Does your child need eyeglasses? Great news! The Quebec government has put in place the See Better to Succeed Program that reimburses the cost of eyeglasses or contact lenses for young people under 18 years of age. Specifically, Quebec families can receive a fixed amount of $250 per child, renewable every 2 years.

The program, which is retroactive to September 1, 2019, aims to support children’s academic development and success. Here are the program’s main points.

Eligibility criteria

All children are eligible for the program if they meet the following conditions:

  • Were under 18 years of age at the time the eyeglasses or contact lenses were purchased.

  • Have a valid health insurance card.

  • Received a prescription for corrective eyeglasses or contact lenses during an eye exam conducted by a licensed optometrist or ophthalmologist.  

How to submit a reimbursement claim?

The amount can be claimed through a new online service offered by the RAMQ. It applies only to the purchase of corrective eyeglasses or contact lenses prescribed by an eye care professional.

To obtain the $250 reimbursement, you must complete the form. You will need to have on hand your child’s health insurance or social insurance number, your postal code, the date of purchase, the total cost of the eyeglasses or contact lenses and the QST number.

ADDITIONAL CONDITIONS

Place of purchase – Only purchases made from September 1, 2019, at a Quebec merchant are eligible.

Note: Eye exams do not need to have been conducted before this date. Children under 18 years of age already benefit from a yearly reimbursement for a complete eye exam.

Deadline to submit a claim – The claim must be submitted within 12 months of the date of purchase.

Receipt of cheque – The child’s parent (the mother by default) will receive a cheque for $250 by mail no later than 3 weeks after the claim is sent.

Supporting documentation – A verification may be carried out following reimbursement. For this purpose, you must keep your bill for the eyeglasses or contact lenses for 5 years.

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We invite you to visit the website of the Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ) for all details or to get in touch with our eye care professionals who can assist you with your reimbursement claim!

Schedule an appointment today with one of our optometrists to protect the health of your child’s vision. Don’t forget, eye exams for children under 18 are also covered by Quebec health insurance.