💡 Quick Answer: SoulCycle is HSA/FSA eligible because it helps prevent, manage, and reverse a variety of health conditions including cardiovascular disease, depression, and obesity, 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 SoulCycle and thousands of other wellness products, plus we handle your reimbursements directly through our platform with just one click.
What is SoulCycle
SoulCycle is the indoor cycling studio that combines high-intensity cardio with rhythm-based movement for a full-body workout that actually feels fun. The 45-minute classes use custom stationary bikes in heated studios (around 80-85 degrees) where you’ll follow choreographed sequences that engage your core, arms, and legs while maintaining challenging cardio intervals. You’ll clip into specialized bikes and alternate between seated climbs, standing sprints, and upper body work with light weights.
What sets SoulCycle apart from standard spin classes is its focus on the mind-body connection and community-driven experience. A systematic review published in Medicina found that indoor cycling improves aerobic capacity, blood pressure, lipid profile, and body composition. The high-intensity interval training (HIIT) format that SoulCycle employs has been shown to deliver these benefits more efficiently than steady-state cardio, making it a particularly effective option for managing chronic health conditions.
With 62+ studios across the U.S., Canada, and the UK, SoulCycle’s structured format includes warm-up, several song-based intervals targeting different muscle groups, and cool-down stretching. The classes burn 400-600 calories while improving cardiovascular endurance, core strength, and lower body power. Instructors guide riders through resistance changes and choreographed movements set to curated playlists, creating a high-energy environment that makes the workout feel less like traditional spin class and more like a dance-cardio hybrid that builds genuine fitness results.
Why SoulCycle Qualifies for HSA/FSA Eligibility
According to IRS regulations, fitness studio 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 SoulCycle membership can qualify for HSA/FSA reimbursement for prevention or treatment of:
- Cardiovascular disease and hypertension: The American Heart Association recommends at least 150 minutes per week of moderate-intensity aerobic activity or 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity for cardiovascular health. According to the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, meeting these guidelines is associated with a 14% reduced risk of developing coronary heart disease and approximately 40% reduction in cardiovascular disease mortality. Indoor cycling specifically has been shown to improve blood pressure and lipid profiles.
- Depression and anxiety disorders: A 2024 BMJ systematic review and network meta-analysis of 218 studies found that exercise is an effective treatment for depression, with aerobic exercise showing significant effects. The study found that cycling and mixed aerobic exercises produced moderate reductions in depression symptoms, with effects proportional to exercise intensity. Harvard Health notes that group indoor cycling classes provide socialization benefits linked to maintaining cognitive health and improved positive feelings.
- Obesity and weight management disorders: The 2018 Physical Activity Guidelines recommend 150-300 minutes per week of moderate-intensity physical activity for prevention of excessive weight gain, with closer to 300 minutes necessary for weight loss. Research on indoor cycling programs found significant decreases in waist circumference, BMI, and total body fat mass, with particularly notable improvements in women with obesity.
- Type 2 diabetes: The American Diabetes Association’s Position Statement confirms that physical activity is critical for blood glucose management in individuals with diabetes and prediabetes. The ADA recommends 150-300 minutes of moderate-intensity or 75-150 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic activity weekly. Achieving 150 minutes per week of physical activity can reduce diabetes incidence by 44% even without weight loss.
- Chronic stress and sleep disorders – A systematic review and meta-analysis found that physical activity was an effective strategy for lowering cortisol levels (the primary stress hormone) and improving sleep quality. A separate meta-analysis in Sleep Medicine Reviews found that exercise interventions significantly improved both objective and subjective sleep parameters in people with insomnia, with effects increasing alongside exercise intensity.
- ADHD and attention disorders – A meta-analysis published in Psychiatry Research found that physical exercise significantly improves attention, executive function, and motor skills in individuals with ADHD. Research suggests that physical activity may play a physiological role similar to stimulant medications by increasing dopamine and norepinephrine neurotransmitters. A network meta-analysis confirmed that aerobic exercises show particular benefits for inattention symptoms.
- PTSD and trauma recovery – A systematic review and meta-analysis found that exercise is an effective addition to PTSD treatment, with greater amounts of exercise providing more benefits. Research in Frontiers in Psychology demonstrated that mind-body and aerobic exercises significantly improve PTSD symptoms, depression, and anxiety in patients with PTSD.
- Chronic fatigue syndrome – A systematic review found that graded exercise therapy showed statistical significance as an intervention for chronic fatigue syndrome. The Annals of Internal Medicine systematic review found that graded exercise therapy improved fatigue, function, and quality of life compared to no treatment. Note: Exercise programs for CFS should be carefully tailored and gradually progressed under medical supervision.
The key requirement is that your healthcare provider must note the high-intensity cardio training 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 cycling-based cardio exercise 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 cycling and cardio classes qualify for HSA/FSA?
Yes, with the right medical documentation, you can use HSA/FSA funds for other spin studios, cycling classes, high-intensity cardio programs, and fitness memberships when they’re recommended for preventing, managing, or reversing specific medical conditions. This includes studios like Peloton (for at-home cycling), Equinox, Orangetheory Fitness, Barry’s Bootcamp, F45 Training, Life Time Fitness, and many others. For a comprehensive overview, check out our complete guide to gym membership HSA/FSA eligibility.
How does reimbursement work?
Some retailers accept HSA/FSA cards directly, but most don’t. When they don’t, you need to use your personal card and then reimburse yourself. This means finding and storing itemized receipts and then uploading them along with your LMN to your HSA/FSA admin portal. With Crates Health, we simplify this entire process: upload your itemized 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 SoulCycle membership is medically necessary for preventing, managing, or reversing a diagnosed condition. It’s the official paperwork that proves your cycling workouts aren’t just for general fitness. Each LMN typically remains valid for 12 months from the date of issue.
Will my claim get denied?
With proper documentation, denials are rare. That said, every HSA/FSA administrator is different, and some may initially deny claims due to receipt format, LMN documentation, or unclear medical necessity. Crates Health supports you through any denials and makes sure you get reimbursed.
Do I need a separate LMN for each fitness membership?
Best practice is one product or service, one condition per LMN. For example: SoulCycle membership + cardiovascular disease prevention = strongest approval odds. If you have multiple memberships or wellness expenses, you may need multiple LMNs for the strongest claims. Crates Health makes it easy to get multiple LMNs through our platform.
How long does it take to get an LMN through Crates Health?
Most users complete the process in just a few minutes. Our platform connects you with licensed healthcare providers who can evaluate your health conditions remotely and issue appropriate documentation if you qualify. No office visits, no appointment waits, no surprise bills.
Do I need to renew my LMN?
Yes, LMNs typically need to be renewed annually since most are valid for 12 months from the issue date. If your medical condition is ongoing and you continue using SoulCycle as part of your treatment plan, you’ll need to obtain an updated LMN each year to maintain HSA/FSA eligibility. Crates Health makes renewal simple – our platform tracks your LMN expiration dates and streamlines the renewal process so you never have a gap in coverage.
