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Technical aids

A technical aid is a product that helps to improve a person's ability to function, compensate for functional impairment and achieve or maintain the most independent coping in everyday life. Technical aids can be purchased with a state discount.

All residents of Estonia who have a verified need for a technical aid will henceforth be able to obtain the necessary technical aid with state support. It will no longer be necessary to undergo a disability or work capacity assessment.

A doctor or specialist will assess the need for the technical aid and issue a certificate if necessary. Based on this certificate, the state will cover part of the cost of the technical aid.

Do you need an aid that would help you or your loved one better cope with everyday life? Such technical aids are, for example, wheelchairs, hearing aids, diapers, prostheses, crutches, etc. Technical aids can be purchased with a state discount. See more details in the technical aid search engine.

Please note!

  • To receive the state benefit for a visual aid, you must present an identity document and a certificate issued by an ophthalmologist or optometrist at the company selling the aids. The certificate must indicate the need for the specific aid and the visual acuity.
  • The state benefit is primarily intended for situations where vision problems are already more serious and significantly affect the person’s ability to cope with everyday life. Compensation starts from the point where visual acuity in the better-seeing eye with glasses is 0.3 (0.5 in children) or lower, or if the visual field is significantly narrowed (less than 30 degrees).
  • Ordinary glasses, which most people wear daily, are not compensated. The state benefit does not apply to eyeglass frames.

Discount rates from the ceiling price of the technical aid

  • In the case of children up to 18 years of age the state compensates 90%
  • The state discount for adults depending on the specific technical aid
  • The state reimburses 95% to the recipient of the subsistence benefit

In order to receive a technical aid with a state discount, proceed as follows:

1. To determine the need for assistance, contact a family physician, general practitioner, resident physician, medical specialist, nurse, midwife, occupational therapist, physiotherapist, audiologist or speech therapist. A specialist or physician determines your need for a technical device and writes it down on a paper copy of the technical aid certificate.

  • Always ask for a certificate for yourself as well, so that you have it available if needed.
  • The need for a medical aid may also be stated in the rehabilitation plan.
  • Who can issue a certificate for a specific technical aid depends on the technical aid and can be found in the technical aid search engine or in the list of technical aids.

2. Contact the technical aid company

It is possible to get a state discount only in companies that have signed a contract with the Social Insurance Board. You can use the map application to find the right provider for you. 

  • Don't forget to bring a paper certificate of the technical aid and an identity document.
  • If you have been appointed a guardian, bring a copy of the court order.
  • If you are going to make a transaction for a person who needs a technical aid, in addition to your identity document, take a simple authorization with you so that you can make transactions on their behalf.

Currently, the certificate is on paper. After visiting the company, keep the certificate for yourself in case you need other technical ais listed on it in the future or want to contact another company.

In justified cases, you have the possibility to apply for an exception.
You can check the information about the purchase and rental transactions of your technical aids in the self-service of the board.

When purchasing a technical aid, your co-payment is always a minimum of 7 euros. The co-payment may be less than 7 euros for the following technical aids:

  • self-care and protective aids provided under a monthly limit;
  • technical aids provided in limited quantities up to the reference price per calendar year;
  • rented technical aids.

The seller of the technical aid will apply the discount to the purchased product at the point of sale. If the sale price of the technical aid is within the maximum price set by the state, you only pay the co-payment amount to the company. If the sale price exceeds the maximum price, you pay the co-payment plus the difference between the maximum price and the cost of the technical aid.

We calculate the technical aid discount from the ceiling price given in the list of technical aids.

Calculation procedure

The doctor has prescribed a wheelchair for you. In the company, it turns out that the determined ceiling rental price of the wheelchair suitable for you is 34.50 euros per month, and the state discount is 90%. The company's specialist will find a suitable wheelchair for you within the ceiling price at the cost of 27.80 euros per month. The state pays 90% of the cost of the technical aid for you, i.e., 25.02 euros, and your co-payment is 2.78 euros. Calculation procedure: 27.8-(27.8*0.9)=2.78 euros.

If the rental price of a wheelchair suitable for you is 45 euros per month (that is, the monthly rental price is higher than the established ceiling price of 34.5 euros), then the state will pay 90% of the ceiling price for you, i.e., 31.05 euros in total. The amount between the ceiling price and the cost of the technical aid must be paid by you. Therefore, your co-payment is 13.95 euros. In this case, you have the right to submit an application for increasing the ceiling price. Calculation procedure: 45-(34.5*0.9)=13.95 euros.

Applying for an exception

In justified cases, it is possible to apply for an exception. The application is submitted to the Social Insurance Board before the acquisition of the technical aid (i.e., if the transaction has already been made, you cannot apply for an exception).

You can apply an exception in the following cases:

  • To reduce the self-contribution. If your financial situation does not allow you to pay the self-contribution, the Social Insurance Board can reduce the self-contribution for an assistive device to as low as five percent of its cost. To do this, an application for the reduction of the self-contribution must be submitted. When processing the application, the applicant's financial situation is assessed, taking into account the income, monthly obligations for assistive devices, and the subsistence level of the applicant (or their legal representative in the case of children). To achieve this, we may verify data related to the applicant's income and benefits from state information systems and databases, including the Social Protection Information System and the databases of the Estonian Tax and Customs Board, pursuant to § 51(3) of the Social Welfare Act and § 7(1) of Regulation No. 74. If the data obtained from the state information systems and databases do not allow for a sufficient assessment of the applicant's financial situation, we may request additional documents from the applicant (e.g., a bank statement).
  • To acquire a new technical aid because the technical aid in use no longer meets your needs (for example, your hearing or vision has deteriorated; the technical aid has become small because the child has grown; the technical aid was destroyed as a result of an accident, etc.).
  • You need a technical aid that is not included in the list of technical aids, but without this technical aid, you cannot cope on a daily basis.
  • You need a technical aid for which there is a "special request" in the list of technical aids.
  • You need a larger amount of technical aid than it is possible to get with a state discount. If you have a need to increase the amount of technical aids due to a diagnosis or functional disorder, you can request an increase in the amount.
  • The cost of your technical aid is higher than the ceiling price from which the state discount is calculated. For example: The monthly ceiling price of a stroller is 145 euros, and the state discount is 90%. In the company, it turns out that the price of renting a suitable stroller per month is 160 euros (i.e., the cost exceeds the ceiling price). In this case, the state will pay 90% of 145 euros for you or a total of 130.50 euros. In this case, your deductible will be 29.50 euros per month. You have the right to submit a request to increase the ceiling price. If the ceiling price of the technical aid suitable for you is increased, the state will pay you 90% of 160 euros, i.e., 144 euros.

NB! We will increase the ceiling price if there are no suitable technical aids for you within the ceiling price.

  • If you want to rent a technical aid that can only be bought or buy a technical aid that can only be rented, the Social Insurance Board can provide this if justified. But be sure to think about the differences between renting and buying. The rental price of the technical aid includes maintenance and repair if necessary. The company is obliged to carry out regular maintenance on the rented technical aid after a certain period of time. While the technical aid is under maintenance, you have the right to use a replacement product. If you rent a technical aid, it is possible to exchange it for a product that better meets your needs if your health condition changes.

Documents required to apply for an exception

Abivahendi erandi taotlus | 36.28 KB | docx

  • A copy of the certificate of the technical aid, which states the required technical device. The necessary technical aid may also be specified in the rehabilitation plan. If the need for a technical aid is stated in the rehabilitation plan, it is not necessary to present it to us. On the certificate, you can add a more comprehensive assessment (or video) of the therapist on the suitability and necessity of the technical aid. 

NB! When applying for a technical aid that is not on the list, it is necessary to submit a certificate from a a specialist in the relevant field (family doctor, general practitioner, resident physician, specialist doctor, nurse, midwife, occupational therapist, physiotherapist, audiologist, or speech therapist) regarding the need for the technical aid.

  • If you want the ceiling price of the technical aid to be increased; a technical aid that is not included in the list of technical aids; purchase of a rental, technical aid or rental of a purchased technical aid; a technical aid for which no ceiling price has been established in the list of technical aids, you must add two price offers on an equal basis from different companies.
  • If only one company offers the technical aid suitable for you, you can add only one price offer to the application. Bring it out in the explanation in the application.
  • It is recommended to submit all the documents required for the exception application at once.

Additional documents:

  • If you have been appointed a guardian, bring a copy of the court order.
  • If you are someone else's representative, add the authorization.

Where to send the application?

How long does it take to make a decision?

The chief specialists will review the documents you submitted and, if necessary, contact you to clarify the details. If the necessary documents for the review of the application are available, the decision will be sent to you within 30 days at the latest.

How do I get the technical aid?

In case of a positive decision, contact the company of the technical aid and agree on the method of transaction and delivery of the technical aid. When contacting the company, take an identity document with you.

For questions and advice, please contact:

Liina Valdmann
Chief Specialist
5302 6672
[email protected]

Darja Predbannikova
Chief Specialist
5694 6586
[email protected]

Liis Pilt
Chief Specialist
5306 8287
[email protected]

Legislation

Additional information

disability Technical aid allowance

Last updated: 28.05.2026

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