✅ Medically reviewed by Dr. Thomas Biernacki, DPM — Board-Certified Podiatrist · Last updated April 6, 2026

Does Medicare Cover Diabetic Shoes? Your Free Annual Benefit

Yes — Medicare covers diabetic therapeutic shoes once per calendar year for qualifying patients with diabetes. This benefit, called the Medicare Therapeutic Shoe Program, provides diabetic patients with medically appropriate footwear designed to prevent foot complications. Yet most diabetic Medicare patients don’t know this benefit exists — and leave a valuable covered service on the table every year.

What the Medicare Therapeutic Shoe Program Provides

Under Medicare Part B, qualifying diabetic patients receive the following per calendar year, with no out-of-pocket cost after meeting the Part B deductible:

• One pair of extra-depth therapeutic shoes, or one pair of custom-molded shoes
• Three pairs of therapeutic inserts (custom-made or prefabricated)
• Modifications to therapeutic shoes when inserts cannot be used due to severity of condition

Who Qualifies for the Diabetic Shoe Benefit

To qualify for the Medicare Therapeutic Shoe Program, you must:

1. Be enrolled in Medicare Part B
2. Have diabetes (any type)
3. Be treated by a physician for your diabetes
4. Have one or more of the following foot conditions:
   • Previous amputation of a foot or partial foot
   • History of foot ulceration
   • History of pre-ulcerative calluses
   • Peripheral neuropathy with evidence of callus formation
   • Foot deformity
   • Poor circulation

How the Benefit Works at Balance Foot & Ankle

Our Howell and Bloomfield Hills offices are fully equipped to fit, prescribe, and dispense Medicare-covered diabetic footwear on-site. Here’s the process:

1. Your treating physician (or Dr. Biernacki at your podiatric appointment) certifies your eligibility by documenting your diabetes and qualifying foot condition
2. We evaluate your foot shape, size, and specific needs
3. You select from our inventory of Medicare-approved therapeutic shoes
4. We fit your shoes and inserts, adjusting for any deformities or pressure points
5. We handle all Medicare billing — the shoe benefit is typically fully covered after your deductible

Why Diabetic Shoes Matter

Ill-fitting footwear is responsible for up to 50% of diabetic foot ulcers. Proper therapeutic shoes redistribute pressure, protect insensate feet from injury, and accommodate deformities that make standard shoes dangerous. A $0-cost pair of properly fitted diabetic shoes could prevent a wound that costs $50,000 to treat.

📞 Call (810) 206-1402 to schedule your diabetic shoe fitting — we handle all Medicare paperwork and billing.

Professional Podiatric Care in Michigan: Balance Foot & Ankle’s Comprehensive Services

At Balance Foot & Ankle, Michigan patients receive comprehensive podiatric care across the full spectrum of foot and ankle conditions. Our fellowship-trained podiatrists provide conservative and surgical treatment for all foot and ankle pathology — from plantar fasciitis, bunions, and nail disorders to complex reconstructive surgery, diabetic foot care, and sports injuries. Our clinical approach prioritizes accurate diagnosis, evidence-based treatment selection, and honest communication with patients about realistic outcomes.

We serve patients in Livingston and Oakland counties from two convenient Michigan locations: our Howell office at 4330 E Grand River (serving Brighton, Hartland, Pinckney, Howell, and all of Livingston County) and our Bloomfield Hills office at 43494 Woodward Ave #208 (serving Troy, Birmingham, West Bloomfield, Farmington Hills, and all of Oakland County). Both offices offer in-office X-ray, same-week new patient appointments, and a full range of diagnostic and treatment services. We accept Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna, UnitedHealthcare, Cigna, Medicare, and most Michigan insurance plans. Call Balance Foot & Ankle at (810) 206-1402 to schedule your appointment.

Michigan patients from throughout the region — Livingston County communities including Howell, Brighton, Hartland, Pinckney, and Fowlerville, and Oakland County communities including Bloomfield Hills, Troy, Birmingham, West Bloomfield, Farmington Hills, Pontiac, and Rochester — can access expert podiatric care at Balance Foot & Ankle. Our clinical team is committed to providing the highest standard of foot and ankle care available in Southeast Michigan, from routine preventive care to complex surgical intervention. Call (810) 206-1402 to schedule — we look forward to serving you at our Howell or Bloomfield Hills location.

Michigan patients can access expert diabetic foot care in Michigan at Balance Foot & Ankle. Our board-certified podiatrists serve Howell (4330 E Grand River) and Bloomfield Hills (43494 Woodward Ave #208). Schedule an appointment online or call (810) 206-1402 for same-week availability.

Medical References & Sources

• American Diabetes Association — Foot Complications
• PubMed Research — Diabetic Foot Care
• American Podiatric Medical Association — Diabetic Foot

Clinical References

1. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Therapeutic shoes for persons with diabetes (Medicare benefit policy manual, Ch. 15, §140). CMS.gov. 2025.
2. Bus SA, Armstrong DG, Crews RT, et al. Guidelines on offloading foot ulcers in persons with diabetes (IWGDF 2023). Diabetes Metab Res Rev. 2024;40(3):e3647.
3. Lavery LA, LaFontaine J, Higgins KR, et al. Shear-reducing insoles to prevent foot ulceration in high-risk diabetic patients. Adv Skin Wound Care. 2012;25(11):519-524.

Your Board-Certified Podiatrists

Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM

Board-Certified · FACFAS

Dr. Carl Jay, DPM

Board-Certified Podiatrist

Dr. Daria Gutkin, DPM

Podiatrist

Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM

Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM is a double board-certified podiatrist and foot & ankle surgeon at Balance Foot & Ankle Specialists in Southeast Michigan. With over a decade of clinical experience, he specializes in heel pain, bunions, diabetic foot care, sports injuries, and minimally invasive surgery. Dr. Biernacki is a member of the APMA and ACFAS, and his patient education content on MichiganFootDoctors.com and YouTube has reached over one million views.