💡 Quick Answer: WHOOP is HSA/FSA eligible because it helps prevent, manage, and reverse a variety of health conditions including cardiovascular disease, sleep disorders, and chronic fatigue, and many others. According to IRS Publication 502, all you need is a Letter of Medical Necessity.
Luckily, we make it ridiculously simple. Crates Health is the fastest way to get your personalized and compliant letter for WHOOP and thousands of other wellness products, plus we handle your reimbursements directly through our platform with just one click.
Table of Contents
What is Whoop
WHOOP is the screenless fitness tracker that turns recovery into a science and makes you obsessed with your own data. Picture this: a lightweight strap (just 0.64 ounces) that tracks your heart rate 24/7, measures how hard you’re working your body, and tells you exactly how recovered you are each morning. No distracting notifications, no screen to check obsessively. Just pure, actionable health data delivered straight to your phone.
With professional athletes, Navy SEALs, and weekend warriors as devoted users, WHOOP operates on three key metrics: Strain (how hard you push your body on a 0-21 scale), Recovery (how ready you are to perform, shown in simple green, yellow, or red), and Sleep (detailed tracking of all four stages). The magic happens when these metrics work together. WHOOP learns your patterns and tells you whether to push harder or rest up based on your heart rate variability, sleep quality, and previous day’s strain. It’s like having a personal performance coach on your wrist who never sleeps.
Why Whoop Qualifies for HSA/FSA
According to IRS regulations, gym memberships can qualify as eligible medical expenses with a Letter of Medical Necessity under specific circumstances outlined in Publication 502.
IRS Publication 502 states that medical expenses are “the costs of diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease, and for the purpose of affecting any part or function of the body,” but “must be primarily to alleviate or prevent a physical or mental condition or illness.”
This means WHOOP can qualify for HSA/FSA reimbursement for prevention or treatment of:
- Cardiovascular disease and hypertension
- Sleep disorders and insomnia
- Depression and anxiety disorders
- Chronic fatigue syndrome
- ADHD and attention disorders
- Diabetes and metabolic disorders
- Obesity and weight management disorders
- Chronic stress management
The key requirement is that your healthcare provider must note the continuous health monitoring as medically necessary for managing your specific health condition, not just for general wellness. This documentation comes in the form of a Letter of Medical Necessity (LMN).
How to Assess Your Eligibility
Traditional Route: Schedule an appointment with your primary care physician, discuss your health conditions and fitness goals, and request a Letter of Medical Necessity if continuous health monitoring is recommended as part of your treatment plan. This typically requires an office visit, potential wait times, and can cost $50-100+ depending on your insurance.
Faster, Smarter Route: Use Crates Health to get your Letter of Medical Necessity online in just a few minutes. Our platform connects you with licensed healthcare providers who can evaluate your conditions remotely and issue the appropriate documentation if you qualify. No office visits, no waiting weeks for appointments, and no surprise medical bills.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do other fitness trackers and wearables qualify for HSA/FSA?
Absolutely! With the right medical documentation, you can potentially use HSA/FSA funds for other fitness trackers, smartwatches, heart rate monitors, and health monitoring devices, as long as they’re recommended for treating specific medical conditions.
How does reimbursement work?
Some retailers accept HSA/FSA cards (most don’t though). When they don’t, you need to use your personal card and then reimburse yourself. This means finding and storing receipts and then uploading them and your LMN to your HSA/FSA admin portal. With Crates, we make this process simple: upload your receipt and get one click reimbursements all from our platform.
What is a Letter of Medical Necessity?
A Letter of Medical Necessity (LMN) is a document from a licensed healthcare provider that explains why a specific expense like your WHOOP subscription is medically necessary for treating a diagnosed condition. It’s the official paperwork that proves your health monitoring isn’t just for general fitness. Each LMN typically remains valid for 12 months from the date of issue.
Will my claim get denied?
Every HSA/FSA admin is unique and may initially deny some claims. Usually, it is related to receipt format (must be itemized), LMN format, or other supporting documentation. With Crates, we will support you through this process and make sure you get your money back.
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