What does a podiatrist (foot doctor) do?
A podiatrist is a doctor of podiatric medicine who treats the foot, ankle, and lower leg. They care for injuries, nail and skin problems, and foot problems caused by diabetes.
Last updated November 11, 2026
Find podiatrists (foot doctors) near you
When people see one
- Heel pain or a sprained ankle
- Ingrown toenails, bunions, or fungal infections
- Diabetes and a foot sore or numb feet
- A foot or ankle injury that is not healing
How it differs
Orthopedic surgeon: An orthopedic surgeon treats bones and joints throughout the body, and some focus on the foot and ankle. A podiatrist focuses on the foot and ankle only.
On 2027 Colorado plans
Do you need a referral? On some plans. 37 of the 148 2027 plans need a referral from your primary care provider to see a specialist: Kaiser Permanente's 29 plans (you may self-refer to certain specialists) and Denver Health (Elevate)'s 8 plans (self-referral allowed for OB-GYN and outpatient mental health care). The other 111 don't, according to each plan's 2027 summary of benefits. Confirm in the plan's summary of benefits.
What a visit costs (the plan's filed "Specialist Visit" benefit, in network, before any extra savings on silver plans):
- Bronze: $100 to $140 a visit on 10 of 56 plans; on the other 46, you pay toward your deductible or a share of the bill.
- Silver: $50 to $90 a visit on 44 of 58 plans; on the other 14, you pay toward your deductible or a share of the bill.
- Gold: $50 to $90 a visit on 26 of 30 plans; on the other 4, you pay toward your deductible or a share of the bill.
In-network care costs less. Out-of-network visits on an HMO or EPO usually aren't covered except in an emergency.
In Colorado
Public records list 234 podiatrists (foot doctors) at 191 Colorado locations. Colorado shows 779 active licenses of this kind, including people who don't see patients or work out of state.
- El Paso County: 30 locations
- Denver County: 23 locations
- Adams County: 18 locations
- Arapahoe County: 17 locations
- Boulder County: 16 locations
- Jefferson County: 14 locations
Counties with the fewest: Teller (1), Summit (1), Routt (1), Rio Blanco (1), Logan (1). 37 counties have none.
Questions to ask the office
- Do I need a referral from my primary care doctor?
- Which 2027 plans and network names do you take?
- How long is the wait for a new patient?
- Is routine foot care, like nail trimming, covered, or only treatment for a problem?