Short answer up top, then the exact rule. Here's what Original Medicare does and doesn't cover for foot care in 2026 — and where a Medicare Advantage plan can fill the gap.
Quick answer: Routine foot care isn't covered — nail trimming, corns, and calluses are on you (100%). But Part B does cover medically necessary podiatry: a foot exam every 6 months if you have diabetes-related nerve damage, and treatment of foot injuries or diseases like bunions, hammertoe, and heel spurs (20% after the deductible).
Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans cover the same medically necessary podiatry, and some add a limited routine foot-care benefit. Check the plan's extra benefits and network podiatrists if routine care matters to you.
People with diabetes, circulation problems, or a specific foot condition. The dividing line is medical necessity: Medicare pays to treat disease and injury and to protect diabetic feet, but not for routine maintenance like a standard nail trim.
See the current Part A, Part B, and Part D numbers — premiums, deductibles, and the new drug cap — in one place. Free, no signup.
See 2026 Medicare Costs →Not as routine care — normally you pay 100% for basic nail trimming. It can be covered when it's medically necessary because of a condition like diabetes-related nerve damage or a circulation disorder that makes self-care unsafe, when a qualified provider performs it.
Yes, for medically necessary care — treating foot injuries and diseases (bunions, hammertoe, heel spurs) and, for people with diabetic nerve damage, a covered foot exam every 6 months. You pay 20% after the Part B deductible. Purely routine, non-medical foot care isn't covered.
Coverage gaps in Original Medicare — like foot care — are exactly what a Medicare Advantage or Medigap plan is meant to fill. Our free Enrollment Finder shows the window you can switch in, and the guide library walks through the trade-offs. This page is free to share with anyone weighing their options.
Open the Enrollment Finder →This answer is based on U.S. government Medicare coverage rules: