Welcome To Sole Nation Health

Guidlines for who can qualify for therapeutic shoes and inserts under Medicare Part B

If you have Medicare Part B, have diabetes, and meet certain conditions, Medicare will cover therapeutic shoes if you need them.

The types of shoes that are covered each year include one of the following:

~ One pair of depth-inlay shoes and three pairs of inserts.

~ One pair of custom-molded shoes (including inserts) if you can't wear depth-inlay shoes because of a foot deforminty, and two additional pairs of inserts.

Note: In certain cases, Medicare may also cover seperate inserts or shoe modifications instead of inserts.

How do I get therapeutic shoes?

In order for Medicare to pay for your therapeutic shoes, the doctor treating your diabtetes must certify that you meet all of the following three conditions.

1. You have diabetes

2. You have at least one of the following conditions in one or both feet:

~ Partial or complete foot amputation

~ Past foot ulcers

~ Calluses that could lead to foot ulcers

~ Nerve damage because of diabetes with signs of problems with calluses

~ Poor circulation

~ Deformed foot

3. You are being treated under a comprehensive diabetes care plan and need therapeutic shoes and/or insertsnbecause of diabetes.

Medicare also requires the following:

~ A podiatrist or other qualified doctor prescribes the shoes

~ A doctor or other qualified individual like a pedorthist, orthotist, or

prosthetist fits and provides the shoes

Reference: www.medicare.gov