Full reimbursement of optical costs (100% health offer) has been in effect since January 1, 2020. But, according to the Ministry of Health, more than one in ten French people give up wearing glasses for financial reasons .
Getting a pair of glasses is no longer a luxury since the implementation of the 100% Health offer in January 2020. The latter allows people with myopic, hyperopic, presbyopic and / or astigmatic to benefit from access to a wide choice of frames at 30 euros, including 17 models in 2 different colors for adults and 10 different frames for children with 2 colors as well. The zero-charge rest device also ensures that the lenses (thinned, anti-reflective and anti-scratch) deal with all visual problems.
But is this device despised by optical professionals? According to The Parisian, a majority of opticians are reluctant to offer and market the 100% health product. A survey by the Directorate General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control (DGCCRF) reveals that 60% of optical professionals “Present little or not at all” frames and lenses from the 100% Health basket.
A denigrated device: a lack of information, no double quotes and no display in the window
The DGCCRF conducted a survey of 322 stores located throughout France. Ultimately, 700 stores will be combed through. Presented on Tuesday, April 13 during a 100% Health steering committee at the Ministry of Health, the results attest that some professionals do not present the device to customers. “These results can only challenge. If we want the reform to work, it is by working together, with a clear offer presented to all French people ”, lamented Olivier Véran during the meeting. “The investigation will continue. If what we observe is confirmed, we will be able to consider actions “, recalled Olivier Véran.
According to the authors of the study, some opticians do not display the device to customers, others minimize it to the point of not putting the frames in the display, even worse, some do not perform any “ double quote “ with a normal offer and that of 100%. Between the fallacious arguments presenting the frames as low-cost products, the device would not seem lucrative for the turnover of opticians.
Professionals defend themselves
“Opticians have not denigrated the 100% health offer”, defended André Balbi, president of the main trade union by profession (ROF), Friday April 23 during a press conference. According to the gathering of opticians in France, the union of professionals denounces a “non-objectified” investigation. They also add “300 out of 12,000 stores is not the whole profession. In these 60%, there are minor and major errors. However, we do not have the details. This presentation does not reflect the reality of the facts ”, denotes André Balbi. Yet the figures are clear, optics is the sector where the reform is least involved with only 16% of French people having benefited from a frame or lenses.
Far behind the two other sectors concerned by 100%: the dental sector (52%) and audiology (30%). But here again, optical professionals dispute them and are puzzled by the promised objectives. “Our forecast was 17%, we are in line with the ministry. Two million people have benefited from it, the rest at moderate cost has increased from 24 to 48% between 2019 and 2020 “, advocates André Balbi. “For precarious households, this is a great step forward! “
