Medicare and Therapeutic Shoes or Inserts for Diabetes

Diabetes can wreck havoc on a person’s body and one of the places where this is most apparent is when you look at the feet of a diabetic.  If this person has diabetic foot disease you will notice that great help and support is needed for the feet of the patient.  Medicare can help in the way of diabetic foot wear and inserts to protect the feet.

Medicare Part B covers therapeutic shoes or inserts for people with diabetes who have severe diabetic foot disease.  This is good news for you but there is something that you must do to ensure that this will occur in your situation.  The doctor who treats your diabetes must certify your need for therapeutic shoes or inserts.

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

Medicare helps pay for one pair of therapeutic shoes and inserts per calendar year. Shoe modifications may be substituted for inserts. Medicare covers the fitting of the shoes or inserts for the shoes.  In 2011, it is your obligation to pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount.