Workers' Compensation Resource Center
Getting your crutches covered through workers' comp
If you have been injured at work, your crutches are covered durable medical equipment, and in most cases you pay nothing. The real questions are which crutches you can get, how to avoid a painful second injury called crutch palsy, and how to end up with a pair worth using. This guide walks through all of it, in plain English.
The one thing to get right
Ask for forearm crutches (E0110).
Underarm crutches can cause crutch palsy, a real nerve injury from armpit pressure. Forearm crutches bill under the reliably covered code E0110 and remove that risk entirely.
The series
Six plain-English guides
They take you from "does this even get covered" to "here is the crutch I want and how to get it paid for."
No. 01
Does workers' comp cover crutches?
The 2026 guide to getting them paid for: what "covered" really means, how the process works, and the routes most guides never mention.
No. 02
Crutch palsy: the hidden second injury
How leaning on underarm crutches can cause real nerve damage, the warning signs to watch for, and the design that removes the risk entirely.
No. 03
How to get the crutches you actually want
You have more say than you think. Your right to choose a provider, a word-for-word script for your doctor, and the buy-now-reimburse-later route.
No. 04
Billing codes explained: E0110 vs. E0117
Why one crutch sails through approval and another gets questioned. The handful of HCPCS codes that decide your coverage, in plain language.
No. 05
Crutches and return to work
Why the quality of your mobility shapes how fast you heal and get back, and why your interests and the system's point the same direction.
No. 06
The best crutches for a work-injury recovery
What actually matters in a recovery crutch, why standard hospital crutches fall short, and how to get a better one covered.
The crutches cost you nothing. The wrong ones can cost you a second injury.
The case for choosing your crutch carefully
Quick answers
The questions people ask first
Does workers' comp pay for crutches?
Yes. Crutches are covered durable medical equipment when prescribed for a work-related injury, usually at no cost to you. There is no deductible or coinsurance, and in most states a provider cannot bill you for covered equipment on an accepted claim.
Can I choose which crutches I get?
Largely through your prescription. You can request a specific model, and in many states you can choose your treating physician, who writes it. Standard forearm crutches (code E0110) are reliably covered, while premium spring-assisted models (E0117) may need extra documentation or a buy-and-reimburse approach.
What is crutch palsy?
It is nerve damage from pressure in the armpit caused by leaning on underarm crutches. It can cause wrist drop, numbness, and a weak grip. Forearm crutches remove the armpit pressure entirely, which is why they are the safer choice for a recovery that lasts more than a few days.
What if I already bought crutches myself?
Keep the prescription and the itemized receipt and submit them for reimbursement. Many insurers reimburse equipment they agree was medically necessary, and this is often the fastest way to get the pair you actually want.
The covered, nerve-safe choice
The in-Motion forearm crutch
It bills under the standard forearm code, removes the armpit pressure that causes crutch palsy, and its spring assist cuts the shoulder and wrist fatigue that wears you down over weeks. A Class I medical device developed through 34 clinical studies and trusted by physical therapists.
Prefer underarm? See the in-Motion Pro Underarm Crutch →- 1.8 lb per crutch
- 350 lb weight capacity
- 75 to 100% ground contact tips
- 2 cuff sizes included
- FSA and HSA eligible
Workers' compensation rules vary by state and by the specifics of your claim and insurer. This resource is general education, not legal, medical, or billing advice. Confirm details with your treating provider, your claims adjuster, or your state workers' compensation board. The in-Motion is a Class I medical device.