Canes: which kind, how to size one, and how to get it covered
A cane is the lightest walking aid. It helps when you need only a little help with balance, or one leg is a bit weak or sore. If you need more support than that, a walker may be safer. This guide covers how to get a cane covered or on loan, which type to pick, how to set the height, how to use it, and a few products. Last checked Oct 2026
Before you buy: you may get one covered or on loan.
- Medicare: Part B covers canes as medical equipment when your provider prescribes one for use in your home. After the Part B deductible you pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount, from a supplier enrolled in Medicare. Medicare doesn't cover white canes for people who are blind. See how Medicare and Medi-Cal pay.
- Medi-Cal: Medi-Cal's equipment benefit lists both regular canes and quad canes. You need a prescription. Ask your doctor, then your Medi-Cal plan.
- Borrow or get reused equipment: Ability Tools runs device lending and reuse in California, and some Independent Living Centers lend equipment.
- Get fitted: a physical therapist can tell you which cane is right and teach you to use it. Ask the doctor for a referral.
Which kind of cane?
| Type | Good for | Keep in mind |
|---|---|---|
| Single-tip cane (straight or offset handle) | A little help with balance; walking at a normal pace | An offset handle puts your weight over the shaft, which many people find steadier and easier on the wrist |
| Quad cane (four small feet) | More support than a single tip; it stands up on its own | Heavier, and all four feet need to touch the ground before you lean on it, so it's slower |
| Folding cane | Travel, or keeping one in a bag or car | Check that every section locks; height range is often narrower |
| Walker instead | Leaning a lot of weight, poor balance, or both legs weak | See our walker and rollator guide |
How to set the height
- Stand up straight in your usual shoes, with your arms relaxed at your sides. The top of the cane handle should be at the level of your wrist.
- When you hold the handle, your elbow should be slightly bent.
- Check the product's height range before you buy, especially if you're very tall or short.
- Check the weight limit. The standard canes below are rated for 250 pounds. Heavy-duty (bariatric) canes are rated higher.
- After you change the height, make sure the push button has popped all the way through the hole and any locking collar is tight.
How to use it safely
- Hold it in the hand opposite your weaker or sore leg.
- Move the cane and your weaker leg forward together, then step past with your stronger leg.
- The tip (or all four feet) must be on the ground before you put weight on it.
- Steps and curbs: "up with the good, down with the bad." Going up, step up with your stronger leg first. Going down, put the cane down first, then your weaker leg. Use a handrail when there is one.
- Check the rubber tip often. A worn, smooth tip slips. Replacement tips are cheap.
- Make the house safer: remove loose rugs and cords, add lighting, and think about grab bars in the bathroom.
How Medicare and Medi-Cal pay
Medicare
- What's covered: Part B covers canes, including quad canes, as durable medical equipment when your provider prescribes one for use in your home.
- The rules the claim is checked against: a mobility problem makes it hard to do daily activities in your home, you can use the cane safely, and the cane solves the problem.
- White canes for people who are blind aren't covered by Medicare. For other help, ask a local Independent Living Center (see the statewide page).
- What you pay: after the Part B deductible, 20% of the Medicare-approved amount if the supplier accepts assignment. Medicare only pays suppliers enrolled in Medicare; find one with the supplier search. A cane is cheap enough that many people just buy one, but if you want Medicare to pay, get the prescription first.
Medi-Cal
- Medi-Cal covers canes and quad canes as medical equipment with a written prescription from a doctor, nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist or physician assistant who has seen you (in person or by telehealth) in the last 6 months.
- Medi-Cal pays for the lowest-cost item that meets your medical need. If you need a quad cane rather than a basic cane, ask your doctor to say why.
- If you have both Medicare and Medi-Cal, Medicare is billed first. Told no? See our Medi-Cal guide for how to appeal.
Products to look at
Affiliate links: Some product links are affiliate links. If you buy through them, CA Home Access Help may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. It never affects which programs we list. Affiliate links are marked "(affiliate link)". More about how this works.
Check for free help first. Medicare and Medi-Cal may cover a cane, and you may be able to borrow one (see Before you buy above). These products are for people buying on their own. They match the advice above and were sold on the maker's site when we checked. Prices change often. Check the maker's weight limit and height range before you buy.
- Vive Offset Cane (affiliate link): an aluminum single-tip cane with an offset handle and wrist strap, for either hand. Vive lists a height of 29 to 38 inches, a 250-pound limit, and a weight under 1.5 pounds. It doesn't fold.
- Vive Quad Cane (affiliate link): a four-foot base (8 by 6 inches) that switches for left- or right-hand use and stands on its own. Vive lists a height of 28 to 37 inches, a 250-pound limit, and about 1.9 pounds.
- Vive Folding Cane (affiliate link): folds to about 14 inches for a bag, with a strap and carrying bag. Vive lists a height of 33 to 37 inches and a 250-pound limit, so it suits average heights.
- Vive Replacement Cane Tips (affiliate link): a 2-pack of rubber tips for when yours wear smooth. Vive says they fit canes, walkers and crutches whose current tip measures 3/4 inch, so measure first. They aren't for quad cane feet.
Product details are from each maker's own page, checked Oct 2026. Listing a product isn't an endorsement, and it isn't medical advice.
Sources
- Medicare.gov: Canes and Durable medical equipment coverage
- CMS: Canes and crutches policy article (A52459)
- DHCS: Medi-Cal Durable Medical Equipment provider manual (PDF) and DME billing codes (PDF), which list canes and quad canes
- MedlinePlus (National Library of Medicine): Using a cane
- Ability Tools: Device Lending and Demonstration Centers (short-term loans)
Last checked Oct 2026