Crates Health

Table of Contents

• The FSA Reality Check: Why Most People Get It Wrong
• FSA Eligible Products in 2025
• 2025 FSA Numbers You Need to Know
• How to Actually Use Your FSA for Wellness
• The Real Talk About FSA Strategy
• Beyond 2025: The Future of Wellness FSAs
• Your Next Step

Let’s talk about the elephant in the room: Over 90% of FSA account holders have absolutely no idea what their account can actually do.

Most people think FSAs are for the occasional doctor’s visit, prescription refills, and that annual December panic-buying spree where you’re frantically searching “FSA eligible” on Amazon, ending up with 47 boxes of bandaids and enough thermometers to stock a small clinic.

But here’s the thing your HR department didn’t tell you: Your FSA is actually a wellness powerhouse. With the right documentation (hello, Letter of Medical Necessity), you can use those pre-tax dollars on the products and services you’re already spending money on the stuff that actually makes you feel amazing.

So let’s dive into the good stuff. This isn’t your typical “FSA eligible items” list filled with boring medical supplies. This is the wellness edition curated for people who understand that prevention is better than treatment, and that investing in your health shouldn’t break the bank.

The FSA Reality Check: Why Most People Get It Wrong

Here’s what typically happens: You have $3,300 sitting in your FSA (that’s the 2025 limit, by the way). December rolls around, you realize you’ve got money to spend, and you end up buying a pile of random medical supplies you’ll never use.

Sound familiar?

The problem isn’t the FSA system it’s that nobody taught you how to use it strategically. The IRS actually allows FSA funds for medical expenses that prevent or treat medical conditions. And guess what? A lot of wellness products and services fall into this category when properly documented.

The secret sauce: A Letter of Medical Necessity (LMN) from a healthcare provider that explains how your wellness routine addresses a specific health concern.

FSA Eligible Products in 2025

Fitness & Movement (Yes, Really)

Gym Memberships & Fitness Classes
Your CrossFit addiction, that boutique spin class, even your fancy Equinox membership—all FSA eligible when part of a treatment plan. Think about it: if your doctor recommends regular exercise for hypertension, diabetes management, or weight loss, that gym membership becomes medical equipment.

Home Gym Equipment
That Peloton you’ve been eyeing? FSA eligible. Resistance bands, dumbbells, rowing machines—when they’re prescribed as part of your treatment plan, they’re medical expenses. Your home just became a medical facility (and way more fun than a hospital).

Personal Training Sessions
A qualified trainer helping you execute your doctor’s exercise prescription? That’s healthcare, not luxury. Especially if you’re dealing with injury recovery, chronic pain, or metabolic conditions.

Recovery & Regeneration Tools

Massage Therapy & Devices
Whether it’s professional massage therapy or that Theragun Pro you’ve been wanting, when used to treat diagnosed musculoskeletal conditions, it’s FSA gold. Chronic back pain? Muscle tension headaches? Your FSA has entered the chat.

Red Light Therapy
Those LED panels aren’t just Instagram-worthy anymore—they’re FDA-cleared medical devices. Use them for pain management, skin conditions, or muscle recovery with proper documentation, and your FSA covers it.

Sauna Sessions & Equipment
Infrared saunas for cardiovascular health support, traditional saunas for muscle recovery, even sauna memberships when prescribed for specific conditions. Your wellness routine just got a 30% discount.

Cold Therapy
Ice baths, cold plunge tubs, even those fancy cryotherapy sessions—when used for inflammation management, muscle recovery, or circulation improvement as part of a treatment plan.

Wearables & Health Tech

Fitness Trackers & Smartwatches
Your Whoop, Oura Ring, Apple Watch—when used to monitor health metrics as part of managing a medical condition, they’re FSA eligible. Sleep tracking for sleep disorders? Heart rate monitoring for cardiac conditions? That’s medical equipment.

Sleep Technology
Eight Sleep mattresses, sleep tracking devices, even certain sleep apps when prescribed for sleep disorders. Because quality sleep isn’t luxury—it’s healthcare.

Health Monitoring Devices
Blood pressure monitors, continuous glucose monitors, body composition scales—basically anything that helps you track biomarkers related to a diagnosed condition.

Supplements & Nutrition

Targeted Supplements
Omega-3s for cardiovascular health, vitamin D for deficiency, probiotics for digestive issues, protein powder for muscle wasting conditions—supplements become FSA eligible when prescribed by a healthcare provider for specific medical purposes.

Specialty Nutrition Products
Meal replacement shakes for weight management, electrolyte supplements for specific conditions, even certain organic foods when prescribed for dietary restrictions related to medical conditions.

Mental Health & Stress Management

Meditation & Mindfulness Apps
Premium subscriptions to Headspace, Calm, or other mental health apps when prescribed for anxiety, depression, or stress management.

Therapy & Counseling
Mental health services, stress management programs, even wellness coaching when provided by qualified healthcare professionals.

Stress-Reduction Tools
Weighted blankets for anxiety, aromatherapy for stress management, even certain relaxation devices when prescribed as part of mental health treatment.

2025 FSA Numbers You Need to Know

• Contribution Limit: $3,300 (up from $3,200 in 2024)
• Grace Period: Up to 2.5 months to use remaining funds (if your employer offers it)
• Carryover: Up to $660 can roll over to the next year (if your plan allows)
• Run-out Period: Additional time to submit claims for previous year expenses

Pro tip: Check your specific plan details because employers can choose which options to offer.

How to Actually Use Your FSA for Wellness (The Crates Health Way)

Here’s where most people get stuck: the paperwork. Getting a Letter of Medical Necessity used to be a pain—calling your doctor, explaining what you need, waiting weeks for a response, hoping they understand FSA requirements.

Crates Health changed that game.

Our platform connects you with healthcare providers who understand wellness FSAs. Take a quick health assessment, get matched with a provider who gets it, and receive your LMN in minutes, not months.

Then we handle the rest—purchase reimbursement, receipt management, even ongoing support if your FSA administrator has questions.

The Real Talk About FSA Strategy

Stop thinking of your FSA as emergency money. Start thinking of it as your wellness investment account that happens to come with a 30-40% discount (thanks, tax savings).

Instead of scrambling in December to spend leftover money on random medical supplies, plan your wellness investments for the year:

• January: Set up that gym membership or home gym
• March: Invest in recovery tools and wearables
• June: Add supplements and nutrition support
• September: Consider bigger wellness tech purchases
• November: Final optimization before year-end

The goal: Turn your FSA from a “use it or lose it” stress into a “how much can I save on wellness” opportunity.

Beyond 2025: The Future of Wellness FSAs

The wellness FSA category is exploding. As preventive health becomes mainstream and telemedicine makes healthcare provider access easier, expect to see:

• More wellness brands offering FSA payment options
• Expanded coverage for digital health tools
• Streamlined approval processes for common wellness expenses
• Integration between wellness platforms and benefits administration

Translation: If you’re not optimizing your FSA for wellness now, you’re leaving serious money on the table.

Your Next Step

Stop buying bandaids you don’t need. Start investing in wellness you actually want.

Your FSA dollars are already allocated – the only question is whether you’ll spend them strategically on things that improve your life, or waste them on medical supplies that’ll collect dust in your bathroom cabinet.

The choice is yours. The savings are real. The process is easier than you think.

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Disclaimer: This information is for educational purposes only and does not constitute tax, legal, or medical advice. FSA rules vary by employer and plan administrator. Always consult with your benefits administrator and healthcare provider for specific guidance on your situation.