Fitness Expenses and Your Flexible Spending Account

Flexible spending accounts + gym

Are gym memberships FSA eligible? However, if your doctor or other medical practitioner recommends exercise at a gym or a weight loss program to treat a specific medical condition, these may be FSA eligible with a Letter of Medical Necessity (LMN).

If you have a medical condition, such as obesity, and a doctor requires you to work out or join a regimented weight loss program, they can create an LMN for your benefits administrator that could allow you to cover the healthcare expense with your FSA dollars. Be sure to check with your benefits administrator and check out this post for more about these exceptions and the LMN process. The IRS considers health club and gym membership fees “general health expenses,” and not something that qualifies as having a primary purpose of treating specific medical conditions. Unfortunately, this means gym memberships are not considered FSA eligible without an LMN. 

Similarly, if you're looking to invest in home exercise equipment to meet fitness goals and take better care of your general health, know that these fitness expenses are currently not FSA eligible and follow the same guidelines as gym memberships.

Fitness tips

If you'd like to kickstart your fitness routine or stay on track with your current exercise goals, you might have a few questions. People often wonder how long they should exercise for, how many days per week to aim for, what types of exercise routines to create, and what to eat.

Health experts recommend adults maintain health with at least 30 minutes of daily activity. For some, it may seem like a struggle to find even a small block of time to exercise every day. But you can still get health benefits if you separate your fitness routine into a few minutes at a time, completed throughout the day. Meeting that 30-minute goal will not only benefit your health, but will also help ensure you maintain a healthy weight and help restore your energy levels.

FSA eligible fitness products

When you're looking for a little inspiration to hit the trails or reactivate your gym membership, a bit of self-investment can go a long way. Whether you’re eyeing some new workout gear, a fitness tracker, or a new pair of running shoes, it might just be the boost you need to stay on top of your fitness goals and improve your general health. But you don't want to waste your hard-earned money — and that’s where knowing what your FSA covers can really help. Let's cut through the confusion about a few of the most asked about fitness products and services, and see what exactly is eligible to make it onto your FSA shopping list.