From Wednesday December seventeenth, all households with youngsters underneath 16 who want glasses or contacts will be capable to profit from the federal government’s new subsidy of €100. These are the situations and learn how to apply.
The Spanish authorities has allotted €47.7 million to its new Plan Veo (‘I See Plan’), which can finance the acquisition of glasses (gafas in Spanish) and get in touch with lenses (lentillas) and could be requested by dad and mom or authorized guardians till December thirty first 2026.
With a subsidy of as much as €100 per baby, the Ministry of Health will cowl the price of “important” optical merchandise, equivalent to fundamental frames with prescription lenses and anti-reflective coating, or contact lenses, in addition to upkeep and restore of current glasses or the liquid answer for contacts.
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Why is the Spanish authorities doing this?
Spanish Health Minister Mónica García has estimated that greater than half 1,000,000 youngsters will be capable to profit from this measure, which goals to scale back the financial obstacles that hinder entry to visible aids in childhood for probably the most deprived households in Spain.
According to the Ministry of Health, this case not solely perpetuates social inequalities but additionally has a big affect on the educational efficiency of youngsters whose households can not afford to purchase them glasses.
Visual issues, equivalent to myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism, have an effect on between 10 p.c and 30 p.c of the school-age inhabitants in Spain, with prevalence charges which might be growing because of the rise in display time and indoor dwelling.
What situations ought to I take into account?
The subsidy isn’t accessible by means of all opticians, it should be processed at one of many greater than 2,300 ópticas collaborating within the programme, which can show a sticker outdoors their premises indicating their participation. You can even discover your closest one within the search engine created by the federal government.
If the price of glasses or contact lenses is lower than €100, the beneficiary is not going to need to pay something additional underneath the Plan Veo; but when the worth is larger than that quantity, the household must pay the distinction.
A prescription will likely be required, so all youngsters as much as 16 years of age who’ve a Spanish well being card and have been recognized with a visible drawback will likely be eligible for the subsidy.
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What’s the method for getting the €100 help for glasses and contacts?
The kid’s dad and mom or authorized guardians must full and signal a doc offered by collaborating opticians within the Plan Veo.
The process will fluctuate relying on the kid’s age and whether or not it’s their first or second time accessing this programme.
This prescription ought to embody the main points of the healthcare skilled or service, the title of the centre, and the prescription’s expiration date.
The authority chargeable for issuing the prescription will fluctuate relying on the minor’s age.
Children underneath six, for instance, will want a prescription from an ophthalmologist or optometrist, both from the National Health System or the non-public sector. With this prescription, they’ll go to one of many collaborating opticians, the place they may obtain a €100 low cost on the glasses or contact lenses they want.
For youngsters aged six and older, the prescription could be issued by earlier professionals or by knowledgeable on the optician’s store the place they’ve already bought glasses or contact lenses.
If it’s the second time utilizing the Plan Veo, the beneficiary can entry the help by means of an examination by an ophthalmologist, public or non-public, or by an optician on the institution in query. For this second subsidy it is going to be necessary that one 12 months has handed because the earlier help was obtained.
Regional subsidies already provided might imply a decrease quantity is granted.
Keep in thoughts that this subsidy is at the moment solely set to be accessible till the top of 2026.
Which paperwork will likely be required to get the €100 subsidy for glasses or contacts?
Prescription kind.
Names and surnames of the beneficiary underneath 16.
Name and surnames of the mum or dad/guardian.
National Identity Document (DNI) or Foreigner’s Identity Number (NIE) of the minor and the guardian.
Individual Health Card quantity or doc recognising the fitting to healthcare issued by the autonomous group in Spain.
Annex I of the settlement, which should be signed and accomplished by the accountable get together.
