What is Apple Watch
Apple Watch is the most popular smartwatch in the world, but most people don’t realize it’s also one of the most advanced health monitoring devices you can buy. While competitors focus on fitness tracking or sleep data, Apple Watch combines everything into a single device that your doctor can actually use.
The health features are clinical-grade. FDA-cleared ECG that can detect atrial fibrillation. Blood oxygen monitoring for respiratory conditions. Fall detection that automatically calls emergency services. Crash detection for car accidents. Sleep stage tracking benchmarked against polysomnography in independent sleep-lab studies. Irregular heart rhythm notifications evaluated in research published in the American Heart Association’s journal Circulation. Temperature sensing for cycle tracking and illness detection.
This isn’t just marketing. Apple partners with Stanford Medicine, the American Heart Association, and major health systems to validate what Apple Watch can do. The Apple Heart Study with Stanford enrolled over 400,000 participants. Among those who received an irregular rhythm notification and wore a follow-up ECG patch, the notification showed an 84% positive predictive value for atrial fibrillation. That along with the fact that it can be used to help prevent, manage or reverse health conditions is why Apple Watch and other fitness trackers qualify for HSA and FSA reimbursement.
Why Apple Watch Qualifies for HSA/FSA Eligibility
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 Apple Watch can qualify for HSA/FSA reimbursement when used to prevent, manage, or reverse:
- Cardiovascular conditions – FDA-cleared ECG, irregular heart rhythm notifications, heart rate monitoring, and cardio fitness tracking (VO2 max estimation)
- Atrial fibrillation – FDA-cleared ECG and irregular rhythm notifications to help detect AFib
- Diabetes and pre-diabetes – Activity tracking for blood sugar management, medication reminders, and glucose monitor integration (Dexcom G7)
- Sleep disorders – Clinical-grade sleep stage analysis, respiratory rate monitoring, and blood oxygen tracking during sleep
- Obesity and weight management – Comprehensive activity tracking, calorie monitoring, exercise ring completion, and standing reminders
- Hypertension – FDA-cleared hypertension notifications (Series 9 and later, Ultra 2 and later), plus heart rate monitoring, stress management, and activity goals for blood pressure control
- Mental health conditions – Mindfulness app, breathing exercises, heart rate variability for anxiety management, and mood tracking via third-party apps
- Fall risk and elderly care – Fall detection with automatic emergency calling, walking steadiness metrics, and medication reminders
The key requirement is that your healthcare provider must note the health monitoring device 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 Get Your Apple Watch Approved
- Check if you qualify – You need to be preventing, managing, or reversing a health condition that benefits from continuous monitoring (cardiovascular issues, diabetes, sleep disorders, anxiety, obesity, fall risk, etc.)
- Get your Letter of Medical Necessity – Either schedule an appointment with your doctor ($50-100+, weeks of waiting) or use Crates Health to get your LMN online in minutes
- Purchase your Apple Watch – Buy from Apple, Amazon, or any retailer using your personal card (Apple doesn’t accept HSA/FSA cards directly)
- Submit for reimbursement – Upload your receipt and LMN to your HSA/FSA administrator, or use Crates Health for one-click reimbursement
Which Apple Watch Models Are HSA/FSA Eligible
Every Apple Watch with health monitoring features qualifies for HSA/FSA reimbursement with proper documentation. Here’s what’s currently available:
Current Apple Watch Models (2024-2026)
| Model | Price | Key Health Features | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apple Watch Series 11 | $399+ | FDA-cleared ECG, hypertension notifications, blood oxygen, temperature sensing | Complete health tracking |
| Apple Watch Ultra 3 | $799 | All Series 11 health features, satellite connectivity, up to 42-hour battery | Serious athletes and outdoor health monitoring |
| Apple Watch SE 3 | $249 | Heart rate, temperature sensing, sleep apnea notifications, fall & crash detection | Budget-conscious health monitoring |
| Apple Watch Series 10 (2024) | From ~$279 at third-party retailers | ECG, blood oxygen, temperature sensing | Full health tracking at a lower price |
| Apple Watch Ultra 2 (2023) | From ~$499 at third-party retailers | All Series 10 features, extreme durability, depth gauge | Outdoor use at a lower price |
| Apple Watch SE 2nd gen (2022) | From ~$169 at third-party retailers | Heart rate, fall detection, crash detection, sleep tracking | Entry-level on a budget |
Important Note: Even older models (Series 6, 7, 8, 9) with health features qualify for HSA/FSA reimbursement. The IRS doesn’t require you to buy the latest model.
All 2025 models include: 24/7 heart rate monitoring, irregular heart rhythm notifications, high and low heart rate alerts, cardio fitness (VO2 max), sleep tracking with stages and a sleep score, sleep apnea notifications, temperature sensing, fall detection, crash detection, noise monitoring, and menstrual cycle tracking.
Series 11 and Ultra 3 add: FDA-cleared ECG, blood oxygen monitoring, AFib history, and new FDA-cleared hypertension notifications (also available on Series 9 and later, and Ultra 2, with watchOS 26).
