Quick answer: Is Podiatry Covered By Insurance is a common foot/ankle topic that affects many patients. The 2026 evidence-based approach combines proper diagnosis, conservative-first treatment, and escalation only when needed. We treat this regularly at our Howell and Bloomfield Township practices. Call (810) 206-1402.
✅ Medically reviewed by Dr. Thomas Biernacki, DPM — Board-Certified Podiatrist · Last updated April 6, 2026
Is podiatry covered by insurance? [In most cases **YES**]
Is podiatry covered by insurance? In almost all cases, we would only perform procedures that are considered medically necessary.
Look!
- Podiatrists at our clinic are board-certified foot doctors on staff at hospitals and most major insurance plans.
- Podiatrists can perform foot surgery and many essential foot and ankle procedures.
- We can take care of toenail, toe, and foot problems.
Call our office if you have any questions!
Is Podiatry covered by Insurance?
- The answer is almost always yes.
- We do not perform procedures that are not medically necessary. We focus on procedures that are backed by evidence-based medicine.
- While some cosmetic options and non-insurance options, we generally only perform procedures and treatments that improve pain and function.
- As a rule, anything medically necessary for pain relief or the improvement of function is covered by insurance.
- If something is not covered, we will do our best to let you know.
- If we perform a cosmetic procedure in nature, there may be a cost associated with this.
- It is possible that some insurances do not cover some medically necessary treatments. We will do our best to let you know when this is the case.
Is there copay even if Podiatry is covered by insurance?
- Generally, all types of insurance do require a copay.
- This does depend on your specific insurance plan.
Insurance Does Cover Podiatrist Care:
- We take almost every insurance. There is not elective or cosmetic therapy. This is proven and beneficial medical care!
- Yes! The majority of our care is not considered elective and is not cosmetic. The primary focus is to keep you walking, healthy and prevent any future hospitalizations for your foot and ankle problems.
- Podiatrist care is considered to be extremely cost-effective for both the nation and insurance companies.
- Many studies prove that good foot care can result in exponentially greater reductions in hospitalization and disability costs.
Podiatrist accepted insurances:
Aetna
Alliance Health And Life
BCBS / Federal / PPO / Preferred
BCN Advantage MyBlue
BCN HMO and Mpremier
Cigna POS/HMO/PPO
Cofinity
Coresource
HAP HMO/POS/Preferred/Senior (Health Alliance Plan)
Health Plus
Medicare
Medicare Plus Blue And Advantage PFFS
Meridian Health Plan Of Michigan
Molina
Motor Vehicle Accident Insurance
Physicians Health Plan
Priority Health HMO/EPO/PPO/Medicare
Railroad Medicare
Tricare
United Healthcare, including Community Plan
Workers Compensation
List of insurance covered services podiatrists provide:
Most insurances plans can cover most of these podiatrist and foot doctor services.
- Toenail Fungus Treatment (Oral or Laser)
- Toenail Trimming.
- Orthotics Fitting.
- Ingrown Toenails.
- Infected Ingrown Toenails.
- Podiatrist pedicure or medical pedicure.
- Trimming of Corns, Trimming of Calluses, and Treatment of Pressure Blisters.
- Diabetic Foot Care & Diabetic Foot Wounds.
- Athletes Foot, Dry Skin, Eczema.
- Foot & Ankle Ulcer Care.
- Infection and Abscess Care.
- Staph Infections in the Toe or Foot Treatment.
- Treatment of Plantar Warts for Your Toes and Feet.
- Foot & Ankle Injections (Steroid or Natural Solutions.)
- Management of Foot & Ankle Fractures (Walking Boots for broken toes or broken feet).
- Heel Pain (Heel Spur or Plantar Fasciitis).
- Custom Orthotics for children and adults (In the office).
- Over the Counter Orthotics for children and adults.
- Podiatrist medical pedicure.
- Extra-Depth Shoes for Patients with Diabetes.
- Diabetic Shoes.
- Gout Treatment.
- Prescription (Refills).
- Telehealth appointments.
- Shockwave therapy (AKA ESWT or EPAT therapy)
- Cold laser therapy (In the office).
- MLS laser therapy (Multi-Wave Locked System laser therapy).
- Laser for peripheral neuropathy (In-Office).
- Senior Toenail Cutting & Toenail Trimming Services.
Office surgery & procedure options covered by insurance:
Most of these procedures and treatment options are covered by insurance.
Podiatry Insurance Coverage in Michigan: What Balance Foot & Ankle Patients Need to Know
Related Treatment Guides
Michigan patients with questions about insurance coverage for podiatric services can call Balance Foot & Ankle at (810) 206-1402 to speak with our insurance verification team before scheduling. We are in-network with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, Aetna, UnitedHealthcare, Cigna, Medicare, and most Medicare Advantage plans. Our team verifies benefits before every appointment and provides clear information about copays, deductible responsibility, and any prior authorization requirements. For Medicare patients, covered foot care services include diabetic foot examinations, treatment of foot conditions related to systemic disease, toenail debridement when medically indicated, and the Medicare Therapeutic Shoe Benefit for qualifying diabetic patients. For patients with high-deductible commercial plans, we discuss expected costs upfront and offer payment plans when needed. Michigan patients unsure whether their foot care visit will be covered can call us at (810) 206-1402 for a verification before scheduling.
Questions About Podiatry Insurance Coverage?
We accept most major insurance plans and help you understand your coverage for podiatric services. Our billing team verifies your benefits before your visit so there are no surprises.
References
- American Podiatric Medical Association. Insurance coverage for podiatric services. APMA; 2023.
- Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Medicare coverage of foot care services. CMS.gov; 2024.
- Thorud JC, et al. Financial considerations in podiatric practice. Clin Podiatr Med Surg. 2019;36(1):1-12.
Insurance Accepted
BCBS · Medicare · Aetna · Cigna · United Healthcare · HAP · Priority Health · Humana · View All →
Howell Office
3980 E Grand River Ave, Suite 140
Howell, MI 48843
Get Directions →
Bloomfield Hills Office
43700 Woodward Ave, Suite 207
Bloomfield Hills, MI 48302
Get Directions →
Your Board-Certified Podiatrists
Ready to Get Back on Your Feet?
Same-week appointments available at both locations.
Book Your AppointmentMore Podiatrist-Recommended Foot Health Essentials
Hoka Clifton 10
Max-cushion everyday shoe — podiatrist favorite for walking and running.
OOFOS Recovery Slide
Impact-absorbing recovery sandal — wear after long days on your feet.
As an Amazon Associate, Balance Foot & Ankle earns from qualifying purchases. Product recommendations are based on clinical experience; prices and availability shown above update live from Amazon.
When to See a Podiatrist
If foot or ankle pain has been bothering you for more than a few weeks, home care alone may not be enough. Balance Foot & Ankle offers same-week appointments at our Howell and Bloomfield Hills clinics — no referral needed in most cases. Bring your current shoes and a short list of symptoms and we’ll build you a treatment plan in one visit.
Call Balance Foot & Ankle: (810) 206-1402 · Book online · Offices in Howell & Bloomfield Hills
Dr. Tom’s Top 3 — The Premium Foot Pain Stack (2026)
If you only buy three things for foot pain, get these. PowerStep + CURREX orthotics correct the underlying foot mechanics, and Dr. Hoy’s pain gel delivers fast topical relief. This is the exact stack Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM gives his Michigan podiatry patients on visit one — over 10,000 patients have used this exact combination.
Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM is a board-certified podiatrist + Amazon Associate. Picks shown are products he prescribes to patients at Balance Foot & Ankle Specialists. We earn a commission on qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. All products independently tested + reviewed for 30+ days minimum. Last verified: April 28, 2026.
PowerStep Pinnacle MaxxDr. Tom’s #1 Brand
Dr. Tom’s most-prescribed OTC orthotic. Lateral wedge corrects overpronation that causes 90% of foot pain. Deep heel cradle stabilizes the ankle. Built by podiatrists, used by patients worldwide.
- Lateral wedge corrects pronation
- Deep heel cradle stabilizes ankle
- Dual-density EVA — comfort + support
- Trim-to-fit any shoe
- Used by 10,000+ podiatrists
- Trim-to-size required
- 5-7 day break-in for some
CURREX RunProDr. Tom’s #1 Brand
3 arch heights for custom fit (Low/Med/High). Carbon-reinforced heel + dynamic forefoot — the closest OTC orthotic to a $500 custom orthotic. Engineered in Germany.
- 3 arch heights for custom fit
- Carbon-reinforced heel cup
- Dynamic forefoot zone
- Premium German engineering
- Sport-specific support
- Pricier than PowerStep
- 7-10 day break-in
Dr. Hoy’s Natural Pain Relief GelDr. Tom’s #1 Brand
Menthol-based natural pain relief — Dr. Tom’s #1 brand for fast relief without greasy residue. Safe for diabetics + daily use. Cleaner formula than Voltaren or Biofreeze.
- Menthol-based natural formula
- No greasy residue
- Safe for diabetics
- Fast cooling relief — 5-10 minutes
- Cleaner ingredient list than Biofreeze
- Pricier than Biofreeze
- Strong menthol scent at first
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I see a podiatrist?
If symptoms persist past 2 weeks, affect your normal activity, or are accompanied by red-flag symptoms (warmth, redness, swelling, inability to bear weight).
What does treatment cost?
Most diagnostic visits and conservative treatments are covered by Medicare and major insurers. Out-of-pocket costs vary by your specific plan.
How quickly can I get an appointment?
Most non-urgent cases see us within 5 business days. Urgent cases (sudden pain, possible fracture) typically same or next business day.
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.
- Plantar Fasciitis: Diagnosis and Conservative Management (PubMed)
- Plantar Fasciitis (APMA)
- Diagnosis and Treatment of Plantar Fasciitis (PubMed / AAFP)
- Heel Pain (APMA)