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 |  | With Health Insurance: Copay or 10%-50% Coinsurance |  | Without Health Insurance: $20-$200+ |
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An ankle brace can be used for a variety of conditions and injuries, including sprains, tendonitis, osteoarthritis and tendon injury.
Typical costs: |
- For patients covered by health insurance, the typical out-of-pocket cost for a doctor-prescribed ankle brace consists of a durable goods copay or coinsurance of 10%-50%. An ankle brace typically is covered by health insurance if it is prescribed by a doctor.
- For patients not covered by health insurance, an ankle brace typically costs about $20-$200 or more, depending on the type of brace and the condition being treated. The cost tends to be lower for a brace made from elastic or fabric that offers light to moderate support, and higher for a brace made of plastic or lightweight metal that offers maximum support. For example, BetterBraces.com offers ankle braces for injuries for $7-$75, and CVS offers basic ankle braces for about $10-$50. BraceShop.com charges from about $20-$100 or more for an ankle brace for Achilles tendonitis. Walgreens charges about $10 for an elastic ankle brace to about $100 for a hard-shell walking boot. BraceShop.com charges from about $25-$115 for an ankle brace for a sprain. BraceShop.com charges $15-$150 for an ankle brace for osteoarthritis. And BraceShope.com charges about $30-$220 for a brace for ankle instability or tendon injury.
Related articles: Crutches, Physical Therapy, Sprained or Broken Ankle, Ankle Replacement, Pain Management
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What should be included: |
- A brace can be used to reduce swelling and provide support for a sprained ankle[1] and also can be worn to prevent sprains in athletes.
- A brace can be used to support the joints and help reduce pain in patients with osteoarthritis in the ankle[2] .
- A brace can be used to provide support for patients with ankle instability[3] . For mild cases, a lace-up cloth brace might be used, while a boot might be used for more severe cases.
- In some cases, a doctor will recommend or prescribe an off-the-shelf brace, but in other cases, an orthotist[4] will evaluate, help design and fit a patient with a brace.
Additional costs: |
- Crutches typically cost about $15-$100.
- In some cases, such as after an injury or surgery, physical therapy might be required at a cost of about $50-$350 per session.
Discounts: |
- Drug stores and websites that sell braces sometimes may offer coupons or special offers. For example, BraceShop.com has a savings club[5] that offers a 5% discount for signing up.
Shopping for an ankle brace: |
- A family doctor or sports medicine doctor can prescribe a prophylactic brace to prevent sports injuries, while an orthopedic surgeon -- preferably one who specializes in conditions of the foot and ankle -- can treat injuries and perform surgery, and a rheumatologist can treat arthritis. The American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society offers a locator for orthopedic surgeons[6] who specialize in conditions of the foot and ankle; and the American College of Rheumatology offers a rheumatologist locator[7] .
- In some cases, a patient may need to see an orthotist, a certified health professional who specializes in braces and other orthotics, to get evaluated and fitted for a brace. The American Board for Certification in Orthotics, Prosthetics & Pedorthics offers an orthotist locator[8] by state.
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Material on this page is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice. Always consult your physician or pharmacist regarding medications or medical procedures.
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External Resources: |
- orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=a00150
- www.webmd.com/osteoarthritis/guide/foot-ankle-osteoarthritis
- www.foothealthfacts.org/footankleinfo/chronic-ankle-instability.htm
- oandpcare.org/OrthoticCareFaq
- www.braceshop.com/productcart/pc/viewContent.asp?idPage=151
- www.abos.org/find-a-certified-orthopaedic-surgeon.aspx
- www.rheumatology.org/directory/geo.asp
- www.abcop.org/Pages/Directory.aspx?searchtype=Facility
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