Can I use my HSA card for a gym membership?

Asked by: Mrs. Polly Crooks Jr.  |  Last update: May 21, 2025
Score: 4.7/5 (9 votes)

While some companies and private insurers may offer discounts on gym memberships, you generally can't use your FSA or HSA account to pay for gym or health club memberships. An exception to that rule would be if your doctor deems fitness medically necessary for your recovery or treatment.

Does an HSA cover gym memberships?

Gym memberships are generally not considered qualified medical expenses under IRS guidelines. While physical fitness is important, gym memberships are typically viewed as personal or recreational expenses rather than a medical necessity. So using HSA funds for them could result in taxes and penalties.

Can I use my HSA for a fitness watch?

No, you can't utilize your HSA to buy any wellness tracker until and except if you have the LOMN for it. The general well-being rule applies to Fitbit and all smartwatch and wellness tracker organizations. Subsequently, regardless of the organization of a wellness tracker, you can't get it with your HSA.

Can your doctor prescribe a gym membership?

Medical Necessity: A doctor must diagnose you with a specific medical condition, and they need to prescribe exercise at a gym as part of your treatment. This means your gym membership is a medical necessity rather than a luxury. New Membership: You can't have belonged to the gym before your diagnosis.

Can I use my HSA card for personal training?

Can you use HSA for personal trainer? Perhaps one of the most common questions asked by individuals with a Health Savings Account (HSA) is whether they can use the funds for their personal trainer expenses. The answer to this question is yes, with some limitations and conditions.

Can I Use Health Savings Account For Gym Membership? - AssetsandOpportunity.org

37 related questions found

Can I use HSA to buy Apple Watch?

Why other fitness trackers don't qualify. Even though Fitbits and Apple Watches measure important health data, they currently do not qualify for HSA reimbursement, as they are considered for general health use and not intended to treat or manage a specific medical condition.

Can I use HSA for Peloton membership?

Yes. You can pay with a credit or debit card through Truemed and submit a reimbursement request to your HSA/FSA plan administrator for up to the amount you have available in your HSA/FSA account. You cannot split payments between HSA/FSA card and credit/debit card.

How to get a free gym membership?

But if your doctor orders exercise as part of your medical action plan, you may qualify for an exception. And if your employer contributes to these accounts, your gym membership might end up being free or practically free. But, you need a letter of medical necessity (LMN) from your doctor to go this route.

Can your health insurance pay for a gym membership?

Most commercial health insurance plans offer fitness incentive programs, and those perks sometimes include free gym membership. If your plan won't fully reimburse your membership, you may still be able to get a low-cost or discounted gym membership or other fitness benefits.

Can my doctor refer me to a gym?

Your GP will be able to refer you to the scheme if you're inactive, have a longstanding health condition and/or have a BMI over 30.

Can I use my HSA for gym shoes?

The majority of fitness equipment and gym memberships and fitness classes can be covered by your FSA/HSA funds, but you'll need your doctor to fill out a Letter of Medical Necessity to use the funds to purchase them.

Are massages HSA eligible?

Your HSA can pay for massage therapy, though you'll likely need a letter of medical necessity (LMN) from your doctor. An LMN states what condition the treatment is for, how many sessions you need, and any other relevant details. An HSA may also be used on alternative or holistic treatments, such as: Massage therapy.

Are tampons HSA eligible?

With the passage of the CARES Act in March 2020, tampons and other menstrual care products are now fully FSA-/HSA-eligible. According to the text of the bill, menstrual care products include, “tampon, pad, liner, cup, sponge, or similar product used by individuals with respect to menstruation…”

Can you use your HSA for a fitness watch?

To purchase a fitness tracker with a consumer-directed healthcare account like an FSA, HSA or HRA, a Letter of Medical Necessity (LMN) is required to show that the device will be used to treat a legitimate medical condition such as obesity.

Can I use HSA for vitamins?

In general, vitamins are not considered an HSA eligible expense unless they are prescribed by a doctor for a specific medical condition. For example, if your doctor prescribes prenatal vitamins during pregnancy or recommends vitamin D supplements to treat a deficiency, those could be eligible expenses under your HSA.

Can I use HSA for glasses?

Yes! You can definitely use funds from your flexible spending account (FSA) or health savings account (HSA) to purchase prescription glasses. (FSAs and HSAs can be used for many other vision- and eye health-related expenses, too, but we'll discuss that more in a bit.)

Can you use HSA for gym membership?

Gym memberships. While some companies and private insurers may offer discounts on gym memberships, you generally can't use your FSA or HSA account to pay for gym or health club memberships. An exception to that rule would be if your doctor deems fitness medically necessary for your recovery or treatment.

What happens if I can't afford my gym membership?

Your gym should let you cancel your contract if you've had a change in circumstances that means you can't afford the monthly payments. It would have to be something significant, eg you've lost your job or suddenly found yourself in a lot of debt. You'll need evidence to prove this to your gym.

Can you deduct gym membership as medical expense?

A10: Yes, but only if the membership was purchased for the sole purpose of affecting a structure or function of the body (such as a prescribed plan for physical therapy to treat an injury) or the sole purpose of treating a specific disease diagnosed by a physician (such as obesity, hypertension, or heart disease).

What do I do if I cant afford the gym?

  1. Take advantage of free workout videos. These routines give you a lot of flexibility, as you can do them virtually anywhere, without equipment or a gym.
  2. Walk when possible. ...
  3. Take the stairs. ...
  4. Get your hands on some basic fitness equipment. ...
  5. Get creative. ...
  6. Do bodyweight exercises. ...
  7. Make housework exercise time.

Can health insurance pay for gym membership?

It's worth noting that some insurance plans offer reimbursement for services such as physical therapy and wellness benefits, which may include gym memberships.

Can you use HSA at Planet fitness?

In most cases, gym memberships are not considered eligible medical expenses by the IRS. This means you typically cannot use your HSA funds to pay for a gym membership directly. You might need to explore getting an LMN from your doctor.

Can you use HSA for membership?

Unfortunately, the short answer is no. The membership fee cannot be paid out of your HSA nor does it apply toward your deductible.

What can I use my HSA for?

A Health Savings Account (HSA) lets you set aside money on a pre-tax basis to pay for:
  • Coinsurance. Coinsurance. ...
  • Copayments. Copayment. ...
  • Deductibles. Deductible. ...
  • Qualified medical expenses (includes some dental, drug, and vision expenses) – Find an expenses list on IRS.gov.