Hammer Toe Treatment Cost

Typical costs:

• For patients covered by health insurance, the typical out-of-pocket cost for hammer toe treatment consists of a copay or coinsurance of 10%-50%. Hammer toe treatment sometimes is covered by health insurance, but certain types of treatments might be excluded. For example, Aetna^[1] covers hammer toe surgery only when certain criteria are met -- for example, if the patient has persistent pain and three months of conservative treatment have failed. Aetna also considers certain types of surgical implants experimental.
• For patients not covered by health insurance, hammer toe treatment typically costs less than $500 for conservative treatment such as extra-depth shoes, taping or a hammer toe sling, shoe pads and foot stretching exercises. However, if surgery is required, it can cost about $10,000-$30,000 or more.
• For example, at DrTodds.com, hammer toe cushions, toe stretchers and toe spacers^[2] cost about $5-$13. At FootSmart.com, hammer toe cushions^[3] cost about $8 -$18. At Amazon, hammer toe cushions, pads and straps^[4] cost about $4-$44. At FootSmart.com shoe stretchers^[5] , which can stretch the toe boxes of shoes to make them roomier, cost about $13-$50. At FootSmart.com, toe straighteners^[6] cost about $7-$36. At HealthyFeetStore.com, orthopedic shoes suitable for hammer toe^[7] cost about $100-$180. At FootSmart.com, therapeutic shoes^[8] cost about $40 -$230.
• According to HealthCareBlueBook.com, hammer toe surgery^[9] costs $14,900 on average, including a doctor fee of $714 and an anesthesia fee of $447. At Saint Elizabeth Regional Medical Center, in Nebraska, hammer toe repair surgery^[10] costs about $6,000-$25,000, not including the doctor fee, which can add several thousand dollars to the final bill.

• A doctor typically will diagnose hammer toe with a physical examination. If the condition is diagnosed relatively early, while the toes still are flexible, it often can be treated conservatively.
• For example, the doctor often will recommend comfortable, roomy shoes that allow the toes to stretch out. The doctor also might recommend simple at-home exercises such as stretches or grasping objects with the toes. In some cases, the doctor will recommend inserts, pads or straps designed to help stretch and/or cushion the toes.
• In severe cases where other treatments fail, outpatient surgery might be required. Typically, local anesthesia is used and the patient must limit walking and other exercise for several weeks.
• The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons offers an overview of hammer toe^[11] .

• If surgery is required, local anesthesia typically costs less than $1,000.
• If surgery is required, crutches might be needed during recovery at a cost of about $15-$100.
• Physical therapy, which typically costs $50-$350 per session, might be required.

• Some websites that sell over-the-counter orthotics or pads offer discounts. For example, FootSmart.com offers discounts^[12] such as free shipping or $15 off plus free shipping on orders of $150 or more.
• Many hospitals and doctors give discounts of 30% or more to uninsured/cash-paying patients. For example, Washington Hospital Healthcare System^[13] in California offers a 35% discount.

• A podiatrist or an orthopedic surgeon would treat hammer toe. The American Podiatric Medical Association offers a podiatrist locator^[14] . It is important to make sure the podiatrist is board certified by the American Board of Podiatric Orthopedics and Primary Podiatric Medicine or the American Board of Podiatric Surgery^[15] , depending on their area of specialty. The American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society offers a locator for orthopedic surgeons^[16] who specialize in conditions of the foot and ankle.

1.  www.aetna.com/cpb/medical/data/600_699/0636.html
2.  www.drtodds.com/hammer-toes-en/
3.  www.footsmart.com/hammer-toe-s.aspx?NavCmd=Ntk%3aAll%7chammer+toe%7c3%7c%2cN%3a429...
4.  www.amazon.com/s/ref=sr_pg_1?rh=n%3A3760901%2Ck%3Ahammer+toe&sort=price&keywords=h...
5.  www.footsmart.com/hammer-toe-s.aspx?NavCmd=Ntk%3aAll%7chammer+toe%7c3%7c%2cN%3a429...
6.  www.footsmart.com/Default.aspx
7.  www.healthyfeetstore.com/hammertoes.html
8.  www.footsmart.com/hammer-toe-therapeutic-shoes-s.aspx?NavCmd=Ntk%3aAll%7chammer+to...
9.  healthcarebluebook.com/page_Results.aspx?id=35&dataset=MD
10.  tp.chi.acelogicus.net/nese/Default.aspx
11.  orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=a00160
12.  www.footsmart.com/MarketingPage.aspx?pageId=36
13.  www.whhs.com/about/washington-hospital-discount-policy-for-uninsured/
14.  www.apma.org/Directory/FindAPodiatrist.cfm
15.  www.abps.org/content/resources/FindADoctor.aspx
16.  mmax.aofas.org/scripts/4disapi.dll/4DCGI/directory/person.html?Action=AOFAS&AOFAS_...

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