HSA/FSA
HSA and FSA Eligible Fitness Trackers: Everything You Need to Know
Track your savings and your workout with your HSA or FSA
December 4, 2024
Sam O'Keefe
Co-founder & CEO of Flex
Overview
Overview
Overview
Overview
An estimated 73 million Americans were members of a gym in 2023, with half of us hitting the weights or cardio corner at least twice a week.
It’s no surprise then that fitness trackers have become must-have accessories — they help us monitor our hard-earned workouts, sleep patterns, and even heart health, providing data-driven insights to support our wellness journey.
While they seamlessly fit into our daily life, they may not play so nicely with your budget.
That’s where your Health Savings Account (HSA) or Flexible Spending Account (FSA) can come in. Read on to learn about using your pre-tax dollars to score fitness wearables (effectively reducing the cost by 30-40%), plus a look at some cutting-edge brands.
What is a Fitness Tracker?
Fitness trackers are wearable devices that monitor various health metrics to help you improve your physical activity and well-being. They’ve been around for a while.
The first one, the “10,000 steps meter” was created way back in 1965, designed by a Japanese professor aiming to combat obesity.
While the original could only count your steps, modern fitness trackers have come a long way. They can now measure heart rate, sleep quality, blood oxygenation, body temperature, stress levels, and even your metabolic health.
How do fitness trackers work?
Most modern fitness trackers use sensors to monitor bodily functions. For example, photoplethysmography (PPG) sensors shine light into the skin to detect blood volume changes, which gives insights into your heart rate and blood oxygenation. Accelerometers and gyroscopes track movement, detecting when you walk, run, or sleep.
With the rise in fitness, devices like the Fitbit, Apple Watch, Garmin, WHOOP, and the Oura Ring have become almost as common as smartphones, each with its own mix of sensors and insights to offer.
Which Fitness Trackers Are HSA/FSA Eligible?
Here’s the big question: Can you actually pay for a fitness tracker with your HSA or FSA? The answer is a resounding — sometimes.
Since most fitness trackers are considered general health products, they don’t automatically qualify for HSA/FSA funds. But, if your doctor determines that a fitness tracker is medically necessary, you might be able to get one with pre-tax dollars.
What qualifies a fitness tracker for HSA/FSA use?
To make a fitness tracker or a smartwatch HSA/FSA eligible, you’ll need a Letter of Medical Necessity (LOMN) from your healthcare provider.
This document must state that the device is essential for treating, monitoring, or preventing a specific health condition and the expense would not have been incurred but for the condition. With this letter, popular wearables may become HSA or FSA eligible.
One example of a fitness tracker is Lumen, which helps you analyze your metabolic function. Understanding how the food you eat affects your metabolism can help you to take informed steps towards improving your health, such as improving insulin sensitivity and reducing unhealthy fat and triglyceride levels. Source: Lumen
Which fitness trackers can be bought with HSA/FSA funds without a LOMN?
Some health-tracking devices are eligible without any additional paperwork because they serve a specific health purpose.
These would be considered diagnostic trackers, which are intended primarily for medical diagnostic purposes to measure vital signs, and importantly, are marketed as such. Examples would be monitors that track body temperature, blood pressure, respiration, glucose, heart rate, oxygen saturation, and electrocardiograms. Note that these are not targeted for performance enhancement or general health.
Devices that fall under this category might include fertility trackers, glucose monitors, or blood pressure cuffs and are intended to address specific medical conditions, like diabetes, cardiovascular disease, or high-blood pressure.
Basically, if it’s medically essential and helps to treat, monitor, or diagnose a condition, it’s more likely to qualify.
Are pedometers HSA or FSA eligible?
Generally, no. Basic pedometers, which exclusively count steps, are typically seen as general fitness items rather than medical tools. However, if it includes other medically relevant features and is prescribed by a healthcare provider — say, as part of a treatment plan for cardiovascular disease or diabetes — you might be able to make a case for it with a LOMN.
Other Health Trackers That May Be HSA/FSA Eligible
There’s a world of health tracking beyond basic fitness, and many devices may qualify for HSA/FSA funds — especially if they’re used to manage specific health issues.
Here’s a look at some of the more specialized options.
Are personal training apps HSA/FSA eligible?
Personal training apps may be covered by your HSA/FSA if they’re part of a medically necessary fitness or rehab program. Apps like Trainwell and Tempo can be useful tools for certain conditions (such as managing metabolic syndrome or for rehabilitation) and might be covered if prescribed as part of a broader medical or wellness strategy. As always, you’ll need your LOMN to back it up!
Are Sleep Trackers HSA/FSA Eligible?
Sleep trackers can play a big role in managing health conditions like insomnia or sleep apnea. Devices that measure sleep stages, heart rate, and breathing patterns might qualify if they’re medically recommended. This is a big help for people whose sleep issues affect their health or whose doctors want to track their sleep data closely.
Can You Buy Metabolism Trackers, like Lumen, with Your HSA/FSA?
Metabolism trackers like Lumen, which analyze your breath to understand how you’re metabolizing food, could be eligible with a LOMN. If you have a condition like diabetes or another metabolic disorder, these trackers can help you understand how your body processes food for energy, which can be incredibly valuable info for health management.
Are Body Composition Scales HSA/FSA Eligible?
Body composition scales go beyond weight — they break down muscle mass, fat percentage, and body water levels. If you have a health condition which requires weight monitoring, these scales can be eligible for HSA/FSA with a LOMN. They’re useful if you’re managing obesity, a metabolic disorder, or even heart disease — body comp data is crucial for these conditions.
For What Medical Conditions May Fitness Trackers Be HSA/FSA Eligible?
Some common conditions that may make fitness trackers HSA/FSA eligible include:
Heart Disease: Trackers that monitor heart rate, blood pressure, or heart rate variability may help individuals with cardiovascular conditions, potentially making them HSA/FSA eligible.
Diabetes: Devices that track glucose levels, like continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), are HSA/FSA eligible.
Sleep Disorders: If prescribed, sleep trackers may be useful in treating conditions like insomnia or sleep apnea.
Obesity or Weight Management: Fitness trackers, body composition scales, or metabolism devices may be eligible if they’re part of a medically prescribed weight management plan.
Fitness trackers come in many forms and track a range of metrics from heart rate to sleep quality, blood oxygenation to stress levels. Source: Ultrahuman
Game-Changers: Unique Fitness Trackers With HSA/FSA Potential
To make your search easier, here are some cutting-edge fitness tracking companies with unique wearables that could be HSA/FSA eligible with the proper documentation.
Ultrahuman
Ultrahuman offers wearable tech that focuses on metabolic health by monitoring blood glucose and helping you fine-tune energy levels. Their smart rings and patches can help you align diet and fitness for metabolic support and are especially useful for diabetes or blood sugar management, which may qualify it for HSA/FSA with a LOMN.
AURA
If you use an Apple Watch for health purposes, AURA can transform it into a specialized fitness-tracking device! By enhancing its fitness-monitoring capabilities, AURA helps you better align your Apple Watch with health management needs, which could potentially make it easier to justify with HSA/FSA funds!
Circular
Circular is a sleek, ring-based wearable that tracks sleep, heart rate, and activity discreetly. It’s a great option if you’re managing conditions that require 24/7 monitoring without the bulk of a smartwatch. It’s possible to make a case for Circular with a LOMN if you have a health need that it supports.
Lumen
Lumen is all about metabolic insights. By measuring breath CO2, it lets you track your metabolism, and helps you better manage your diet and energy needs. If you have a metabolic disorder, Lumen could qualify for HSA/FSA funds with a medical prescription.
How Flex Can Help You Pay for HSA/FSA Eligible Fitness Trackers
Flex makes paying for your fitness trackers with your HSA/FSA a breeze. It’s a two-step process:
Step 1: Add the HSA/FSA-eligible fitness tracker you want to your cart
Flex partners with brands like Ultrahuman, AURA, Circular, and Lumen to streamline the process of paying for HSA/FSA-eligible fitness wearables.
Step 2: Select “Flex | Pay with HSA/FSA" at checkout
And that’s it! You can buy these items directly from the companies by selecting “Flex | Pay with HSA/FSA" as your payment option at checkout. You can then use either your HSA/FSA card to pay directly or pay out-of-pocket with a regular credit or debit card (and receive the required documents to submit for reimbursement via email).
Count the Metrics That Matter, Not the Dollars in Your Wallet
Fitness trackers and HSAs and FSAs are a perfect pair: They allow consumers to be proactive about their health and provide tools towards making meaningful lifestyle changes.
An estimated 73 million Americans were members of a gym in 2023, with half of us hitting the weights or cardio corner at least twice a week.
It’s no surprise then that fitness trackers have become must-have accessories — they help us monitor our hard-earned workouts, sleep patterns, and even heart health, providing data-driven insights to support our wellness journey.
While they seamlessly fit into our daily life, they may not play so nicely with your budget.
That’s where your Health Savings Account (HSA) or Flexible Spending Account (FSA) can come in. Read on to learn about using your pre-tax dollars to score fitness wearables (effectively reducing the cost by 30-40%), plus a look at some cutting-edge brands.
What is a Fitness Tracker?
Fitness trackers are wearable devices that monitor various health metrics to help you improve your physical activity and well-being. They’ve been around for a while.
The first one, the “10,000 steps meter” was created way back in 1965, designed by a Japanese professor aiming to combat obesity.
While the original could only count your steps, modern fitness trackers have come a long way. They can now measure heart rate, sleep quality, blood oxygenation, body temperature, stress levels, and even your metabolic health.
How do fitness trackers work?
Most modern fitness trackers use sensors to monitor bodily functions. For example, photoplethysmography (PPG) sensors shine light into the skin to detect blood volume changes, which gives insights into your heart rate and blood oxygenation. Accelerometers and gyroscopes track movement, detecting when you walk, run, or sleep.
With the rise in fitness, devices like the Fitbit, Apple Watch, Garmin, WHOOP, and the Oura Ring have become almost as common as smartphones, each with its own mix of sensors and insights to offer.
Which Fitness Trackers Are HSA/FSA Eligible?
Here’s the big question: Can you actually pay for a fitness tracker with your HSA or FSA? The answer is a resounding — sometimes.
Since most fitness trackers are considered general health products, they don’t automatically qualify for HSA/FSA funds. But, if your doctor determines that a fitness tracker is medically necessary, you might be able to get one with pre-tax dollars.
What qualifies a fitness tracker for HSA/FSA use?
To make a fitness tracker or a smartwatch HSA/FSA eligible, you’ll need a Letter of Medical Necessity (LOMN) from your healthcare provider.
This document must state that the device is essential for treating, monitoring, or preventing a specific health condition and the expense would not have been incurred but for the condition. With this letter, popular wearables may become HSA or FSA eligible.
One example of a fitness tracker is Lumen, which helps you analyze your metabolic function. Understanding how the food you eat affects your metabolism can help you to take informed steps towards improving your health, such as improving insulin sensitivity and reducing unhealthy fat and triglyceride levels. Source: Lumen
Which fitness trackers can be bought with HSA/FSA funds without a LOMN?
Some health-tracking devices are eligible without any additional paperwork because they serve a specific health purpose.
These would be considered diagnostic trackers, which are intended primarily for medical diagnostic purposes to measure vital signs, and importantly, are marketed as such. Examples would be monitors that track body temperature, blood pressure, respiration, glucose, heart rate, oxygen saturation, and electrocardiograms. Note that these are not targeted for performance enhancement or general health.
Devices that fall under this category might include fertility trackers, glucose monitors, or blood pressure cuffs and are intended to address specific medical conditions, like diabetes, cardiovascular disease, or high-blood pressure.
Basically, if it’s medically essential and helps to treat, monitor, or diagnose a condition, it’s more likely to qualify.
Are pedometers HSA or FSA eligible?
Generally, no. Basic pedometers, which exclusively count steps, are typically seen as general fitness items rather than medical tools. However, if it includes other medically relevant features and is prescribed by a healthcare provider — say, as part of a treatment plan for cardiovascular disease or diabetes — you might be able to make a case for it with a LOMN.
Other Health Trackers That May Be HSA/FSA Eligible
There’s a world of health tracking beyond basic fitness, and many devices may qualify for HSA/FSA funds — especially if they’re used to manage specific health issues.
Here’s a look at some of the more specialized options.
Are personal training apps HSA/FSA eligible?
Personal training apps may be covered by your HSA/FSA if they’re part of a medically necessary fitness or rehab program. Apps like Trainwell and Tempo can be useful tools for certain conditions (such as managing metabolic syndrome or for rehabilitation) and might be covered if prescribed as part of a broader medical or wellness strategy. As always, you’ll need your LOMN to back it up!
Are Sleep Trackers HSA/FSA Eligible?
Sleep trackers can play a big role in managing health conditions like insomnia or sleep apnea. Devices that measure sleep stages, heart rate, and breathing patterns might qualify if they’re medically recommended. This is a big help for people whose sleep issues affect their health or whose doctors want to track their sleep data closely.
Can You Buy Metabolism Trackers, like Lumen, with Your HSA/FSA?
Metabolism trackers like Lumen, which analyze your breath to understand how you’re metabolizing food, could be eligible with a LOMN. If you have a condition like diabetes or another metabolic disorder, these trackers can help you understand how your body processes food for energy, which can be incredibly valuable info for health management.
Are Body Composition Scales HSA/FSA Eligible?
Body composition scales go beyond weight — they break down muscle mass, fat percentage, and body water levels. If you have a health condition which requires weight monitoring, these scales can be eligible for HSA/FSA with a LOMN. They’re useful if you’re managing obesity, a metabolic disorder, or even heart disease — body comp data is crucial for these conditions.
For What Medical Conditions May Fitness Trackers Be HSA/FSA Eligible?
Some common conditions that may make fitness trackers HSA/FSA eligible include:
Heart Disease: Trackers that monitor heart rate, blood pressure, or heart rate variability may help individuals with cardiovascular conditions, potentially making them HSA/FSA eligible.
Diabetes: Devices that track glucose levels, like continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), are HSA/FSA eligible.
Sleep Disorders: If prescribed, sleep trackers may be useful in treating conditions like insomnia or sleep apnea.
Obesity or Weight Management: Fitness trackers, body composition scales, or metabolism devices may be eligible if they’re part of a medically prescribed weight management plan.
Fitness trackers come in many forms and track a range of metrics from heart rate to sleep quality, blood oxygenation to stress levels. Source: Ultrahuman
Game-Changers: Unique Fitness Trackers With HSA/FSA Potential
To make your search easier, here are some cutting-edge fitness tracking companies with unique wearables that could be HSA/FSA eligible with the proper documentation.
Ultrahuman
Ultrahuman offers wearable tech that focuses on metabolic health by monitoring blood glucose and helping you fine-tune energy levels. Their smart rings and patches can help you align diet and fitness for metabolic support and are especially useful for diabetes or blood sugar management, which may qualify it for HSA/FSA with a LOMN.
AURA
If you use an Apple Watch for health purposes, AURA can transform it into a specialized fitness-tracking device! By enhancing its fitness-monitoring capabilities, AURA helps you better align your Apple Watch with health management needs, which could potentially make it easier to justify with HSA/FSA funds!
Circular
Circular is a sleek, ring-based wearable that tracks sleep, heart rate, and activity discreetly. It’s a great option if you’re managing conditions that require 24/7 monitoring without the bulk of a smartwatch. It’s possible to make a case for Circular with a LOMN if you have a health need that it supports.
Lumen
Lumen is all about metabolic insights. By measuring breath CO2, it lets you track your metabolism, and helps you better manage your diet and energy needs. If you have a metabolic disorder, Lumen could qualify for HSA/FSA funds with a medical prescription.
How Flex Can Help You Pay for HSA/FSA Eligible Fitness Trackers
Flex makes paying for your fitness trackers with your HSA/FSA a breeze. It’s a two-step process:
Step 1: Add the HSA/FSA-eligible fitness tracker you want to your cart
Flex partners with brands like Ultrahuman, AURA, Circular, and Lumen to streamline the process of paying for HSA/FSA-eligible fitness wearables.
Step 2: Select “Flex | Pay with HSA/FSA" at checkout
And that’s it! You can buy these items directly from the companies by selecting “Flex | Pay with HSA/FSA" as your payment option at checkout. You can then use either your HSA/FSA card to pay directly or pay out-of-pocket with a regular credit or debit card (and receive the required documents to submit for reimbursement via email).
Count the Metrics That Matter, Not the Dollars in Your Wallet
Fitness trackers and HSAs and FSAs are a perfect pair: They allow consumers to be proactive about their health and provide tools towards making meaningful lifestyle changes.
Flex is the easiest way for direct to consumer brands and retailers to accept HSA/FSA for their products. From fitness and nutrition, to sleep and mental health, Flex takes a holistic view of healthcare and enables consumers to use their pre-tax money to do the same.