Glasses for students are usually not paid for by statutory health insurance. In Germany, the statutory health insurance (gesetzliche Krankenversicherung, GKV) covers visual aids (Sehhilfen) only under specific conditions, and the rules differ considerably between children and adults. This guide explains when you are entitled to support, what you have to pay yourself and how to clarify the cost coverage before you buy.
Short answer: Statutory health insurance usually does not pay for glasses for students. Up to the age of 18 there is an entitlement to visual aids. From 18 onwards the insurer only pays for lenses in cases of severe visual impairment or high short- or long-sightedness, meaning more than 6 dioptres for myopia or hyperopia, or more than 4 dioptres for astigmatism. The frame is not covered for adults (last updated: October 2026, section 33 SGB V).
The most important points at a glance
- Until your 18th birthday you are entitled to visual aids under the rules for medical aids (Hilfsmittel).
- From 18 onwards the insurer pays for lenses only in case of severe visual impairment or a refractive error above 6 or 4 dioptres.
- The spectacle frame is not part of the statutory entitlement for adults.
- From 18 onwards you pay a statutory co-payment (Zuzahlung) for an approved visual aid.
- Contact lenses are covered only in exceptional cases, and then at most up to the amount for glasses.
- Voluntary subsidies from individual insurers are set out in their statutes (Satzung). Check them before you buy.
When does the health insurer pay for glasses?
The rules depend on your age and on your visual acuity. The measurements in your eye examination are decisive, because the insurer checks an entitlement against exactly these values. The overview below summarises the wording of section 33 SGB V.
| Situation | Entitlement against the statutory health insurer | What you should note |
|---|---|---|
| Insured persons under 18 | Yes, visual aids under the rules for medical aids | The insurer checks necessity and the official list of medical aids |
| From 18, severe visual impairment in both eyes (at least level 1) | Yes | Classification under the ICD-10-GM diagnosis code, medically confirmed |
| From 18, long-sightedness or short-sightedness above 6 dioptres | Yes | Prescription with the dioptre values |
| From 18, astigmatism above 4 dioptres | Yes | Prescription with the dioptre values |
| From 18, normal refractive error below these limits | No | You pay for lenses and frame yourself |
| Therapeutic visual aid for an eye injury or eye disease | Yes, according to the indications of the Federal Joint Committee | Medical justification and prescription |
Your eye doctor is the right person to discuss borderline values, because he or she documents exactly the readings the insurer will examine. The statutory entitlement is limited to what is necessary, so if you choose a more expensive model, you pay the additional cost (section 33 para. 1 SGB V).
What does a pair of glasses cost if the insurer does not pay?
Before you decide, calculate your own share. The example below uses glasses with lenses and frame for 350 euros.
Assumption: you are 24 years old, your refractive error is below the limits of 6 and 4 dioptres, and you have no supplementary insurance for visual aids.
- Entitlement against the insurer: none, because the limits are not reached.
- Your share: 350.00 euros, paid entirely by you.
- If an entitlement exists, the insurer pays the contractually agreed prices (section 33 para. 7 SGB V). You then only bear the statutory co-payment and any extra cost for a more expensive model.
- Result: plan the full amount for each new pair of glasses whenever your prescription changes and no entitlement applies.
Is supplementary insurance for glasses worth it?
Many private tariffs include reimbursement for visual aids, and some supplementary policies cover glasses. Whether that pays off is easy to test: compare the premiums over the years with the reimbursements you can realistically expect. If you do not know how often you will need new glasses, your calculation will be too rough.
Assumption: a cover for visual aids costs 6 euros per month. You need a pair of glasses for 300 euros every two years, and the cover reimburses 150 euros of that. Over two years you pay 144 euros in premiums and get 150 euros back. With these numbers the cover hardly pays off, because the reimbursement only just exceeds the premiums. If you need glasses less often, the calculation quickly turns negative.
Also check waiting periods, maximum amounts and reimbursement limits. They often determine the value more than the monthly premium. If you already have private health insurance, the guide on glasses in private health insurance explains what the tariffs typically cover.
Frequently asked questions
Does a different rule apply if I am under 18?
Yes. Insured persons until their 18th birthday are entitled to visual aids under section 33 para. 2 SGB V, following the conditions for medical aids. Students are usually older, so in practice the adult rule almost always applies. If you are unsure, ask your insurer about your specific case.
Is there a subsidy for the frame?
For adults, the statutory entitlement does not include the cost of the spectacle frame (section 33 para. 2 SGB V). Some insurers pay voluntary subsidies that are set out in their statutes. Ask your insurer directly whether such a subsidy exists and how much it is.
Should I clarify the cost coverage before buying?
Yes, that is sensible. Ask your insurer to confirm in writing whether it will cover a visual aid before you order. You may choose any contract partner of your insurer (section 33 para. 6 SGB V), which makes it easier to compare prices. If your claim is rejected, you can object within the period stated in the decision.
Are contact lenses an alternative?
The insurer covers contact lenses only in compelling exceptional cases (section 33 para. 3 SGB V). If you choose contact lenses although glasses would be necessary, the insurer pays at most the amount it would have paid for the glasses. It does not pay for care products for contact lenses.
What changes with private health insurance?
In private health insurance, visual aids depend on your tariff. Some tariffs reimburse glasses, others do not or only up to a maximum amount. What counts are the contract terms, not the statutory rules that apply to people with statutory insurance.
Documents you need
Prepare your documents before you call or write to your insurer. This saves follow-up questions and speeds up the approval.
- The eye examination report with the dioptre values for both eyes.
- The prescription, if your doctor issues one.
- A cost estimate from the optician that lists lenses and frame separately.
- Your electronic health card and your insurance number.
What to do now
- Have your eyesight measured by an eye doctor and ask for the dioptre values for both eyes.
- Compare the values with the limits: severe visual impairment, more than 6 dioptres, or more than 4 dioptres for astigmatism.
- Ask your insurer in writing whether it covers the visual aid, and wait for approval before buying if an entitlement exists.
- Compare opticians who are contract partners of your insurer and clarify the co-payment.
- Check whether your insurer’s statutes provide a subsidy that reduces your share.
Related reading
- Student dental insurance: is it worth it?
- Health insurance for students: glossary from A to Z
- Copayment exemption and out-of-pocket limit for students
- Student health insurance costs by age in Germany
- Hilfsmittel in der PKV: Offener und geschlossener Katalog
Sources: Section 33 SGB V, medical aids, gesetze-im-internet.de (retrieved October 2026) and guidelines of the Federal Joint Committee on medical aids, g-ba.de (retrieved October 2026).
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
