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.
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.
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.
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.
10 Quick and Inexpensive Home Makeover Projects To Do While At Home You may not be able to host the large family gathering for the holidays, but there are still many ways to pick up items curbside to spruce up your indoor space for your everyday enjoyment and to bring a more festive spirit. || Posted December 30 2020
10 Key Ways to Prepare for Extreme Snow Forecasters are predicting a true nor'easter will hit the eastern and central states with rain, thunderstorms, ice, snow and high winds over the Thanksgiving weekend. It's crucial to plan ahead, before bad weather hits. || Posted November 26 2013
Had a stress fracture in my left foot. Doctor at Pennsylvania foot and ankle assoc gave me a ankle brace and charged my insurance $400 for the same. I checked the price of this item on distributors website and it comes out to $60. Insurance paid 160 and rest is on me. I asked the clinic why they charged me nearly 7 times the amount and they say it’s the way it is. Clinic is looting people this way
Posted by: Rosebud with RA and Fibro in Houston, TX.
Posted: June 3rd, 2016 05:06PM
Type of Brace: Top Shelf Orthopedic
Condition Treated: ankle pain
Doctor prescribed ankle lace up ankle brace and billed my insurance $539.99. Nothing was actually fitted and PA spent about 3 minutes showing me how to put on which any 10 year old could do. There is nothing special about this brace and am appalled at the cost. My insurance did get them down to 235.00, but still way over priced. We depend on doctors to have the patients best interest at heart, no have them gouged by a third party company.
CostHelper is based in Silicon Valley and provides consumers with unbiased price information about thousands of goods and services. Our writers are experienced journalists who adhere to our strict editorial ethics policy.
CostHelper Community
shoulder mri Paid: 8000.00 Seriously, 8K for an MRI before all the secret insurance kicks in. I was stuck with a 1200 bill and my insurance is pretty good. This is insane for a 20 minute procedure with no nurse assistance... [more]
what should have cost under 100 Paid: 399.67 had my back wheel stuck on someone's driveway and I was pulled out as easily as a tractor could have done... [more]
Why is dental insurance stuck in the 80's? Paid: 55000.00 In 1986, I started my first full time Big Girl job, which came with options for medical insurance that ranged from "Volkswagon to Cadillac, and everything in between" which was up to me to choose based on my needs, what I could af... [more]