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 |  | With Health Insurance: Copay or 10%-50% Coinsurance |  | Without Health Insurance: $500-$30,000+ |
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Hammer toe is a painful deformity of the toe, often caused by wearing improperly fitting shoes, especially high heels. In some cases, especially if not treated early, hammer toe might require surgery.
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.
Related articles: Foot Orthotics, Physical Therapy, Crutches
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What should be included: | - 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] .
Additional costs: | - 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.
Discounts: | - 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.
Shopping for hammer toe treatment: | - 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.
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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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What People Are Paying - Recent Comments |
| Posted by: Lisa Burnworth in Sulphur, LA. | Posted: July 27th, 2017 06:07PM |
| Medical Center: Any best ones |
Need surgery got hammer toes planter warts both balls of my feet |
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| Posted by: Janice j in Parkforest, IL. | Posted: March 7th, 2016 06:03PM |
| Type of Treatment: | Prescription or Over-the-Counter: None |
| Medical Center: Blue cross blue shield |
Im asmist 50yrs an never in ny life wear sandles an always have shooting pains in my toes that some day i wanna wear house shoes to work im a security officer an i walk alot but for about 20yrs of my life i had problems with my toes an with shoes |
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External Resources: | - www.aetna.com/cpb/medical/data/600_699/0636.html
- www.drtodds.com/hammer-toes-en/
- www.footsmart.com/hammer-toe-s.aspx?NavCmd=Ntk%3aAll%7chammer+toe%7c3%7c%2cN%3a429...
- www.amazon.com/s/ref=sr_pg_1?rh=n%3A3760901%2Ck%3Ahammer+toe&sort=price&keywords=h...
- www.footsmart.com/hammer-toe-s.aspx?NavCmd=Ntk%3aAll%7chammer+toe%7c3%7c%2cN%3a429...
- www.footsmart.com/Default.aspx
- www.healthyfeetstore.com/hammertoes.html
- www.footsmart.com/hammer-toe-therapeutic-shoes-s.aspx?NavCmd=Ntk%3aAll%7chammer+to...
- healthcarebluebook.com/page_Results.aspx?id=35&dataset=MD
- tp.chi.acelogicus.net/nese/Default.aspx
- orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=a00160
- www.footsmart.com/MarketingPage.aspx?pageId=36
- www.whhs.com/about/washington-hospital-discount-policy-for-uninsured/
- www.apma.org/Directory/FindAPodiatrist.cfm
- www.abps.org/content/resources/FindADoctor.aspx
- mmax.aofas.org/scripts/4disapi.dll/4DCGI/directory/person.html?Action=AOFAS&AOFAS_...
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