expenditure a share of which, is estimated to burden the patient and the household. Aim of this study is to estimate the private health expenditure of patients with RA and its impact on patient’s household.

METHODS: : A telephone survey took place during which patients with RA were asked to provide with information regarding their out-of-pocket, medical and non-medical, expenditures for the management of their disease, six months prior the telephone interview. Patients were recruited through the relevant patients associations. Catastrophic health expenditure (CHE) was defined as any amount spent for health which accounts for more than 20% of the total household income

RESULTS: CONCLUSIONS: RA patients spent annually more than their household per capita monthly income for the management of their disease. This expenditure appears to be a significant burden for 11.6% of the patients or for more than 4,000 households, based on the prevalence of the disease in Greece. In this context, health and social policy interventions should be adopted in order to control private health expenditure and/or prevent households from being subject to CHE.