| Quick answer: Will Canadian Health Care Pay for Propet Shoes? Canadian provincial health insurance does not generally pay for a pair of Propet shoes simply because the shoes are diabetic-friendly, orthopedic or therapeutic. However, several provincial disability, income-support and assistive-device programs can help pay for orthopedic, specialized or adaptive footwear when there is a documented medical need. Coverage varies significantly by province. British Columbia, Quebec, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island have programs that may cover qualifying footwear in certain circumstances. Before buying Propet shoes, get any required prescription and approval because purchasing the shoes first can make reimbursement more difficult. |
If you have diabetes, arthritis, a foot deformity or another condition that makes ordinary shoes difficult to wear, a pair of therapeutic shoes can be more than a comfort purchase.
That does not mean Canada’s provincial health plans will automatically pay for them.
Canada does not have the equivalent of a single nationwide Medicare diabetic-shoe benefit. Instead, orthopedic and therapeutic footwear can fall under provincial disability programs, income-assistance benefits, assistive-device programs, workers’ compensation, federal programs or private insurance.
That creates an important distinction for shoppers considering Propet shoes.
Some Propet models are designed with extra depth, removable insoles, stretchable uppers and multiple widths. The company also identifies certain shoes as A5500 Medicare-approved diabetic footwear. That A5500 designation applies to the U.S. Medicare system. It does not establish eligibility for reimbursement in Canada.
Whether a particular Propet shoe can be funded in Canada depends on where you live and why you need it.
Related footwear help: Read our Propet shoes guide and Propet Stability Walker review. If you need extra room, compare our best shoes for very wide feet and orthopedic shoe guide. You can also use the free Shoe Finder to narrow options by fit and support needs.
Canadian orthopedic shoe coverage at a glance
This table summarizes the provincial programs we found. Eligibility rules can change, and approval of orthopedic footwear does not mean every Propet model qualifies.
Province | Public funding may be available? | Where coverage may be available |
|---|---|---|
Yes, for eligible clients | Disability and income-assistance health supplements | |
Limited | AISH may fund foot orthotics; routine retail shoes are generally not covered | |
Possible | SAIL and supplementary health programs | |
Yes, for eligible clients | Employment and Income Assistance | |
Generally not for ordinary footwear | Other programs such as WSIB may apply in specific circumstances | |
Yes, with strict eligibility | Orthotic Shoes and Devices Program | |
Yes, for eligible clients | Social Development Orthopedic Program | |
Yes, for eligible clients | Employment Support and Income Assistance | |
Yes, for eligible disability clients | AccessAbility Supports | |
Possible | Income Support and provincial orthotic programs |
The most important word in the table is “eligible.” These programs generally do not operate like a retail shoe allowance. A prescription, documented medical condition, approved supplier or prior authorization may be required.
Lear more about Propet shoes in our roundup.
British Columbia
British Columbia has one of the clearest provincial policies on orthopedic footwear.
People who qualify for general health supplements through B.C.’s income or disability assistance programs may receive funding for medically essential orthoses. The province’s definition is broad enough to include custom footwear, off-the-shelf orthopedic footwear and, in limited circumstances, ordinary off-the-shelf footwear needed to accommodate a custom orthosis.
The province currently lists maximum costs of $250 for a pair of off-the-shelf orthopedic footwear and $125 for ordinary off-the-shelf footwear required to accommodate a custom-made orthosis. Custom-made footwear can be funded up to $1,650. Replacement periods also apply.
The footwear must meet the program’s medical and eligibility requirements. A doctor or nurse practitioner normally needs to establish the medical need, and other available sources of funding must be considered first.
Could a Propet shoe qualify? Potentially. Propet makes footwear specifically designed to accommodate medical conditions, but the individual model and the patient’s need would have to satisfy B.C.’s definition of orthopedic footwear.
Do not assume that any wide Propet shoe is covered simply because it is comfortable or orthotic-friendly.
B.C. Medical Equipment and Orthoses program
Alberta
Alberta does not provide a general provincial benefit that lets residents purchase therapeutic retail shoes because they have diabetes or another foot condition.
Alberta Aids to Daily Living, or AADL, helps eligible residents obtain a range of medical equipment and supplies. The province specifically states that foot orthotics are not covered by AADL.
There is another possible route for people who receive Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped, or AISH. AISH personal health benefits can include arch supports and foot orthotics when the person demonstrates a need, meets the program requirements and does not have another source of coverage.
That is not the same as a general benefit for purchasing Propet shoes.
Based on the current Alberta government benefit information, shoppers should not assume that an off-the-shelf Propet Stability Walker, LifeWalker, PedWalker or similar model will be reimbursed by the province.
If the shoe is required as part of a larger orthotic treatment plan, ask the prescribing health professional and Alberta Supports about eligibility before buying it.
Private extended-health insurance may provide broader footwear or orthotics coverage than provincial programs.
Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan provides disability-related equipment through Saskatchewan Aids to Independent Living, usually called SAIL.
SAIL operates a Prosthetics and Orthotics Program as one of its universal benefit programs. To qualify for SAIL generally, a person must be a Saskatchewan resident with a valid health services number, be referred by an authorized health professional and meet the requirements of the relevant program. Coverage cannot generally duplicate benefits available through agencies such as workers’ compensation, Veterans Affairs or the federal Non-Insured Health Benefits program.
Saskatchewan’s Supplementary Health Benefits program can also cover certain foot-care services and appliances for eligible residents.
The important issue for a Propet shopper is that these benefits should not be interpreted as a general reimbursement program for retail comfort shoes.
A Propet model may be relevant when it is part of an approved orthopedic treatment plan, but simply purchasing a wide, diabetes-friendly or removable-insole Propet shoe does not guarantee SAIL reimbursement.
Ask the prescribing practitioner or SAIL whether the specific footwear and supplier qualify before making the purchase.
Saskatchewan Aids to Independent Living
Manitoba
Manitoba has a more specific route to orthopedic-footwear assistance for people receiving Employment and Income Assistance, or EIA.
The province states that EIA participants who have a medical need requiring orthopedic footwear or modifications to footwear can receive assistance with the cost. A prescription is required and must include a diagnosis from an eligible health professional, such as a doctor, podiatrist or nurse practitioner.
The participant can then work with an orthopedic-footwear provider, which coordinates with Manitoba’s Health Services Orthotic Program.
That process matters if you are considering Propet shoes.
Do not purchase a pair from Amazon or another retailer and assume Manitoba will reimburse you later. Start with the prescription and authorized provider. The provider can determine whether a particular Propet model meets the program’s requirements and seek approval before the purchase.
Manitoba EIA also identifies approved prosthetic and orthotic devices as health-related benefits that may be funded when they are not covered by Manitoba Health.
Ontario
Ontario has comparatively limited public coverage for ordinary orthopedic or therapeutic shoes.
OHIP should not be thought of as an orthopedic-shoe insurance plan. The province’s Assistive Devices Program funds many mobility and orthotic devices, but ordinary footwear and foot orthotics are not broadly covered in the way some shoppers expect.
The Ontario Disability Support Program’s Mandatory Special Necessities benefit is also explicit: clothing, including footwear, is excluded. Its orthotic section also excludes custom-made and off-the-shelf foot orthotics from that particular benefit.
That means having diabetes, plantar fasciitis or wide feet does not normally make a pair of Propet shoes payable by OHIP or ODSP.
Other programs can be different. For example, Ontario’s Workplace Safety and Insurance Board may fund medically necessary orthopedic footwear in connection with an eligible workplace injury.
Private workplace insurance can also cover orthopedic shoes or custom orthotics under specific plan rules.
For Ontario shoppers, the practical rule is simple: do not buy Propet shoes assuming the provincial health system will reimburse you. Check any disability, workplace or private benefit first.
Quebec
Quebec has one of Canada’s most clearly defined public programs for specialized orthopedic footwear.
The province’s Orthotic Shoes and Devices Program can provide qualifying residents with molded or adapted footwear, shoe appliances and certain custom footwear. The program is intended for people with severe or very severe permanent walking impairment who need orthotic footwear to walk.
This is much narrower than simply having sore feet, diabetes or needing a wider shoe.
A qualifying person must have abnormalities, deformities or effects of disease or trauma affecting the foot-ankle complex and a severe permanent walking disability that can only be compensated for by daily use of orthotic footwear.
The program can provide two pairs when a person first qualifies. A $75 deductible applies to custom-made shoes in certain circumstances, while an adaptation to a purchased shoe may be treated differently.
Could a Propet shoe be used? Possibly as a shoe that is adapted to meet an approved need, but an ordinary retail Propet purchase is not automatically reimbursable.
Quebec Orthotic Shoes and Devices Program
New Brunswick
New Brunswick has a provincial Orthopedic Program that specifically includes footwear.
The program can cover therapeutic and orthopedic-design footwear, custom-made shoes and insoles, along with certain modifications and repairs. For adults, approved footwear and orthopedic devices are generally eligible once every two years. Children can qualify more frequently.
The program is not available to every New Brunswick resident automatically.
It primarily serves eligible Department of Social Development clients, their dependents and people with qualifying special health needs. Specific Health Services Card eligibility requirements apply, and the person generally cannot have another source that will fully cover the same benefit.
Prior approval is important. The province’s program policy notes that most services need authorization before they are provided.
That means a Propet shoe could potentially be considered if the particular model qualifies as therapeutic or orthopedic-design footwear and meets the person’s prescribed medical need.
Buying a pair first and seeking reimbursement afterward is a much riskier approach.
New Brunswick Orthopedic Program
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia provides some of the clearest dollar limits for people receiving Employment Support and Income Assistance.
The province’s program policy allows assistance with prescribed orthotics and orthopedic footwear when medically required.
Custom orthotic supports or customized footwear designed to accommodate a medical condition can be funded up to $300 once every two years. Off-the-shelf orthopedic footwear and shoe modifications can receive combined assistance of up to $130 during a 12-month period.
This is particularly relevant to Propet because some Propet products are off-the-shelf shoes specifically designed around therapeutic needs.
It still does not mean that any Propet shoe qualifies.
The footwear needs to meet the program’s definition, and medical documentation is required. A conventional Propet sneaker bought because it happens to be comfortable or available in extra-wide sizing may be treated differently from a model being prescribed to accommodate a specific medical problem.
If you receive income assistance, get the prescription and funding approval before ordering.
Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island significantly updated its AccessAbility Supports policy in July 2026, and the program can include specialized footwear.
The current Technical Aids and Assistive Devices policy identifies specialized footwear as an example of an orthotic device. It also allows funding toward adaptive footwear when the footwear is designed or modified to meet a disability-specific need.
There is an important limitation.
Standard off-the-shelf shoes that do not contain adaptive features or address a disability-specific need are not eligible under this policy. A health care practitioner must recommend the aid or device, and a Supports Coordinator assesses the request as part of the person’s support plan.
Private insurance must generally be used first when it provides coverage. The applicant may also have to contribute toward the cost based on income.
For Propet shoppers, that means the specific shoe and reason for needing it matter. An adaptive or specialized Propet model may be considered, while an ordinary pair purchased simply for comfort would not qualify.
PEI AccessAbility Supports policies
Newfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador provides access to some orthotic benefits, particularly for people receiving Income Support.
The province states that Income Support clients are financially eligible for certain prosthetic and orthotic benefits when the required medical documentation is provided. The province also directs other residents seeking orthotic assistance to the appropriate health authority for assessment.
Provincially funded disability programs include orthotics such as braces and other devices, but the available public information does not establish a broad entitlement to ordinary retail orthopedic shoes.
That distinction is important with Propet.
A medically required orthotic or specialized footwear solution may be considered through the appropriate program, but an off-the-shelf Propet shoe should not be assumed to qualify merely because it is marketed for therapeutic use.
Get an assessment and ask whether both the specific shoe and supplier are eligible before purchasing.
Private health plans can operate differently. For example, some Newfoundland and Labrador employee benefit plans specifically provide benefits for qualifying stock or custom-fitted orthopedic shoes.
Newfoundland and Labrador Income Support health services
Does having diabetes mean your Propet shoes will be covered?
No. A diabetes diagnosis by itself does not usually create a provincial entitlement to free orthopedic shoes in Canada.
This is a major difference between Canada and the U.S.
In the United States, certain Propet models carry the A5500 code used under Medicare’s Therapeutic Shoes for Persons with Diabetes benefit. That is why you may see Propet describe a shoe as “Medicare approved.”
A5500 is a U.S. billing code. Canadian provincial programs do not use that designation as proof that a shoe must be reimbursed.
Canadian programs tend to look at functional medical need instead.
A person with diabetes who has neuropathy, deformity, ulcers, significant swelling or another foot complication may have a stronger medical need for specialized footwear than someone whose diabetes does not affect the feet. The eligibility rules still depend on the program.
If you have diabetes and reduced sensation in your feet, shoe selection should also be discussed with your doctor, podiatrist or other qualified foot-care professional rather than based solely on whether a shoe carries a diabetes-friendly label.
Will private health insurance cover Propet shoes?
Private extended-health insurance can provide options that provincial programs do not.
Some employer and individual plans cover orthopedic shoes, custom footwear or foot orthotics. Coverage may have an annual dollar limit and often comes with very specific requirements.
Before buying a pair, check what your plan requires. Common requirements can include:
- A prescription containing a medical diagnosis.
- Footwear that meets the insurer’s definition of an orthopedic shoe.
- Purchase from a recognized orthopedic, podiatry or pedorthic provider.
- A detailed receipt showing the manufacturer and model.
- Documentation about modifications or fitting.
- Prior authorization for more expensive footwear.
Do not assume that buying a qualifying-looking Propet model from Amazon is equivalent to buying it through an approved orthopedic-footwear provider.
Some insurers may reimburse the same shoe only when it is prescribed, fitted and sold through an eligible provider.
Federal programs may also pay for specialized footwear
Your province is not always the only potential source of funding.
Eligible First Nations and Inuit can receive footwear-related benefits through the federal Non-Insured Health Benefits program, or NIHB.
NIHB can fund qualifying custom-made foot orthotics and custom-made footwear. However, the current benefit explicitly excludes ordinary off-the-shelf footwear such as shoes, running shoes, boots and summer sandals. NIHB can also pay for approved modifications to stock footwear, although the purchase price of the stock shoe itself is excluded.
That means NIHB generally will not simply buy an ordinary pair of Propet shoes.
NIHB footwear equipment and supplies benefits
Veterans Affairs Canada also provides certain footwear benefits to eligible clients. Its policy allows custom-built orthopedic footwear in qualifying cases and can pay for medically required modifications to ordinary footwear. However, when regular footwear is modified, Veterans Affairs generally pays for the modification rather than the retail shoe itself.
Veterans Affairs Canada footwear policy
How to find out if your Propet shoes will be covered
Do not start by buying the shoes. If reimbursement matters, start with the program or insurer. A shoe that might have been eligible can become difficult to claim if you buy it without the required prescription or prior authorization.
Use this process:
- Check your provincial program, disability benefit or private insurance policy.
- Ask whether “off-the-shelf orthopedic footwear” is covered.
- Ask whether a prescription is required and who is permitted to write it.
- Ask whether you must use an approved pedorthist, podiatrist or orthopedic-footwear provider.
- Give the provider the exact Propet model you are considering.
- Ask whether prior authorization is required.
- Confirm the maximum reimbursement and replacement period.
- Get approval before ordering whenever possible.
- Keep the prescription, assessment, detailed invoice and proof of payment.
If the program tells you that off-the-shelf orthopedic footwear is eligible, ask whether it maintains an approved product list. A shoe being wide, extra-depth or advertised for diabetes does not necessarily satisfy the program’s definition of orthopedic footwear.
Can you get reimbursed for Propet shoes bought on Amazon?
Possibly through some private insurance plans, but this can be a problem for public orthopedic-footwear programs.
Many programs require more than a retail receipt. They may require an assessment, prescription, approved supplier, professional fitting or prior authorization.
Amazon can provide proof that you purchased a particular shoe, but it generally does not provide the medical assessment and fitting services that a pedorthic or orthopedic-footwear clinic provides. Visit Amazon.
If you are paying out of pocket, buying Propet shoes online can make sense and often provides access to more sizes and widths.
If you are trying to have a government or private health plan pay for the shoes, confirm the rules before buying online.
Frequently asked questions
Canada does not have a national Medicare program that routinely reimburses Propet shoes. Coverage for orthopedic footwear is handled through provincial, territorial, federal and private benefit programs. Eligibility depends on the program and medical need.
OHIP does not normally pay for ordinary Propet shoes. Ontario’s ODSP Mandatory Special Necessities benefit also excludes footwear. Other programs, such as workers’ compensation or private extended-health insurance, may provide coverage in specific situations.
There is no universal Canadian benefit that gives everyone with diabetes free therapeutic shoes. Some public or private programs can fund specialized footwear when there is a documented medical need, but the rules vary significantly.
A5500 is a U.S. Medicare billing code associated with therapeutic shoes for people with diabetes. It does not automatically qualify a Propet shoe for reimbursement from a Canadian provincial or private health plan.
A doctor or other authorized health professional can recommend or prescribe orthopedic or therapeutic footwear when medically appropriate. Whether a particular Propet model is reimbursable still depends on the rules of the benefit program or insurer.
Usually not. If you are relying on insurance or a government benefit, check the requirements first. Some programs require prior authorization, an approved supplier or a prescription before the footwear is purchased.
Potentially. Some Canadian extended-health plans cover qualifying orthopedic footwear, but definitions, dollar limits, provider requirements and prescription rules vary. Ask the insurer about the exact Propet model before purchasing it.
