Optimal protection for children's eyes: The additional insurance for glasses
19 Apr 2025
3
Minutes
Katrin Straub
CEO at nextsure
Children's glasses are often more than just a visual aid; they are daily companions during play and learning. An additional insurance policy can provide financial security if the state health insurance does not cover all costs. Find out how to get the best protection for your child.
The topic in brief and concise terms
The statutory health insurance covers the basic costs for spectacle lenses for children under eighteen years old, but often not for frames or extras.
An additional insurance for children's glasses is advisable if you want superior coverage, protection against damage/loss, and cost control.
Pay attention to the scope of benefits (frame, lenses, repair, loss), waiting times, and reimbursement limits, which often range from one hundred to three hundred euros per pair of glasses.
Understanding the Basics: Statutory Health Insurance Benefits for Children's Glasses
The statutory health insurance (GKV) in Germany contributes to the costs of children's glasses up to the age of eighteen. Generally, the costs for standard lenses are covered if there is an ophthalmologist's prescription. The amount of the subsidy is based on fixed rates, which often only cover the basic version. For many families, this means they must bear the additional costs for higher quality lenses or fashionable frames themselves. The GKV usually does not cover the costs for special coatings such as anti-reflective or hardening treatments. A statutory health insurance for glasses often only offers basic coverage here. This regulation ensures that every child receives necessary visual aids but only marginally accounts for individual needs.
Recognising added value: When is additional insurance for children's glasses sensible?
An additional insurance for children's glasses becomes particularly interesting when parents value more comprehensive protection and higher quality care. If glasses break or get lost during play, the statutory health insurance (GKV) often does not cover the replacement or only does so to a limited extent. A private supplementary policy can step in here and cover the costs for repairs or a new pair of glasses, often multiple times within a certain period. Many tariffs also reimburse costs for more robust or lighter plastic lenses, which are ideal for active children. If your child, for example, needs glasses with special lenses or a particularly sturdy frame that goes beyond the standard of the GKV, an eyewear insurance can fill the financial gap. The necessity often arises from the desire for more than just basic care.
Review performance spectrum: What does a good children's glasses supplementary insurance cover?
The benefits of supplementary insurance for children's glasses vary significantly depending on the provider and plan. However, a good policy should include certain core benefits. These typically include allowances for frames that exceed the fixed amount provided by the statutory health insurance, and coverage for higher quality lenses, such as those with anti-reflective coating, hard coating, or blue light filter. Many insurers also cover damage, breakage, or loss of glasses, which is a crucial factor for children. Some plans even offer regular allowances for new glasses, even if the prescription has not significantly changed, or even cover prescription sunglasses. Look for plans that also allow for quick replacement, often within 24 to 48 hours. It is advisable to compare vision aid insurances. The specific terms and benefit levels are crucial in choosing the right coverage.
Important benefit components can include:
Coverage for the cost of frames above the standard statutory health insurance amount, often up to an amount of one hundred euros or more.
Reimbursement for special lenses (e.g., plastic, anti-reflective coating, hardening), which can account for up to eighty percent of the costs.
Benefits for damage or breakage, often with a small deductible, such as ten percent.
Protection against loss or theft of glasses, which is especially important for expensive models.
Allowances for new glasses at specified intervals, such as every two years.
Sometimes coverage for contact lenses as an alternative to glasses.
These points help you better assess the scope of the insurance coverage.
Calculating costs: Contributions and savings potentials in supplementary insurance
The monthly premiums for supplementary insurance for children's glasses often start at under ten euros. The exact premium amount depends on the chosen plan and the scope of benefits. A plan with higher reimbursement limits and shorter waiting periods will generally be somewhat more expensive. It's important to pay attention to the contract durations and cancellation periods, which are usually between one and two years. Some insurers offer family discounts when multiple children are insured, which can save up to fifteen percent. Compare not just the price, but also the value for money of the supplementary health insurance. A careful calculation helps save costs in the long term and find the right protection.
Practical Cases Spotlight: Typical Scenarios and the Role of Insurance
Imagine your seven-year-old child loses their glasses on the playground—the cost of replacement glasses can quickly exceed two hundred euros. Without additional insurance, you often bear these costs entirely, as statutory health insurance usually does not cover such cases. With a suitable policy, the insurer covers a large part or even the entire cost. Another example: Your child needs glasses with specially hardened lenses because they are very active; these cost eighty euros more than standard lenses. The supplementary insurance can cover these additional costs. Especially with repeated damage within a short period, such as twice a year, the value of good insurance becomes evident. Even when it comes to fashionable frames that boost the child's self-esteem, glasses insurance can be helpful. These examples illustrate the practical benefits in everyday life.
Expert tips: What to consider when signing up
Before taking out supplementary insurance for your child's glasses, there are some important points you should carefully consider. Pay attention to any waiting periods; some policies only provide benefits three or six months after the contract has started. Clarify the exact conditions for cost coverage in the event of loss or damage—is there an excess? Our expert tip: Check whether the tariff also covers changes in vision strength, which are common in children and may require a new pair of glasses, often within a year. Also, find out about the regulations regarding eye doctor preventative care, which might be included in combination packages. A thorough review of the fine print is essential.
Checklist before signing the contract:
Are there waiting periods, and how long are they (often three months)?
What is the maximum reimbursement per year or per pair of glasses (e.g., up to three hundred euros)?
What types of damages are covered (breakage, loss, scratches)?
Is an excess planned, and if so, at what level (e.g., ten percent)?
How often can a benefit for a new pair of glasses be claimed (e.g., every 24 months)?
Are repairs covered or only the complete purchase of new glasses?
Are there exclusions, such as for purely fashionable desires without medical necessity?
These questions will help you make the right decision for your child.
Understanding Legal Aspects: Regulations and Claims
For the benefits of statutory health insurance, an ophthalmologist's prescription (doctor's note) is usually necessary. This confirms the medical necessity of vision aids for your child. The prescription must be presented to the optician, who can then bill the health insurance directly, at least for the statutory health insurance portion. For services from a private supplementary insurance, it is also often necessary to submit the optician's bill and possibly the prescription. Our expert tip: Keep all receipts and prescriptions carefully for at least two years to be able to make claims. If there are any uncertainties regarding the cost estimate with the health insurance company, you should inquire early. Understanding these processes facilitates handling in the event of a claim.
Looking to the Future: Long-term Benefits of Good Coverage
Next steps: Personalised advice for optimal protection
More useful links
Wikipedia offers a comprehensive overview of children's glasses.
Berufsverband der Augenärzte Deutschlands provides information on children's vision and eye problems.
Deutsches Ärzteblatt contains an article about the prevalence and changes in myopia among children and adolescents.
Zentralverband der Augenoptiker und Optometristen (ZVA) offers information about children and their eyesight.
Verbraucherzentrale informs that health insurance only covers new glasses in exceptional cases.
Finanztip provides information on co-payments for glasses with statutory health insurance.
MSD Manuals offers medical information on amblyopia in children.
Zeiss informs about the increasing myopia in children and adolescents.
AOK gives tips on recognising myopia in children.
Techniker Krankenkasse (TK) explains what to consider when a child needs glasses.
FAQ
Does my child need a prescription from the ophthalmologist for each new pair of glasses for the supplementary insurance?
For using services of the statutory health insurance, a current ophthalmic prescription is usually required. Many supplementary insurances also demand a prescription or at least a confirmation of vision change by an optician, especially for the first pair of glasses or significant changes. The exact conditions vary; please check your contract documents. Often, for repeat prescriptions within a certain period, determination by the optician suffices.
Are there waiting times for supplementary insurance for children's glasses?
Yes, many supplementary insurance plans for glasses have initial waiting periods. These usually last from three to six months after the contract is concluded before benefits can be claimed. However, there are also plans without a waiting period, which then usually have slightly higher premiums.
Are prescription sunglasses for children also covered?
Some higher-performance plans for supplementary eyewear insurance may also cover the costs of prescription sunglasses. However, this is not standard and should be specifically checked in the insurance’s benefits catalogue. Often, reimbursement for this is limited to a certain amount every one to two years.
What if my child needs contact lenses instead of glasses?
Some supplementary vision insurance plans also include benefits for contact lenses, either as an alternative or in addition to glasses. However, the coverage for contact lenses and care products may be less comprehensive than for glasses. Carefully check the tariff details if this is relevant to you.
How often can I claim for a new pair of glasses through the supplementary insurance?
The frequency of coverage for a new pair of glasses is specified in the insurance terms and conditions. Periods of one to three years are typical. For children, annual subsidies may sometimes be possible due to changes in eyesight or growth, or there may be special regulations in cases of breakage or loss.
Does the insurance also cover repairs or only completely new glasses?
Good supplementary insurances for children's glasses typically cover both repair costs and the costs for a completely new pair of glasses in cases of irreparable damage or loss. The amount of reimbursement and any deductibles may vary depending on the damage and the policy. It is important to clarify this in advance.
