Allergies and intolerances are something that many Swedes live with – some more limiting than others.
Earlier this week wrote News24 an article about celiac disease and the financial compensation many sufferers are entitled to, without knowing it.
Both children and adults with celiac disease can receive compensation if they are properly insured – up to two percent of the insurance amount.
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Lactose intolerant – are you entitled to compensation?
But something that is far more common than celiac disease is lactose intolerance.
According to figures from the Swedish Food Agency, between 4-10 percent of the Swedish population is intolerant to lactose, which is found in dairy products such as cheese, yogurt, cream, sour cream and crème fraiche.
Do the same conditions for subsidy apply to them as to the person suffering from celiac disease? The answer to that question is no, according to Linus Engqvist RichertActing General Secretary of the Swedish Celiac Association.
– In the regulations that are relied on, lactose intolerance, milk protein allergy and celiac disease are included. But in practice, at least as far as I know, nobody who is lactose intolerant gets any money or food written out on a prescription, he says in an interview with Nyheter24 and continues:
– It is an intolerance, so not everyone sees that diagnosis as a disease in the same way.
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“You have to contact a dietitian”
Does this mean that someone who is lactose intolerant can be entitled to a subsidy, without being informed about it?
Yes, it can be, and according to Engqvist Richert, you may have to raise the issue yourself.
– It will not happen automatically, but you have to contact a dietician, he says and continues:
– Actually, doctors must ensure that you get what you need and are compensated for additional costs, even in the case of lactose intolerance. But as far as I understand, this is not something that is followed.
Photo: Janerik Henriksson/TT
What could be the reason, then, that it is not considered more expensive to find lactose-free alternatives?
– Yes, but it is more expensive. There are fewer products that need to be replaced compared to celiac disease and a gluten-free diet, but still have a significant impact on the total monthly food budget.
At the same time, Engqvist Richert believes that generally more work is required to avoid a gluten-free diet. There are also not as many low-cost options on the gluten-free market as there are on the lactose-free market. Can adults with lactose intolerance receive subsidies?
However, there is a big difference between the subsidy for lactose and gluten intolerance. There is no insurance that covers subsidy or other type of compensation for adults – regardless of how you are insured.
– This specific subsidy, food guidance as it is called in the law, only applies until you turn 16. This applies to lactose intolerance, celiac disease and milk protein allergy and seven other disease diagnoses, says Linus Engqvist Richert to Nyheter24.
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