Flex - Are Fitness Apps HSA/FSA Eligible?

Updated: December 26, 2024

As a mother and entrepreneur, it’s simply easier and more practical to WFH — workout from home.

Finger snap if you’ve experienced this: Planning the day can be challenging with a newborn’s ever-shifting schedule and you never know when the next business fire needs dousing. That’s what makes fitness apps so appealing, their pre-designed workouts can be slotted in any time without the need to drive to the gym or studio.

Whether you’re looking for convenience, personalized training, or want a bit of extra accountability, fitness apps are a great option to stay on track with your health journey — and best of all, you may be able to save 30-40% with your Health Savings Account (HSA) or Flexible Spending Account (FSA).

Thanks to the phone, fitness has never been more convenient or affordable.

What Are Fitness Apps?

Fitness apps have changed how we approach exercise. From streaming live classes to tracking your fitness progress, many view them as a convenient and affordable way to stay active.

Popular apps include:

Apps are great for their flexibility; you can work out on your schedule, at your own pace, and in your own environment.

Are Fitness Apps HSA and FSA Eligible?

In most cases, fitness expenses require a Letter of Medical Necessity (LMN) to qualify for HSA/FSA spending.

This means that the fitness app must be considered essential for treating, monitoring, or preventing a specific health condition and the expense would not have been incurred but for the condition. So, if your medical provider prescribes a fitness app as part of your treatment plan and stipulates this in a Letter of Medical Necessity, the fitness app may become HSA or FSA eligible.

Note: While regular exercise significantly reduces the risk of chronic conditions like heart disease and diabetes, the IRS generally views fitness activities as supporting "general health" rather than addressing a specific medical condition — so you need to prove that the fitness app is indeed addressing a specific medical issue.

What may qualify an app to be HSA or FSA eligible?

Common qualifying conditions include:

Smart Tools for Smart Training: Revolutionize Your Workouts with Trainwell and Tempo

Here are a few cutting-edge fitness solutions to help you stay on track:

How Flex Can Help You Pay for Fitness Apps with Your HSA/FSA

Looking to make fitness part of your healthcare strategy? Flex can help you, well, flex your budget.

If the brand has partnered with Flex:

Step 1: Step 1: Add the HSA/FSA-eligible fitness program or class you want to your cart

Flex partners with brands like Trainwell and Tempo to streamline the process of paying for HSA/FSA-eligible fitness classes, programs and apps.

Step 2: Complete a chat-based health consultation

Through Flex, you'll have a consultation with a licensed provider who will determine your eligibility. If eligible, you'll receive a Letter of Medical Necessity in under two hours.

Step 3: Select “Flex | Pay with HSA/FSA" at checkout

And that’s it! You can purchase 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).

If the brand has not partnered with Flex:

  1. Complete the health consultation to determine your eligibility. If eligible, you’ll receive a Letter of Medical Necessity in under two hours.
  2. Submit for reimbursement: Pay for your fitness program, class, or app with a standard payment method. Do not use your HSA/FSA card at checkout. Follow our instructions to submit your Letter and receipt to your HSA/FSA administrator for reimbursement.

Fitness at Your Finger Tips

Whether you’re looking to build strength, improve your cardio, or practice mindfulness, fitness apps put a world of health and wellness activities at your fingertips. They can be especially useful if you’re working to improve, treat, or prevent a specific health condition; they provide a convenient and cost-conscious alternative to in-person programs. And remember, fitness apps may be covered by your HSA or FSA too.