Find Grants for Prosthetic Legs

Grants for Prosthetic Legs – Overview

Prosthetics are incredibly useful to amputees to restore their mobility and improve their quality of life.

However, as many insurance providers refuse to cover the cost of a new prosthetic, many amputees are left with the burden of paying the cost of a prosthetic out of their pockets. In many cases, the high deductibles and co-pay rates often leave amputees without the means of mobility.

Prosthetics are not cheap and can range from a few thousand to tens of thousands of dollars.

Therefore, it is advisable to gain knowledge about the cost and means of financing your prosthesis. This is incredibly helpful in preventing financial stress and emotional problems when applying for grants for prosthetic legs.

Let’s take a detailed look at the cost of prosthetics, insurance coverage, and the sources where you can get grants for prosthetic legs.

How much does a Prosthetic Leg cost?

On average, the cost of lower extremity prosthetic legs can be anywhere between $5,000 to $50,000. The actual price of prosthetic legs depends on several factors, such as:

  • Materials and technology used to manufacture the prosthetic device,
  • The patient’s level of activity and
  • The level of amputation

In addition to the above factors, the overall cost also includes the price of the molding and fitting process, which is necessary to ensure a proper fit for the prosthetic.

HowLong Do Prosthetic Legs last

Prosthetic legs typically do not last a lifetime. On average, they need to be replaced every three years. Your doctor and physiotherapist will help you identify when you need to replace your existing prosthesis.

Does insurance cover the cost of Prosthetic Legs

Different insurance providers have different criteria regarding prosthetic legs, for example:

Private insurance provider – A private health insurance provider may offer to cover only a portion of the cost of the prosthesis. The criteria for this change are according to state, company and their policies.

Medicare – Medicare offers to cover around 80% of the total cost of a Medicare-approved prosthesis only when the prosthetic is sourced from a Medicare-enrolled supplier.

The patient must pay the remaining 20% of the prosthetic’s cost out of pocket. Alternatively, the patient can also use their supplemental health coverage, such as Medigap, to help cover the co-payment for their prosthetic leg.

Veteran’s Affairs (VA)—If you are an active or former service member and fulfill the relevant criteria, the Veteran’s Affairs department will cover the cost of medically prescribed prosthetics through the VA hospital or a contracted supplier.

Where to get grants for Prosthetic Legs

If your insurance provider does not cover the cost of the prosthesis or is offering to pay only partial cost, then you can choose to secure grants for prosthetic legs from several different sources.

We have created a list of several non-profit organizations across the US where you can find financial help for fitting a prosthetic leg. You may also receive assistance with long-term therapy along with follow-up appointments with your physician and physiotherapist.

1 – Heather Abbott Foundation

The Heather Abbott Foundation is one of the most prominent national non-profit organizations providing prosthetics to amputees.

The foundation is focused on helping amputees who have lost limbs in traumatic situations by providing them with advanced prosthetic devices, including prosthetic legs. The foundation was formed soon after the infamous Boston bombing.

To apply for a grant for prosthetic legs from the Heather Abbott Foundation, you can click on the link – https://heatherabbottfoundation.org/get-involved/apply-for-a-grant/ – and find out the eligibility criteria and application process for grants for prosthetic legs.

2 – Help Hope Live

Help Hope Live is a non-profit organization specializing in fundraising to help the needy with their medical bills and other essential expenses. Since 1983, the foundation has collected over US$158 million to help the needy with out-of-pocket medical expenses. Over 97% of families prefer Help Hope Live for help with their medical bills, and more than 6,000 medical professionals recommend the organization.

The organization has also partnered with several other like-minded non-profit organizations, such as MobilityWorks, Vantage Mobility International, AMS Vans, Angel, Medflight, Walgreens Specialty Pharmacy, Prelude Solutions, Abilities Virtual, etc., to provide optimal assistance to amputees and medically disabled through grants and guidance.

To learn more about their specific eligibility criteria and application process for grants for prosthetic legs, feel free to visit their official website at – https://helphopelive.org/get-started/.

3 – Limbs for Life

Limbs for Life is another reliable non-profit organization that offers to cover the complete cost of molding and fitting prosthetic legs for amputees. The organization offers financial assistance for prostheses from local partners to eligible applicants.

The major eligibility criteria to get grants for prosthetic legs from Limbs for Life include:

  • Having no alternate source to pay for prosthetic
  • Currently being at, or near, poverty level
  • Has the potential ability to walk without needing assistance
  • Being a legal resident or citizen of the US

Grants for Prosthetic Legs – Conclusion

These are just the top three non-profit organizations in the US that provide assistance or grants for prosthetic legs to amputees.

You can also find the nearest local organization for help with financing the cost of prosthetic legs by visiting your local Vocational Rehabilitation Service center.

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Current Version
September 24, 2021
Written By
Shubham Grover
April 13, 2024
Updated By
Andrea Morales G.

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