Frequently Asked Questions How are Tru-Mold Shoes made? How much do custom-molded shoes cost? Are custom-molded shoes covered by health insurance? Do Medicare and/or Medicaid provide coverage for custom-molded shoes? Does the Veterans Administration provide coverage for custom-molded shoes? Why do some custom-molded shoes look different than conventional shoes? What are the components of a custom-molded shoe? What if the shoes don't fit? Are Tru-Mold Shoes guaranteed? Can I or some other person cast my feet? I have a particular style of shoe in mind. Can you make a shoe to match it? Can you make just one shoe? How long does it take to make a custom-molded shoe? Do you make golf shoes? Can you repair old custom-molded shoes? Who in my area dispenses Tru-Mold Shoes? How are Tru-Mold Shoes made? The shoemaking process actually begins in the office of your local footcare specialist. This practitioner first makes a three-dimensional cast of your feet, using plaster or fiberglass-based molding materials. This process takes only about 20 minutes, but it is the most critical step toward ensuring a perfectly-fitting product. The practitioner then assists you in choosing the shoe style and color as well as recommending modifications based on a thorough evaluation of your condition and needs. The hardened cast and order form are then packaged and shipped to Tru-Mold. At the factory, a positive cast is made from the mold, creating a last that replicates the exact three-dimensional features of your feet. Under the supervision of board-certified pedorthists, Tru-Mold shoemakers then begin hand crafting the shoe around this last, applying many years of experience and expertise in the process. The shoe goes through more than 25 separate construction steps and quality approval checks before it is shipped back to your footcare provider -- and onto your feet for many years of comfort and enjoyment. Back to top How much do custom-molded shoes cost? Depending on the shoe style and required modifications, custom-molded shoes may cost between $350 and $800. Back to top Are custom-molded shoes covered by health insurance? That depends. In some cases, your health insurance carrier may offer a co-pay, or may cover the entire cost. But this varies widely in the industry. You should always check your policy first to see if you have some coverage. Back to top Do Medicare and/or Medicaid provide coverage for custom-molded shoes? Individuals with diabetes who have certain foot conditions may qualify for partial Medicare reimbursement for the cost of one pair of custom-molded shoes and up to three pairs of custom removable inserts per year. Under some circumstances -- and depending on what area of the country in which you live in -- custom-molded shoes may also be covered by Medicaid. Check with your doctor first. Back to top Does the Veterans Administration provide coverage for custom-molded shoes? If you're a veteran, you may be eligible for coverage of the cost of custom-molded shoes. Check with the VA to see whether you're eligible. Back to top Why do some custom-molded shoes look different than conventional shoes? Custom-molded shoes are made to accommodate the unique needs of your feet. Many times, modifications must be made to footwear to accommodate conditions like amputations, ulcers, collapsed arches, and arthritic feet, and these can alter the shape and appearance of your custom footwear. At Tru-Mold Shoes, we make every effort to ensure that your footwear appears cosmetically pleasing without compromising your needs for precise fit, comfort and function. Back to top What are the components of a custom-molded shoe? Tru-Mold Shoes are constructed using some of the most durable and lightweight materials available today, including glove leather uppers and lining, cork bases, Plastazote® inserts and abrasive-resistant soles. In fact, some styles of Tru-Mold Shoes weight as little as six ounces while our high top boots and chukkas often weigh less than a pound. All of the materials and processes we use are environmentally-friendly too. Back to top What if the shoes don't fit? Sometimes custom-molded shoes will feel big when they are worn for the first time. This is normal. The breaking in period of a new pair of custom-molded shoes usually lasts a week or two. If after the breaking in period the shoes don't fit, we will gladly take them back for adjustments. If discomfort, redness, irritation or swelling of the feet occur when wearing your new shoes, remove them immediately and consult your footcare professional. Back to top Are Tru-Mold Shoes guaranteed? Yes. We guarantee the fit and workmanship of all our shoes. Take a moment to read our exclusive satisfaction guarantee below. Tru-Mold guarantees its footwear for proper fit, craftsmanship and quality. If for any of these reasons a Tru-Mold shoe must be adjusted or remade, Tru-Mold will do so at its own expense for up to six months after your original order was shipped. Tru-Mold is under no obligation to adjust or remake any shoe at its own expense if an incorrect or inappropriate shoe style or modification was ordered, in instances of deliberate misuse or alterations made to the item by anyone other than Tru-Mold Shoes, or for adjustments made necessary by the wearer's change in physical condition after the receipt of your original order. Back to top Can I or some other person cast my feet? Casting a person's feet should always be done by a professional footcare specialist who is familiar with the custom-molded shoemaking process. It's the only way of ensuring that your shoes will fit. Back to top I have a particular style of shoe in mind. Can you make a shoe to match it? Whenever possible we will try our best to match a style of shoe or boot that you may want if that style isn't featured in our catalog. Simply have your footcare specialist send us a photo or a comparison shoe or boot. We will let you know if we can copy it. Price will vary depending on styling and features. Back to top Can you make just one shoe? We can do that too. In fact, many times people would like us to match one custom-molded shoe to an off-the-shelf shoe that will be wearing on the opposite foot. Back to top How long does it take to make a custom-molded shoe? From the day we receive your order from the footcare professional, we are usually able to complete your shoes within 14 working days. Sometimes special modifications will be required, meaning it may take longer to make your shoes. Either way, our customer service representatives make a point of keeping in touch with your footcare professional concerning our progress in completing your order. Back to top Do you make golf shoes? We can make custom-molded shoes for golf -- with either metal or rubber cleats. We can also make shoes for task-specific applications -- oversized football cleats, tennis sneakers, boating shoes with special slip-resistant soles, walking shoes, and shoes with internal or external support braces. Back to top Can you repair old custom-molded shoes? We provide complete repair and refurbishing services of custom-molded shoes made at our factory. We also offer a refurbishing service package that includes -- among other things -- new outer soles, new removable custom inserts, complete re-stitching of the uppers and repairs to torn leather. Back to top Who in my area dispenses Tru-Mold Shoes? More than 2,000 footcare professionals across the U.S. and Canada prescribe Tru-Mold shoes for their patients -- podiatrists, pedorthists, orthopedists, prosthetists, orthotists and chiropodists. For the name of the footcare specialist nearest you, call Tru-Mold Shoes at 1-800-THE-MOLD, or fill out the patient form and email it back to us. Back to top    © 2002 - 2007    Tru-Mold Shoes    All Rights Reserved