-- New Jersey residents with diabetes who are uncertain about their footwear coverage options now have a dedicated resource from Hazlet Medical Supplies. The newly released guide addresses how Medicare Part B handles therapeutic footwear benefits, covering annual limits, qualifying conditions, and what patients can expect to pay out of pocket in 2026.
More details can be found at https://www.hazletmedicalsupplies.com/
As the guide explains, diabetes can gradually damage the nerves and blood vessels in the feet, making minor injuries such as blisters or pressure sores significantly harder to detect and heal. Without appropriate footwear, small wounds can develop into ulcers or infections. Diabetic shoes are designed to address that risk, with extra depth to hold custom inserts, a wide toe box, smooth interior linings, and soles that distribute pressure across the foot. Current models from brands such as Drew, Orthofeet, and New Balance look much like ordinary walking shoes, a departure from the heavier designs of earlier years.
According to the guide, Medicare Part B covers one pair of extra-depth shoes and three pairs of inserts per calendar year, or one pair of custom-molded shoes with two additional insert pairs for patients whose foot shape cannot be accommodated by a standard extra-depth model. A rocker sole or other modification may substitute for one insert pair, and a professional fitting is included. The benefit resets each January, so qualifying patients can receive a new pair annually as long as the certification and prescription are renewed.
The guide notes that a diabetes diagnosis alone does not qualify a patient. The treating physician must confirm a qualifying foot condition, such as a history of ulcers, poor circulation, pre-ulcerative calluses, nerve damage with callus formation, a bunion or hammertoe, or a previous amputation, and must have seen the patient for diabetes care within the previous six months before signing the certification statement. A podiatrist then examines the feet and writes the prescription for the shoes and inserts. Both physicians must be enrolled in Medicare. Hazlet Medical Supplies notes that incomplete paperwork, rather than ineligibility, is the most common reason claims are delayed or denied.
On the cost side, the guide explains that once the 2026 Part B deductible of $283 has been met, Medicare pays 80 percent of the approved amount and the patient covers the remaining 20 percent, which a Medigap policy often covers in full. Medicare Advantage plans also cover therapeutic shoes, though copays and supplier networks vary by plan. The guide notes that Medicare only pays when shoes come from an enrolled supplier that accepts assignment.
The Hazlet showroom at 3253 Route 35 is open six days a week and carries diabetic shoes for men and women, with special orders available for styles not on the floor. Staff can review which documents a patient already has and identify what is still needed before a fitting is scheduled. Opened in 2021 as an extension of South Orange Medical Supply, which has served New Jersey since 2005, the business continues its focus on quality medical supplies and personal service.
To learn more about diabetic shoes or Medicare coverage, visit https://www.hazletmedicalsupplies.com/
Contact Info:
Name: Susan Sokoloff
Email: Send Email
Organization: Hazlet Medical Supplies
Address: 3253 New Jersey 35 Suite 10, Hazlet, New Jersey 07730, United States
Phone: +1-732-847-3640
Website: https://www.hazletmedicalsupplies.com/
Release ID: 89207072