💡 Quick Answer: Yes, gym memberships are FSA eligible when used to prevent or treat medical conditions. The IRS recognizes medical expenses under Publication 502 when recommended by a healthcare provider. You need a Letter of Medical Necessity, and Crates Health gets you approved in minutes.
The Hidden Cost Of Your Membership
Fifty to two hundred dollars per month is normal. Boutique studios can push that higher. Over a year that is 600 to 2,400 dollars, which could be 30 to 40 percent cheaper if you ran reimbursement through your FSA with an LMN.
Why Your Gym Time Is Actually Medicine
AHA guidelines recommend at least 150 minutes of moderate activity weekly plus strength training on 2 days. That is not just a lifestyle tip. Regular exercise lowers risk of heart disease, diabetes, stroke, and depression, which is why it belongs in medical care plans.
What The IRS Actually Says
Publication 502 allows expenses that primarily prevent or treat disease and excludes general health. The IRS issued FAQs in 2023 clarifying that things like gym memberships can be medical expenses if used to treat a specific condition and certified by a licensed provider. That is the blueprint for FSA approval.
FSAFEDS is explicit: health club dues can be eligible when a doctor or other licensed practitioner certifies medical necessity and documents condition, treatment description, and length of treatment.
How To Get Approved
Your LMN should name the condition or prevention goal, for example: prediabetes, hypertension, chronic back pain rehabilitation, or osteoporosis prevention. It should outline the program: frequency, intensity, and duration. It should be renewed annually if treatment continues.
What Counts With An LMN
- Traditional gyms and boutique studios.
- Medically directed classes such as low impact conditioning for joint pain or supervised resistance training for bone density.
- Personal training when it is part of the plan of care. Documentation matters.
Timing Matters With FSAs
FSAs are use it or lose it accounts. Your employer may allow a carryover. For 2025 the limit is 3,300 dollars with a possible 660 dollar carryover if your plan offers it. Always confirm your plan’s rules and deadlines.
FAQs
Can I swipe my FSA card at the gym? Usually no. Pay normally and submit your receipt with the LMN.
Does everyone on a family plan need their own LMN? Yes. The letter is specific to each person’s medical need.
Bottom line: Your gym can be healthcare when it treats a real condition. Put an LMN behind it and make those dollars pre-tax.
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