Question about exemption cert and optical vouchers

petethesteam

Hi

I have just recieved my exemption certificate and it states that i am entitled to full help.

I need new glasses, i know i can get my eye test free and then get a voucher towards the glasses. i believe that I will be entitked to the highest level for single vision lenses which i believe to be £186.50.

Do i just choose the frames and lenses that i want and just pay the amount after the £186 is taken off? or is there a maximum i pay. You see i like very nice frames and require petite frames, and i also require anti glare and extra thin lenses as wll as maybe reaction lenses.

Last time i went to vision expree and ended up paying £400 thats with a discount for nhs (no exemption, just a discount to claiming jsa). i am worried as have no money but my vision is blurry with glasses.

System

£186.50 is correct. There are also supplements for prism, tint & photochromic. See http://www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/Healthcosts/Documents/2012/HC12-april-2012.pdf for full details. It doesn't look as though you get anything extra for ultra thin although anti-glare tends to be standard within the quoted price.

You pay the difference between the voucher and the cost of your spectacles.

honey10

A little off topic, but I would recommend Specsavers, it might work out cheaper for you

Pennywise2012

Assuming you mean a HC2 exemption certificate, you'll only get the same voucher that you got on JSA - JSA, ESA, IS, HC2 and U16 all get the same amount. So if you only got a small amount then, you'll only get the same now?? Or do you mean the complex lenses supplement - £14 or so that everyone with a very high prescription gets, and isn't means tested?

The voucher value is based on your prescription, not your financial circumstances. (I'm assuming you know this and have a very very high prescription lol)

Are you sure you need reactions? You'd only get the tint/photochromic supplement if it's clinically required.(Plus it's only £8.20) Also it's not always available in very high prescriptions, and pushes the price up enormously.

Anti-glare comes as standard on lenses that have been made thinner so you don't need to worry about that.

Shop around (You can take your voucher anywhere, it doesn't have to be where you had the test). I'd also ask the optician if your old pair will do as a spare, or if you need to find a 2 for 1 deal - with your prescription you can't afford to be without glasses if you lose or break them.

GlasweJen

I have many years in optics and I've only dispensed a "D" voucher to one person and that was a child who is now registered blind.

As a general rule most people get an A voucher, 6.25 sphere or above get a B, so do people with an astigmatism above 2.25.

If you're able to get thin lenses usually then you won't get a D voucher, these prescriptions are usually so complex that only omega lenses will fit so their end result is still thick.


Either way don't look at the opticians regular prices then subtract your voucher. Generally opticans have an NHS range which is free then deals on the regular range.

You can only get a voucher at your sight test, the NHS will only pay for a sight test every two years (unless you're diabetic or over 40 with a relevant family history of glaucoma. In Scotland we have removed the 1 year entitlement for over 60s and under 16s but check with your optician). If you're not due an eye test you need to wait until you are. If you pitch up at a different opticians to get around this expect to get a bill for your eye test, voucher and a penalty through your door.

I'd recommend you get your glasses insured as you only get 1 voucher every 2 years so if you break or damage your glasses then you need to pay privately for a new pair.