Footwear Terminology and Insurance coverage

‘Do I have shoe coverage?’  Is a question I am frequently asked as a Pedorthist by my clients or perspective clients.  The answer is almost never a clear yes or no.  Insurance companies can be somewhat vague when it comes to divulging information regarding footwear coverage.  I find myself answering shoe coverage questions first with an explanation of footwear terminology.


Frequently used footwear terminology:
Off-the-shelf Footwear:  Footwear that is mass produced and available for purchase in a variety of retail/shoe stores.

Custom Made Footwear:  Footwear that is made from scratch using raw materials, built from a cast taken of the feet.  These shoes are typically reserved for those with a severe foot deformity causing difficulty fitting into off-the-shelf footwear comfortably/properly.  Theses shoes cost in the thousands of dollars.

Orthopaedic Footwear:  Off-the-shelf footwear with additional features such as extra depth, extra wide widths, firm heel counter, torsional stability, removable footbed, etc.   These shoes cost hundreds of dollars.  They are available for purchase in specialty/orthopaedic shoe stores.

Orthotic Footwear:  A made up term.  Orthopaedic footwear is not sold with an orthotic device built into them.   In fact, even custom-made shoes have a removable custom orthotic insert.    Orthotics and footwear are two separate items.

Even when an insurance policy has orthopaedic footwear coverage, they may only cover certain brands or types of shoes.  Additionally, footwear deemed acceptable by one insurance company may not be accepted by another.  Submitting a quote to your insurance company is the most reliable way to get an answer regarding footwear coverage.
 
Grace Bakker, C Ped. (C)

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