Foot pain is more than just an inconvenience; it impacts your employees’ ability to work, stay active, and enjoy daily life. Plus, what starts as foot pain can quickly devolve into ankle, knee, or lower back pain. As the pain moves up the body, it becomes more complex and expensive to treat.

Some people turn to store-bought insoles for relief. While these may provide gel or an extra layer of foam for short-term comfort, they don’t address the cause of pain, which is often rooted in a structural alignment problem. Since store-bought insoles don’t address alignment issues, within a few weeks, the pain is back, money has been wasted on foam that doesn’t work, and additional issues are likely to develop.

Doctor-prescribed orthotics have been the gold-standard solution for over 75 years, delivering clinical-grade support that offers immediate relief and lasting prevention. But the traditional process of getting custom insoles is time-consuming, expensive, and frustrating. Let’s break down the real costs of the conventional approach and compare it to how Hike Medical is revolutionizing access to foot health.

The traditional custom insole process: a costly and complicated journey

Getting traditional custom orthotics isn’t as simple as walking into a store and making a purchase. It involves multiple steps, each adding to the time and cost. We’ve reflected a typical journey below:

• ‍Primary care physician (PCP) visit
  • Many insurance plans require a referral from a PCP before seeing a specialist.‍
  • Cost: $100–$250 per visit (if uninsured or with a high deductible plan)

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• Referral to a podiatrist or specialist‍
  • After seeing a PCP, patients are referred to a podiatrist for further evaluation.‍
  • Cost: $150–$400 per visit

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• ‍Foot examination & custom mold creation‍
  • A podiatrist assesses foot health and takes molds or scans for custom insoles. Often, they refer patients to an orthotist to take care of this process after writing a prescription. ‍
  • Cost: Often included in the podiatrist’s visit but may incur additional fees for scans or impressions ($50–$150)‍

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• ‍Manufacturing & purchase of custom orthotics‍
  • Traditional custom insoles are made based on the molds and typically take weeks to be delivered. Podiatrists outsource the creation of these orthotics to 3rd party labs. ‍
  • Cost: $300–$850 for a single pair‍

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• ‍Follow-up appointments‍
  • Some patients require adjustments or additional fittings.‍
  • Cost: $100–$250 per visit

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Total estimated cost for traditional custom insoles: $700–$1,850 (plus months of appointments!)

And here’s the kicker: Many insurance plans don’t fully cover custom insoles, so patients are left to foot most of the bill. If patients are seeking a preventative solution to keep MSK issues from developing, insurers won’t cover anything at all. 

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Hike Medical: A simple, affordable, and effective alternative

At Hike Medical, we believe that high-quality foot support should be accessible and affordable. We’ve streamlined the process, eliminating unnecessary steps and expenses. Here’s how Hike makes it easy:

• No doctor visits or referrals required: Employees can skip the hassle and get their insoles without waiting for multiple appointments. That means less overall frustration and fewer hours missed for appointments.
• Easy at-home foot scan: Employees can accurately scan their feet from any smartphone device within just five minutes.
• Custom made: Our insoles are designed based on every employee’s specific foot specific shape, ensuring the perfect fit that delivers optimal support and alignment.
• Fast delivery: Insoles are shipped within weeks, not months.
• Affordable and scalable: Hike insoles are always priced at $199 or less per pair, with costs decreasing as employee group size increases. Plus, depending on employer coverage, employees may pay little to nothing out of pocket.
• Preventative and cost-saving: Hike insoles are significantly more affordable than traditional orthotics, but the biggest savings come from reducing the risk of costly MSK conditions before they develop.

Total cost of Hike insoles: $199 or less

With Hike, employees benefit from the same custom, clinical-grade foot support as traditional doctor-prescribed orthotics – but without the headaches, high costs, and long wait times. Whether they’re on their feet all day at work, dealing with chronic foot pain, or looking to prevent future issues down the line, Hike delivers a proactive and reactive solution to MSK pain.