Does Medicare Cover Therapeutic Shoes?

Yes, Medicare will cover the cost of one pair of therapeutic shoes (diabetic shoes) and inserts for people with diabetes if you have a medical need for them. The Medicare payment for therapeutic shoes is subject to the requirement that they are necessary and reasonable for protection of insensitive feet or neuropathy (nerve damage in the feet). To ensure that Medicare pays for your shoes, you must follow the steps below:

Your treating doctor must complete a certificate of medical necessity for the therapeutic shoes and document the need in your medical records. So, do not order anything until you have visited your doctor - no matter what the sales person tells you.

The shoes and inserts must be prescribed by a podiatrist or other qualified doctor and provided by a podiatrist, orthotist, prosthetist, or pedorthist.

The supplier must receive the order before Medicare is billed and must keep it on file.

If you receive your Medicare through a Medicare Advantage Plan (like a HMO, PPO) it is likely you will have to follow the plan's steps for approval and purchase. Make a point of calling your plan's customer service number and ask about their steps for coverage of diabetic shoes.

Medicare will cover one of the following per calendar year:
One pair of depth-inlay shoes and three pairs of inserts or;
One pair of custom molded shoes (including inserts) and two additional pairs of inserts. This option is only available if you cannot wear depth-inlay shoes due to a foot deformity.

In certain cases, Medicare may also cover separate inserts or shoe modifications instead of inserts.

Medicare will not cover deluxe features: A deluxe feature is one that does not contribute to the shoe's therapeutic function - for example, a custom style, color or custom material.