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Common Health Care Expenses: The Cost of Plantar Fasciitis
Vicky Warren · April 23, 2020 · 3 min read
Your plantar fascia is a ligament on the bottom of your foot that connects the heel bone to the toes. It supports your arches and absorbs shock when you walk. Small tears can happen if too much stress and tension are placed on the ligament. Repeated stretching and tearing can irritate, and lead to inflammation of the fascia which leads to the common issue known as plantar fasciitis.
Diagnosing Plantar Fasciitis
To diagnose plantar fasciitis, your provider will take a detailed medical history and do a physical examination. They will check for areas of tenderness in your foot. Typically, a diagnosis can be made without further testing. However, they may want to do an X-ray or MRI to ensure there isn’t another problem causing your pain.
Treating Plantar Fasciitis
Most people with plantar fasciitis can use conservative treatments such as rest, ice, and stretching, and recover in a few months. Many people can use over-the-counter medications like naproxen sodium (Aleve) and ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) for pain relief.
Sometimes, stretching and strengthening therapies such as physical therapy, night splints, and orthotics can help remedy the situation.
If conservative remedies don’t help, your provider may recommend more intense treatments like steroid injections, extracorporeal shock wave therapy, ultrasonic tissue repair, or surgery if needed.
Plantar fasciitis surgery involves releasing the plantar fascia from the heel bone. The procedure is typically only done when pain is severe, and all other treatment options have failed to provide adequate pain relief.
Cost of Treating Plantar Fasciitis
Many health insurance plans cover at least part of the cost of plantar fasciitis treatments, with a copay or coinsurance of about 10% - 50% of the treatment price.
If you don’t have health insurance, you could spend up to $500 for OTC medication, comfortable shoes, and a night splint. Another common treatment is custom orthotics, which can range from $200 - $800. Physical therapy can cost several thousand dollars uninsured, and if surgery is required, it can cost up to $10,000 or more.
How an HSA Can Help
A Health Savings Account (HSA) is a tax-exempt account that allows you to save for and pay for certain qualified medical expenses.
You can use HSA funds to pay for a wide range of plantar fasciitis treatments. Items such as night splints, orthotic inserts (custom or off the shelf), physical therapy and even surgery can be paid for by using HSA funds.
HSAs take time to set up and build savings. They are a great way to save for the medical expenses you have now or will need down the road. Funds in your HSA rollover year to year, so you don’t have to worry about the “use it or lose it” that comes with other types of accounts. Also, you can take your HSA with you wherever you go without losing funds.
If you’ve been diagnosed with plantar fasciitis, rest assured that you can use HSA funds for many of the associated expenses.
Plantar fasciitis is a common issue. By knowing what to expect to pay for treatment, you can move forward and get back to walking pain-free.
Benefits
2024 and 2025 HSA Maximum Contribution Limits
Lively · May 9, 2024 · 3 min read
On May 9, 2024 the Internal Revenue Service announced the HSA contribution limits for 2025. For 2025 HSA-eligible account holders are allowed to contribute: $4,300 for individual coverage and $8,500 for family coverage. If you are 55 years or older, you’re still eligible to contribute an extra $1,000 catch-up contribution.
Benefits
What is the Difference Between a Flexible Spending Account and a Health Savings Account?
Lauren Hargrave · February 9, 2024 · 12 min read
A Health Savings Account (HSA) and Healthcare Flexible Spending Account (FSA) provide up to 30% savings on out-of-pocket healthcare expenses. That’s good news. Except you can’t contribute to an HSA and Healthcare FSA at the same time. So what if your employer offers both benefits? How do you choose which account type is best for you? Let’s explore the advantages of each to help you decide which wins in HSA vs FSA.
Health Savings Accounts
Ways Health Savings Account Matching Benefits Employers
Lauren Hargrave · October 13, 2023 · 7 min read
Employers need employees to adopt and engage with their benefits and one way to encourage employees to adopt and contribute to (i.e. engage with) an HSA, is for employers to match employees’ contributions.
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