Turning 65? Here’s What Podiatry Benefits You Get with Medicare

Quick answer: Turning 65 Medicare Podiatry Benefits affects roughly 1 in 4 adults in our practice. Effective treatment starts with a targeted diagnosis, conservative-first treatment, and escalation only when needed. We treat this regularly at our Howell and Bloomfield Township practices. Book online, or call (810) 206-1402.

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

Turning 65? Here’s What Podiatry Benefits You Get with Medicare

Turning 65 and enrolling in Medicare is a major transition — including for your podiatric coverage. If you previously had employer insurance, you’re moving from the commercial world to Medicare’s rules. This guide tells you exactly what you’ll have for foot care coverage once you have Medicare.

What Medicare Part B Covers for Podiatry

The Good News: Medicare Part B covers all medically necessary podiatric services — and for seniors, most podiatric care qualifies as medically necessary.

Covered services include:

• Evaluation and treatment for any diagnosable foot condition (bunions, heel pain, fractures, infections, wounds, hammertoes, nerve conditions)
• Podiatric surgery
• In-office X-rays and ultrasound imaging
• Cortisone and therapeutic injections
• Custom orthotics when medically prescribed
• Annual diabetic foot examination (if you have diabetes)

The Nail Care Rule You Need to Know

This surprises many new Medicare beneficiaries: Medicare does NOT cover routine nail trimming for people without qualifying medical conditions. If you’re healthy, Medicare considers nail trimming self-care and won’t pay for it.

However, if you have diabetes, neuropathy, peripheral artery disease, or several other systemic conditions, nail care becomes a medically necessary professional service — covered every 61 days. Check our full Medicare post for the complete list of qualifying conditions.

Your Costs on Medicare Part B

After meeting your annual deductible ($257 in 2026), you pay 20% coinsurance for covered services. A Medigap (Medicare Supplement) policy pays some or all of that 20%. Most of our Medicare patients with Medigap pay very little out-of-pocket for visits.

Consider Medicare Advantage

Medicare Advantage plans often have better podiatry benefits than Original Medicare alone — including coverage for routine foot care and lower fixed copays. We accept most Michigan Medicare Advantage plans.

📞 Just turned 65? Call (810) 206-1402 to understand your new Medicare podiatry benefits and schedule your first senior foot exam.

Turning 65 and Medicare: Your Podiatry Benefits Guide for New Michigan Medicare Enrollees

Reviewed by Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM, FACFAS

Board-certified foot & ankle surgeon · 3,000+ surgeries · @MichiganFootDoctors (950K+ subscribers)

Last reviewed May 11, 2026 · (810) 206-1402

New Medicare enrollees turning 65 in Michigan often discover that their podiatry coverage has changed significantly from their prior commercial insurance. Medicare Part B covers medically necessary podiatric services but does NOT automatically cover routine foot care — nail trimming, callus care, and corn removal are covered only when a documented systemic condition (diabetes, peripheral arterial disease, peripheral neuropathy, and specific other conditions) creates a condition where routine nail care poses a medical risk. This distinction catches many new Medicare enrollees off guard: the nail trimming that was covered as a routine visit under their employer plan is not covered as routine care under Medicare without the systemic condition documentation. Balance Foot & Ankle‘s billing team is experienced in properly documenting the qualifying conditions for Medicare nail care coverage and ensures that claims are submitted correctly to maximize coverage.

Michigan patients turning 65 with diabetes benefit particularly from understanding the Medicare podiatry benefits available to them: the annual comprehensive diabetic foot examination is covered by Medicare Part B with no cost-sharing when performed by a qualified podiatrist; the Therapeutic Shoe Bill benefit provides one pair of extra-depth shoes and three pairs of custom inserts per year at 80% Medicare coverage; and medically necessary treatment of diabetic foot conditions including wound care, infection treatment, and nail pathology is covered at the standard Part B 80/20 cost-sharing. To maximize your new Medicare podiatry benefits, schedule your first appointment with Balance Foot & Ankle early in the Medicare year — call (810) 206-1402 to schedule at our Howell or Bloomfield Township location.

Related Treatment Guides

• Plantar Fasciitis & Heel Pain Treatment
• Bunion Treatment
• Custom 3D Orthotics
• Sports Foot & Ankle Injury Treatment

Michigan patients experiencing foot or ankle problems can schedule an appointment at Balance Foot & Ankle — with locations in Howell (4330 E Grand River) and Bloomfield Township (43494 Woodward Ave #208). Call (810) 206-1402 for same-week availability.

Your Board-Certified Podiatrists

Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM

Board-Certified · FACFAS

Dr. Carl Jay, DPM

Board-Certified Podiatrist

Dr. Daria Gutkin, DPM

Podiatrist

In-Office Treatment at Balance Foot & Ankle

If home treatment isn’t providing relief for your foot condition, our podiatry team at Balance Foot & Ankle can help with same-day evaluations and advanced in-office care.

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