Health & Care
Eyewear Insurance
glasses insurance
Eyewear Insurance: Your clear advantage for optimal vision and cost protection
A new pair of glasses can quickly cost several hundred euros, especially with varifocals or designer frames. Glasses insurance promises financial relief in the event of breakage, theft, or changes in vision. But when is it really a wise investment, and which benefits are crucial?
The topic in brief and concise terms
A glasses insurance covers costs for new visual aids, repairs, and sometimes even theft, while the statutory health insurance (GKV) provides only minimal allowances.
The relevance depends on individual factors, such as the frequency of needing glasses, the value of the glasses, and personal security needs; contributions often start at under ten euros per month.
When finalizing, pay attention to coverage, waiting periods, deductibles, and notice periods; contributions are usually not tax-deductible.
Understanding the Scope of Coverage: What Does Glasses Insurance Cover?
Glasses insurance offers financial support for visual aids, often up to €300 every two years. The exact benefits vary significantly between providers and plans. Subsidies for new glasses or contact lenses due to a change in vision, for example, by at least 0.5 dioptres, are usually included. Many policies also cover repairs in case of damage or replacement in the event of theft. Some plans even reimburse the cost of prescription sunglasses or offer allowances for laser eye surgery, often up to €1,000. It’s important to closely examine the terms, as not every loss, such as misplacement, is always covered.
Reimbursement is typically up to a maximum amount, which can range between €100 and €400. Some insurers also cover loss or theft, although this often involves a deductible, such as 50%. Pay attention to the exact benefits catalogue to ensure your individual needs are covered. The insurance for visual aids can provide valuable protection. The specific conditions and exclusions are crucial in choosing the right protection.
Weighing the costs and benefits: When is glasses insurance really sensible?
The monthly premiums for eyeglass insurance often start at under ten euros. Whether such insurance is worthwhile depends on several factors. Individuals who regularly, for example, every two years, need new glasses or value expensive models and high-quality lenses often benefit. Especially with varifocal lenses, which can cost over 1,000 euros, insurance can quickly pay off. Even for children and adolescents whose eyesight often changes, eyeglass insurance can be sensible despite statutory health insurance benefits for basic versions if higher-quality options are desired.
For athletes, whose glasses are at a higher risk of damage, a policy can also be advantageous. Calculate your average expenses for visual aids over a period of two to three years and compare these with the total cost of the insurance. Eyeglass insurance is particularly useful when the expected benefits exceed the premiums or financial planning is a priority. Bear in mind that statutory health insurance for adults only provides a subsidy for very severe visual impairment, e.g., from six dioptres.
Statutory health insurance: Limited allowances for visual aids
Statutory health insurance (GKV) covers the cost of glasses for adults only in narrowly defined exceptional cases. A claim for a subsidy is usually only available in cases of short- or long-sightedness of more than six dioptres or astigmatism of more than four dioptres. Also, if vision is less than 30 per cent despite correction, the GKV may step in. For children and adolescents under 18 years, the cost for simple lenses is generally covered.
The GKV pays fixed amounts, which often cover only a fraction of the actual costs of modern lenses and frames. Insured individuals usually have to bear the cost themselves for special coatings such as anti-reflective or hard coatings. The benefits of the GKV for glasses are therefore heavily restricted, increasing the appeal of private glasses insurance for many. Such insurance fills this gap and allows for better care. This highlights the need for additional protection through private supplementary health insurance.
Check Contract Details: What to Look for When Taking Out Glasses Insurance
Before taking out glasses insurance, it's essential to thoroughly examine the policy terms. Pay attention to the level of subsidies, which often range between €150 and €300 every two years. Check if there is a waiting period; many plans only begin coverage after three months, although some offer immediate cover. It's also important to understand the handling of excesses, particularly in cases of theft or loss. Ensure that prescription sunglasses or spare glasses are also covered.
Particular points to note include:
Benefits level for new visual aids (e.g., every two years).
Coverage for damage and theft (including deductible).
Terms for changes in dioptre values (e.g., at least 0.5 dpt).
Coverage for contact lenses and their benefits scope.
Potential waiting periods before first use.
Cancellation periods and contract durations.
Our expert tip: Don’t just compare the price, but focus on the price-performance ratio and the flexibility of the plan. A thorough review protects against surprises in the event of a claim. Health and care insurance often offer combination possibilities.
Find optimal coverage: How to choose the right eyewear insurance
Choosing the right glasses insurance requires an individual needs analysis. Consider how often you need new glasses and which risks (breakage, theft, change in prescription) are relevant to you. Compare offers from different insurers, paying attention not only to the monthly premium, for example, nine euros, but also to the maximum benefits, which are often capped at 300 euros. Consider the waiting periods, which can be up to three months, and any possible deductibles.
Here are some steps for selection:
Determine your personal needs (frequency of changing glasses, value of your glasses, risk tolerance).
Compare at least three different offers and their detailed service descriptions.
Beware of exclusions in the fine print (e.g., loss due to leaving them behind).
Check whether additional services such as preventive examinations or subsidies for laser surgeries are of value to you.
Read independent test reports and customer reviews to get an impression of the service quality.
Our expert tip: A good glasses insurance offers a balanced ratio of premium, coverage, and flexibility. Take your time to decide, to benefit in the long term from your glasses insurance. Also consider related topics such as the tax deductibility of hearing aid insurance, if relevant.
Request your individual risk analysis now: Have your insurance situation checked for free and receive specific improvement suggestions.
More useful links
Das Statistische Bundesamt offers statistical data on consumer behaviour or demographics in Germany that could be relevant to the eyewear market.
Statista provides data on the cost structure in the optometry sector in Germany, which is useful for understanding glasses prices.
Das Statistische Bundesamt provides the weighting scheme for the consumer price index in Germany, offering insights into the impact of glasses and related products on inflation.
SPECTARIS offers an industry report on consumer optics, likely containing market data, trends, and forecasts for the eyewear sector in Germany.
Die Verbraucherzentrale explains under which circumstances the health insurance covers the costs for glasses in Germany, emphasizing that this usually only happens in exceptional cases.
Statista presents statistics on the number of visually impaired people in Germany, categorized by the severity of their impairment, relevant for understanding the demand for visual aids.
Augeninfo.de provides general information on vision and eye health, possibly including details on different types of vision correction and eye diseases.
Das Bundesgesundheitsministerium is the website of the German Federal Ministry of Health, which might contain information on health policy and regulations in the field of ophthalmology.
FAQ
Welche Leistungen sind bei einer Brillenversicherung typischerweise enthalten?
Typical benefits include subsidies for new glasses or contact lenses (often every two years up to an amount like 300 euros), coverage in case of damage (repair or replacement) and often also in case of theft. Some policies also include prescription sunglasses or contributions to laser eye surgery.
Lohnt sich eine Brillenversicherung für jeden Brillenträger?
Not necessarily. It is especially worthwhile for people who wear expensive glasses (e.g. varifocals), need to change their glasses more frequently (e.g. due to changes in prescription or fashion consciousness) or are at increased risk of damage or loss (e.g. athletes).
Was zahlt die gesetzliche Krankenkasse für eine Brille?
The statutory health insurance only pays for adults in exceptional cases, e.g. in case of severe visual impairment (over six dioptres or astigmatism over four dioptres). For children under 18 years, the costs for simple lenses are usually covered. The subsidies are fixed amounts and often only cover a small part of the costs.
Gibt es bei Brillenversicherungen eine Wartezeit?
Yes, many glasses insurance policies have a waiting period, often three months, before benefits can be accessed. However, there are also policies without waiting periods or with reduced waiting times for certain benefits.
Sind Kontaktlinsen auch in der Brillenversicherung mitversichert?
Yes, many glasses insurance policies include coverage for contact lenses, often to the same extent as for glasses. However, the exact conditions and reimbursement amounts should be checked within the specific policy.
Was sollte ich beim Vergleich von Brillenversicherungen beachten?
Compare the level of subsidies, the intervals for claiming benefits (usually every two years), coverage for breakage, theft and loss, any applicable deductibles, waiting periods, and whether contact lenses or prescription sunglasses are also covered.
