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Does Medicare Cover Support Stockings?

Support stockings have helped a lot of people who have trouble with their blood circulation. They are good for helping blood flow from the legs to the heart.

Many consider them a great option to improve overall health and wellness. So a common question, especially for seniors, “does Medicare cover support stockings?”

In this article, we answer this question in clear, plain English. You will also find the average costs of support stockings, as well as other helpful info.

Does Medicare Cover Support Stockings?

The short answer is, no, in most cases, Medicare will not cover the cost of support stockings. That said, there may be some situations where you can get these costs covered. Below we’ll take a closer at this to see when you might be able to get Medicare to pay for your support stockings.

Original Medicare does not cover support stockings because they are not considered Durable Medical Equipment (DME). DME is under the coverage of Medicare Part B.

But even though Original Medicare does not cover support stockings, some Medicare Advantage plans (Medicare Part C) provide coverage for them. If you already have an Advantage plan, check with your plan provider to see if they offer coverage.

For those who don’t have an Advantage plan, or are looking to change, be sure to ask about coverage for support stocking as you shop around.

How Much Do Support Stockings Cost?

The price for support stockings varies depending on the amount of pressure the stockings have, the material used to create them, and their medical purpose.

They usually cost between $10 to $100 per pair, but some stockings can be more expensive. For example, knee-high support stockings can cost between $65 to $230.

Mild to moderate support stockings, which exerts 8–30 mmHg, can be purchased at pharmacies, shoe stores, and online.

What Are Support Stockings?

Support stockings are legwear that is designed to give consistent pressure on the legs. The pressure helps in improving and maintaining blood flow from the legs back to the heart. Support stockings relax the arteries, allowing the blood to flow freely, and provides the veins a boost to push blood back to the heart.

They can be used for many conditions such as venous and lymphatic disorders, deep vein thrombosis, swelling, diabetes, and venous stasis ulcers. But aside from the mentioned conditions, they can also be used on some occasions by some people, including those who:

  • Have recently gotten out of surgery
  • Are athletes
  • Is pregnant
  • Are having a hard time moving their legs
  • Stand all-day long

Support stockings are also used to treat and prevent conditions like spider veins. Other benefits from them include keeping your legs from getting tired and achy as well as easing swelling of the feet and legs.

Due to the continuous blood flow, support stockings can also prevent blood clots.

Support stockings come in different sizes and pressure, and it is up to the doctor to decide what kind of support stockings you need.

Note: Medicare coverage changes all the time. And your specific coverage may vary from plan to plan for Medicare Advantage and Medigap plans. Always be sure to double check with your health care provider and/or Medicare insurance provider about what your plan covers and what it does not.

Additional Info on Medicare Coverage

This article is part of our series on “What does Medicare cover?”

Also, you can check out other articles in this series including: Does Medicare cover mouth guards for sleep apnea?

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