Significant news for parents: As of 1 July, eyeglasses for children up to age 7 will be subsidized as part of the health basket, and parents will only be required to pay a co-payment.
Children will be able to receive glasses worth about NIS 600 for myopia up to -7 and farsightedness up to +5. It will be possible to replace a pair of glasses as needed once a year. The HMOs will contract with optics stores, where parents will be able to receive the eyeglasses in the arrangement.
The parents' deductible will be up to NIS 60 for glasses that cost up to NIS 600, and up to NIS 100 for glasses with high numbers (+5 and above or -7 and below).
The Ministry of Health has set a binding standard for the quality of glasses that will be provided in the arrangement, which each health plan conducts vis-à-vis the optical chains. The glasses will include lenses of reduced thickness, and you will be able to choose between several frame models.
"There are children today who go up to first grade and can't read from the blackboard" (illustration), photo: Getty Images
However, it was determined that it would not be possible to upgrade the basic glasses in the arrangement - to a branded frame, for example. It was also determined that it would not be possible to receive a credit or refund, but only the glasses stipulated in the arrangement.
The move was decided this year by the Health Basket Committee, and it was determined that for the purpose of preparing the health funds and contracting with providers, it will be launched only in the middle of the year. It is estimated that about 55,7 children up to age 40 will benefit from the subsidy each year. The total annual cost is estimated at NIS 9.<> million.
According to the draft circular distributed to the HMOs, a child who requires glasses will be referred to receive a prescription from an ophthalmologist or qualified optometrist at no additional charge. The duration until receiving the prescription shall not exceed 30 days, and the time for adjusting the prescription shall not exceed two weeks.
Also, the glasses will be delivered within a 14-day period. All this - to ensure a quick response for children with visual impairment.
"Possible vision improvement"
The person who submitted the request to include glasses in the basket of medicines is Maccabi Health Services. Dr. Carmil Azran, Director of Maccabi's Medical Technology Department and a member of the Health Basket's subcommittee: "This is great news, which contributes to the future generation. Children will be able to learn and read without being ashamed that their parents have no way to pay for glasses."
Azran adds: "For a family with several children, this is a move that can save thousands of shekels. Even when it comes to one child who needs glasses, his numbers sometimes go up every year, and that, too, costs thousands of shekels."
Dr. Carmil Azran, member of the subcommittee of the basket and director of technologies at Maccabi Health Services,
In addition, she emphasizes the social implications of the move: "A child with 7 hardly sees, and these are glasses that cost about 2,000 shekels. Today there are children who enter first grade and cannot read from the blackboard. Studies show that the gaps created as a result extend all the way to academia.
"As the HMO, we didn't see any logic in hearing aids and wheelchairs being subsidized – and glasses not," explains Dr. Azran.
Alexandra Silberwerg, optometrist and control manager at Maccabi at First Sight optometry, says: "There is a window of opportunity to improve vision by age 7. If children use the right eyeglasses for them, they are more likely not to need glasses at an older age."
The health funds said they welcomed the move and were preparing for its implementation at the scheduled time.
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